How to Light a Log Burner, Step by Step

What do I need to light a log burner?

• Dry kindling: small, split sticks that catch in seconds.
• Two small logs, about the thickness of your wrist.
• Two firelighters, or a few twists of paper if you prefer.
• Dry logs for later, 20% moisture or less. Wet logs are the most common reason a fire won't catch.
• Matches or a long lighter.

How do I light a log burner from the top down?

These steps follow HETAS's lighting guide.

1. Open the air controls. Set them to the lighting position, which on most stoves means fully open. A thin bed of ash is fine, as wood burns well on it.
2. Lay two small logs across the fire bed. These form the base, and catch once the kindling burns down onto them.
3. Stack the kindling on top. Lay about five pieces across the logs, then four at right angles with two firelighters in the gaps, then five more on top.
4. Light the firelighters and close the door. Some stoves, such as Morsø's, suggest leaving the door open 2 to 3 cm for the first 5 to 10 minutes. Your manual will say.
5. Leave it alone. Don't poke the kindling. Wait until the top of the stove feels warm, then turn the primary air down, as HETAS advises.
6. Add two or three logs. Once the kindling has burned down to glowing embers, add two or three logs. Let them catch with the air open before you set it lower.

Why light a log burner from the top down?

Burnright, a campaign for cleaner burning run by chimney sweeps, says top-down lighting significantly reduces smoke when the fire is first lit. HETAS adds that it warms up the flue faster, and a warm flue draws better, so smoke goes up the chimney rather than into the room.

What are the most common lighting mistakes?

• Wet wood. It hisses, smokes and won't stay lit. Use wood at 20% moisture or less.
• Logs that are too big. Burnright says logs about 125 mm (5 inches) across are about right.
• Too many logs at once. Overloading smothers the fire and makes a lot of smoke.
• Turning the air down too soon. Keep it open until the stove is hot and the logs are burning well.
• Opening the door quickly. Open it a crack first, then slowly, so smoke doesn't roll into the room.