A log burner is a cosy addition to any home, especially during the colder months. However, lighting a log burner is slightly different to lighting a normal fireplace, as the space is a lot smaller, which can make things a little trickier.
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It’s not that hard though, you just need to make sure you’ve got the right materials and, of course, a lighter or matches. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide from Firewood Centre on how to light a log burner.
How to light a log burner: materials you will need
• Firelighters - a small block of material made from by-wood product that burns easily and is used for lighting fires. Natural firelighters contain no nasty chemicals and are odourless. If you don’t have firelighters you can still light your log burner, just use strips of newspaper instead.
• Kindling - small pieces of wood that burn easily. It will help to increase the fire in your log burner before adding the main fuel (kiln dried logs).
• Kiln dried logs - Firewood Centre advises to avoid using logs from your garden or petrol stations and opting for a high quality wood that’s been dried properly and cured. Lighting logs that have too much moisture in them can be tricky and will create a lot of black smoke (which means black glass on your log burner).
• Matches or a lighter - a must-have to get your fire going.
How to light a log burner in five simple steps
- Open the air vents on your log burner - air is an essential part of the chemical process when it comes to lighting a fire.
- Grab your kindling and build a little pyramid shape in the middle of your log burner, along with a couple of firelighters. Leave space between them so that air can get in between them and feed the fire.
- With a match or lighter, light the firelighters. As your kindling starts to catch fire, partially close the door of your log burner, leaving an inch gap, so that air can still get in. Don’t ever leave the room while your log burner door is open.
- Once the kindling is burning nice and strongly, add two or three logs. Make sure you don’t smother your fire though.
- Shut your log burner door, making sure it’s secure. Once your logs are properly alight, and you have a good fire going, you can adjust the wood burner’s air vents so that your wood burns for longer. The more open they are, the longer your fire will stay alight.
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