I Just Bought A Log Burner - Now What?
So you just bought a new wood burner. Congratulations! Welcome to a world of sustainable warmth and cosy nights by the fire. This guide is for the first-time wood burner owner with practical tips for getting started with your wood stove and getting the most out of it.
We'll cover topics such as how to light the fire, what fuel to use, safety and maintenance and look at common problems and how to overcome them.
A wood burning stove is one of the best ways to heat your home with sustainable firewood. They provide plenty of heat as a centre piece to your room your friends and family will want to gather round.
The humble log burner achieves what central heating never can and your fireplace will soon be the glowing warm envy of your neighbours - your dream stove. So let's get started.
**Please note, it is essential to have a working and regularly tested carbon monoxide alarm in any room where you burn solid fuel such as wood or coal to protect you from the risk of inhaling undetectable harmful emissions.
Getting Started With Your Log Burner
Initial Safety Check - First Time Use
Before you light your first fire, it's sensible to give the stove and chimney a brief safety inspection. Even if your appliance looks sound at first glance, it may have been unused for months or years, during which time seals perish, birds nest in the chimney, and masonry can deteriorate. If the stove is brand new and professionally installed you may skip this, but it never hurts to double-check.
Start with the door and moving parts. Make sure the door shuts firmly against its seals and that the rope seals are intact, springy, and not frayed or missing. The air controls should move freely without excessive play or sticking, and any ash pan runners or detachable parts should sit properly in their housings. If the stove has internal fire bricks or heat-proof baffles, check they are all present, correctly positioned, and not cracked to the point of crumbling. A missing or damaged baffle can dramatically change the burn characteristics of the stove and may pose a safety risk.
Next, take a moment to consider the flue and chimney. From the outside, ensure there are no signs of loose masonry or damage to the chimney stack, and that the cowl or rain cap is securely fitted. If there are birds in the area, look for signs of nesting material protruding from the cowl or perched around the pot; birds' nests inside the flue are a surprisingly common cause of smoke issues and chimney fires. If you have just moved into the property, assume the worst until proven otherwise and arrange for the chimney to be swept unless you have clear evidence - such as an invoice or certificate - that it has been swept within the past six months.
Inside the room, look around the hearth and walls for scorch marks or heat damage that might suggest previous incorrect use. It is also worth checking that the stove has adequate clearance from combustible materials such as timber surrounds or stored logs. If there is a Carbon Monoxide and a Fire alarm already fitted, test them, and if not, install both immediately before you begin using the burner.
Once you are satisfied that the stove is structurally sound, well-sealed, and the chimney is clean and unobstructed, you are ready for your first fire.
Brand new stoves
For a brand new stove installation, we recommend taking a moment to read the manufacturer's instructions being careful to note any particular safety recommendations or operating advice they provide. If you don't have a manual for your stove, but you know the make and model, it is sometimes possible to find the manual online.
Stove Kit List
Log Basket
In addition to your stove, you're going to need a few tools to make life easier and safe. The biggest thing is a log basket, somewhere to store your kiln dried wood while it's waiting to be burned.
Keep your log basket a safe distance from the stove so it doesn't get hot and catch fire! The basket also means you don't need to pile logs up on or around the wood burning stove itself - this presents a significant fire risk.
Poker
Have to hand a metal poker. You can buy these from hardware shops and they are often sold as a kit including a brush, ash shovel and tongs. The poker is really useful for poking logs into position in your stove when its too hot to use your hand.
Heat Proof Glove
Wood burning stoves get really really hot so some protection for your hands is essential. The handle on your log burner might also be made of metal and may be impossible to use without a glove once the stove is lit.
Your First Fire
We have written a comprehensive guide to lighting a fire in your wood burning stove here. However, if this is your first time lighting a fire, ever, here are some top tips.
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Get everything ready before you light a match
Being prepared is the key, once the fire is going there is likely no stopping it so it really helps to have all the things you might need to hand. Get your glove, poker, fuel and matches ready.
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Have a plan if things go wrong
Even experienced stove users occasionally get caught out, so it’s sensible to think ahead. Fires are not like switches - once lit, you cannot instantly turn them off. You should know what to do if the room fills with smoke, the fire becomes too lively, or a log rolls forward. Keep your heatproof gloves nearby and never open the door wide if the fire is roaring, as it can suddenly draw in a rush of air and flare up.
If smoke starts leaking into the room, close the air vents, shut the stove door firmly and open a window to restore ventilation; do not panic or start fanning the fire.
If a log shifts or threatens to fall against the glass, use your poker to move it back into position while wearing gloves. Should flames become excessively high, reduce the air supply and leave the door closed - more oxygen will make the situation worse, not better. It is also reassuring to keep a small fire extinguisher or fire blanket within reach but away from the stove itself, so that you can respond safely without having to leave the room in a hurry. Thinking about these small details in advance means you can relax and enjoy your stove with confidence.
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Use kindling and firelighters
The best way to light a fire is with a paraffin soaked firelighter and kiln dried softwood kindling (both of which we sell on this website). They reduce smoke and heat the flue faster which contributes to positive airflow and will create the draw you need to have a roaring successful fire with minimal effort.
