New to wood burning stoves

[JudyC]

We had ours installed in May, and apart from a couple of small fires to commission it last night was the first night I lit a proper fire.
I read the instructions properly, checking which airflow should be open/closed. I managed to keep it going two hours using kindling to start with and two logs, then adding two further logs. The last one wasn't that successful as the fire was dying down by then.
Has anyone any tips. Ours is a Heta with a primary and secondary airflow control.
And do you buy logs already seasoned, or have a log store. Hard wood or soft wood? The best place near to us seems to be Delamere, but it looks like they sell large bags of softwood logs for £55, will these last?
Lots of questions I know.

[JudyC]

I've just found Delamere do hardwood logs, £70 for a builders bag. How long should that last, all winter I would hope if I only light the fire in the evenings.

[nursetina]

Welcome to the cosy world of woodburners. You definately need seasoned wood, if it's not seasoned it doesn't burn properly as still a lot of moisture in it. Hard wood burns more slowly soft wood you will get through more quickly so if I can I prefer hardwood... but I'm not adverse to softwood.
To get your fire going open both top and bottom vents and you can also get it to draw better if you open the door a bit too. This also works if the fire dies down. Once my fire is going well I close the bottom vent ( on mine this is at bottom of door) then use the top vent to control the burn. I close it a tiny bit at a time until I get it to a level I'm happy with. I fiddle with it throughout evening and different weather conditions affect how it draws etc. I absolutely love my wood burner, it's the best investment we ever made. Any questions ask.

[JudyC]

I think one of my rookie errors last night was closing the primary valve in one go rather than gradually.

[soooexcited!]

I have serious log burner envy. Gets worse every autumn 🍂

[nursetina]

Originally Posted by soooexcited!

I have serious log burner envy. Gets worse every autumn 🍂

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Best thing we ever did was get ours installed 5 years ago. I definately use less oil for central heating as wood burner can heat whole house if doors are open.

[Saratoska]

We have our vent opened for a good hour or so after starting the fire , we were told to keep our door slightly open while the fire lights

We have ours on all the time from now until April and will go through 5 crates , we burn beech logs and also buy heat logs for the really cold days

Our gas bill went down and whist over all we havent saved as in gas gone down spent on logs the house is way warmer

[JudyC]

This is ours. We live in a 20 year old detached house with gas central heating, so I was initially concerned it might get too hot. We've got double doors through to the knocked through kitchen/diner so can keep these open.

[JudyC]

Another question. Where do you store the seasoned logs. Would keeping them in a large plastic storage container be suitable. Its presently got the sun lounge and garden umbrella in, but I can find other home for them.

[skalexander]

Originally Posted by JudyC

Another question. Where do you store the seasoned logs. Would keeping them in a large plastic storage container be suitable. Its presently got the sun lounge and garden umbrella in, but I can find other home for them.

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I'm interested in this too. We are not very cost efficient with our fire, as we don't have much storage. One of the big tote bags would be much cheaper than what we're currently doing, but its keeping the logs out of the weather.