The amount of air going through your stove is the key to how well it burns. Air provides a fire with oxygen, so it burns faster with more air, and slower with less. Learn how to use the vents on your stove to become a master of wood-burning! The best way to do this is to experiment with your own stove.
As a basic guide:
High air flow means :
- Your fuel may burn too fast
- It will burn hotter
- The stove glass will stay clearer
Reducing the air flow means:
- You get a longer burn time
- Better temperature control
- More soot build up on the glass
To keep the stove glass clear, ensure there’s air flowing all the time. Don’t close the vents completely, and periodically burn hot to clear build up. Many modern stoves designed for smokeless zones have an air-wash feature. This means there’s a constant flow of air across the glass, keeping the glass clear and reducing build up of soot. This makes it harder to control the burn-rate.