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Choose an easy-to-combust fuel
When getting used to lighting a fire, don't make life hard on yourself by trying to burn something like Oak. Oak is an amazing fuel for the fire but it's really hard to ignite in a cold fire. Start with something like Birch which lights really easily.
For a proper job guide on lighting the fire, read the article linked above.
Choosing a Fuel For Your Wood Burning Stove
Assuming you have successfully lit your stove (well done) thoughts turn pretty quickly to fuel for the wood burner to keep it going and your family warm all winter.
If you have a multifuel stove, you can burn wood or coal and anthracite. If you have a wood burning stove then you should only look to burn wood.
Not all wood is created equal. There are hardwoods and softwoods, different species of each, seasoned wood, unseasoned wood, green wood, treated timber and kiln dried wood.
In short, there is only one clear choice from an efficiency, safety and legislative perspective and that is kiln dried firewood with a moisture content lower than 18%.
Why Kiln Dried Firewood?
Dry wood is the only truly safe wood to burn and the only way to achieve efficiency both in terms of heat output and cost to you.
Wood with a high moisture content smoulders. Any heat generated by burning wet wood is used in heating the water in the log. This releases smoke and doesn't help you get warm at all.
In fact, burning wet wood is actually quite dangerous. All that smoke goes into the environment as harmful emissions causing problems in human respiratory health. In some parts of the UK there are smoke control areas and regulations on burning fuels that generate smoke. These are typically in urban areas and not in Cornwall but we still don't want to create loads of smoke regardless of where we live. Please check with your local authority.
Secondly, wet wood causes tar buildup in your flue and chimney. This presents a risk of combusting in the future and causing a chimney fire.
Even with safety to one side, burning wet wood simply doesn't make financial sense. You buy the wood, smoulder it, don't get warm and wind up with flue damage.
Kiln dried firewood offers an efficient, clean burn guaranteed to output lots of heat quickly. You will save money using less kiln dried firewood than wet wood to generate the same amount of heat.
Log burners are designed to burn dried wood. We only sell kiln dried firewood under UK regulations with the Woodsure Ready to Burn certification on our wide selection of firewood products. If you have a moisture meter at home (they are not very expensive) you can test the moisture levels in your firewood yourself.
Storing Kiln Dried Firewood
Storing kiln dried logs correctly is just as important as choosing the right fuel in the first place. Kiln dried wood performs brilliantly in a stove because of its low moisture content, but if logs are left in damp, unventilated, or poorly protected conditions they will quickly reabsorb water. Wet logs are harder to light, create more smoke, and waste energy boiling off moisture rather than heating your home - exactly the problem kiln drying solves.
With a bit of planning, storage is simple. Outdoors, logs need cover from rain and snow, airflow all around, and protection from ground moisture. Indoors, humidity and poor ventilation can also cause problems, so it's best to store only small quantities inside and keep the rest in a dedicated log store. Understanding how and where to keep your firewood means you get cleaner combustion, better heat output, and excellent value for money when buying in bulk.
If you'd like practical advice on everything from choosing a log store to rotating your stacks and preventing moisture build-up, we've written a full guide that explains how to store kiln dried logs both indoors and outdoors. You can read it here:
Safety and Maintenance
If you're new to using a wood burning stove, it's worth taking a moment to understand not just how to light a fire, but how to operate the appliance safely in the long term. Wood burners are extremely reliable, efficient heaters, but like any solid fuel appliance they need the right fuel, the right conditions, and a bit of simple ongoing care to keep them burning cleanly and safely. A little knowledge about moisture content, flue performance, air control, and ventilation will go a long way towards preventing problems before they occur.
Safety and maintenance are every bit as important as lighting technique. Choosing dry, ready-to-burn wood, installing a carbon monoxide alarm, having the chimney swept regularly, and looking after the stove’s seals and moving parts all contribute to safer combustion, better efficiency, and cleaner indoor air. These habits also help reduce emissions and prevent unnecessary wear on the stove and flue system.
If you would like a more in-depth look at safe wood burning, including choosing compliant fuel, reducing smoke, maintaining your stove, and understanding the regulations that apply in England, we have written a detailed guide that covers everything in one place. You can read it here:
Wood Burning Stove Safety and Maintenance - A Complete Guide
Common Wood Burning Stove Problems
Even the best wood burning stoves occasionally present challenges, especially for new owners who are still learning how their appliance behaves. Issues such as smoke leaking into the room, blackened glass, fires that won't stay lit, or unpleasant odours from the chimney are all surprisingly common and usually have simple causes once you know what to look for. In most cases, it comes down to a combination of fuel quality, moisture content, airflow, and technique.
Understanding why these problems occur makes them far easier to fix. Cold flues can stall a burn before it begins, damp wood produces choking smoke, worn door seals allow fumes to escape, and poor air control can cause both sooty glass and disappointing heat output. None of these faults mean your stove is defective - they are just part of learning how to burn cleanly and efficiently.
To help you avoid frustration and enjoy smoother, cleaner, more predictable fires, we've written a detailed guide that explains the most common wood burner problems and how to solve them step by step. If you find your stove misbehaving or just want to be prepared, you can read it here:
