Windy Weather? 🔥 Here’s How To Get Your Wood Stove Roaring!

[@ourlittlebulgarianadventure]

We have almost the same pechka as you. We don't get the same issue but our system for lighting it is different. We lay the kindling and paper towards the back of the firebox and leave the front half clear. That way the smoke has less chance to come out of the top plate gaps. We also shut the door as soon as the paper is lit and slightly open the ash drawer to allow more air through. This makes the fire burn hotter and warms the pechka and chimney quicker. Once the fire is burning properly we add more wood to the front half but never further forward than where the bottom grill meets the front fire bricks. That way air will carry the smoke and gases upward and backwards, eliminating and "dead air" areas where the smoke can linger. It takes a bit more managing to start with but it may help reduce your smoke issues. I hope there's something useful for you in all that, it certainly works for us.

[@MonkontheHill]

Ok, sounds reasonable! 👍🏼 Well, the one or two blows of smoke aren't that bad. At the moment the problem is different. I have a water tank in there for radiators. Now, because of the snow there's a power outage. So the pump is not working and I can't light it at all... 🙄🥶

[@dandaniels8897]

I have the same problem every once in a while, so what I do is: I take my hot air popcorn popper, take the plastic top off so it's just the base and put it in the unlit stove and let it blow hot air for 3 - 5 minutes. While it's blowing hot air, I also light my small propane torch alongside the popper, I actually just hold it and close the door as much as I can. This heats the chimney up fast! Then I get my newspaper and kindling in there and lit as fast as I can. It works every time!

[@MonkontheHill]

Hah! Great idea! I don't have a popcorn popper but a hot air gun. I'll give it a try next time it's windy! 👍🏼

[@maggiew4904]

That's a smart idea!!

[@goldcountryruss7035]

Newer model stoves that are sealed and use outside air for combustion are a little easier to cold start in windy weather. My stove is supplied with combustion air by a 4"/100mm metal duct from under the house. I also use super dry split wood kindling with 5 or 6 BBQ brickettes soaked in fire starter placed underneath the kindling. I surround the kindling on both sides with crumpled newspaper. I fully open the damper, light the briquettes and paper, and partially close the stove door. When that fast-burning paper has burned I close the door fully. The paper adds enough heat to start a draft, the briquettes start the kindling quickly and you can add larger wood within 5 or 6 minutes. Works perfectly for me as long as the kindling is really dry.

[@MonkontheHill]

Especially the outside air system I find fascinating!👍🏼 And yes, the kindling has to light up as quickly as possible. I might make a video about my fire setup using only natural materials. 😉

[@goldcountryruss7035]

@@MonkontheHill By using outside air for combustion there isn't any negative pressure generated indoors which means fewer or maybe no cold drafts. Any cold air pulled into the heated space increases the heat requirement.

[@MonkontheHill]

@goldcountryruss7035 exactly! 👍🏼