Free Wood Burning Instructions for Beginners

Season firewood correctly by cutting it up and stacking it so that the air can move around it and allow it to dry. Compressed sawdust logs make an excellent substitute if you are unable to find any seasoned wood. Bubbling steam and hissing wood are signs that your wood is too wet or green and needs to be seasoned longer for safe burning.

Protect wood with a loose plastic tarp or store it in a garage or shed.

Start a fire in your wood stove by placing newspaper, cardboard and small pieces of dry bark or kindling under one or two pieces of firewood. Ignite the newspapers.

Keep the draft control of your stove completely open for a half hour after lighting the wood, and each time you put more firewood into the stove. Heat can then freely move up the flue to prevent creosote buildup.