Got smoke coming out of the door when you try to light your first fire? Candles to the rescue.

[MagdalenaP]

First fire of the season, you're all excited, ready to get some heat into the house. So you light a fire, and smoke immediately starts coming out! Prevent that, by first warming up your flue, say 30 min prior to making a fire, by lighting a couple of candles, and placing them in your stove. Leave the door slightly cracked.

This gets hot air going up, creating a draft upward. Otherwise, it's the opposite, cold air coming down your flue.

Someone gave me this tip a few years ago, been a lifesaver ever since, thought I'd share for the beginners

Happy Hearth Season everyone!

Edit to add: Of course this is to say you have your flue properly cleaned/wood seasoned/door gasket tight/etc.

 

[begreen]

And if at all possible, address the cause(s) of draft reversal to stop this.

 

[rosem]

I just get a quick hot fire going with cedar kindling and small pieces of wood. The next load is bigger and the load after that can be packed full usually.

 

[kborndale]

Holding a lit piece of newspaper up by the flue normally does the trick for me on a cold startup.

 

[firefighterjake]

I've used the candle trick when temps in the fall or spring are close to the outside temps and there is a reverse stack effect. I've also had good luck opening a nearby window a couple inches.

 

[Simonkenton]

I just use the small split pieces of cedar. Warms that firebox up real quick. I am going to buy another bundle of cedar shingles today at Lowes.

 

[Woody5506]

Yeah I get that with my shoulder season burns on a cold stove, luckily my stove is right next to a sliding exterior door so I'll usually use a fan to blow any smoke right outside but lately I've been heating up the inside of the stove with a bernzomatic torch to get a draft going. I like the candle idea though.

 

[Bushels20]

A good top down fire at startup helps me from a cold start. Some split pine kindling with a piece of Super Cedar on top of the smaller sized splits. I think the Super Cedar burns hot and fast probably warming the firebox/liner quickly.