How to light a wood burner

Looking for the best method on how to light a wood burner? Then take a look at our breakdown of 6 simple steps that will help get the best out of your wood burning stove and multifuel log burner.

Our simple steps will ensure you get the best from your log burner and have it firing at its optimal temperature.

If you would like to see some more of our tips head over to our helpful stoves guides and answers page.

Total Time Needed: 30 minutes

Required Tools:

- Matches or gas lighter.

Materials:

- Kindling (small cuts of wood)

- Natural firelighters.

- 2x small logs (around 9 inch x 2 inch)

- Standard sized logs

Steps for the best way to light a log burner:

Step 1

Create a pile of kindling: Start with 2 pieces of kindling on the bottom then turn another 2 pieces 90 degrees on top of them. keep repeating this, stacking them up like a game of Jenga.

Step 2

Now light 2 or 3 firelighters and drop these in the middle of the kindling stack created.

Step 3

From here it's best to leave the door slightly ajar, allowing extra air into the stove. Keep the vents fully open too to ensure the kindling will catch fire. After 5 minutes the chimney will begin to warm up.

Step 4

At this point it's important to build the fire up slowly. Add two small logs on top of the kindling while still leaving the door ajar.

Step 5

After around 10 minutes add one standard sized log on the fire and still keep the door ajar as this will help the log catch fire.

Your stove should now be just about getting up to temperature.

Step 6

Finally, after another 10 minutes add another standard log. You can now close the door and control the stove by the airflow vents. But make sure don't completely close the vents straight away as the flue still needs warming before being able to do this.