There’s nothing more annoying than looking forward to a nice cosy fire, only for it to quickly burn and fizzle out after lighting it. If you’re wondering how to make a fire last longer, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you create a fire that will last much longer.
1. Restrict air flow
Now - we know in other articles on our website we’ve told you to do the exact opposite to get your fires started. However, if you’re finding that your fire is burning fast and extinguishing quickly, you may need to restrict the air into the chamber.
To do so, start closing the vents off once you add your logs (without completely shutting them down) and, as a result, your fire will burn slower and last longer.
2. Use more than just one log
Don’t be stingy - using fewer logs does not mean they’ll last longer. You’ll soon realise that by only adding one log, your fire will go out much faster. When lighting your fire you should use at least two, ideally three logs depending on the size of your stove. This way you’ll find your wood will burn for a much longer time.
3. Use hardwood instead of softwood
What is the best firewood for a wood burning stove? Hardwoods, like our kiln dried birch logs, will burn slower than softwood. When it comes to using logs, always go with hardwood because they’ll burn for longer, resulting in fires that last hours rather than minutes. Using hardwood that has a low moisture content like our kiln dried firewood is also recommended for a slower burn.
4. Stack your fire correctly
Learning how to light a wood burning stove is simple and, with a bit of practice,, you’ll become a pro in no time. The secret to a perfect stack is lots of practice and finding what works best for your specific stove.
To get a great stack, bring all your items together - firelighters, kindling and your kiln dried logs - and create a pyramid shape with the logs going on top (although leave these out until the fire has started). Make sure it isn’t too densely packed, as this can cause the flames to go out.nce everything has caught and is burning away, you can add your two or three logs.
Everyone has their own technique when it comes to lighting a fire, but these tips should help make a difference in the length of your fires. As well as taking note of the things that can make your fires last longer, there are also some things to avoid if you want a longer burning fire:
- Using low quality firewood
- Shutting off air vents completely
- Not stacking the fire properly
- Only putting on one log to burn
Avoid these four points and follow our advice and you’ll enjoy fires that last for hours at a time!