Burning too hot can damage your logburner
Overfiring is when a wood-burning stove operates at a higher temperature than it was designed to handle, usually due to excessive fuel, too much airflow, incorrect fuel, or faulty equipment.
Common Causes
- Too much oxygen (airflow)
- Too much fuel
- Using the wrong type of fuel
- Faulty stove components
If you decide to burn kiln dried wood you may find that your stove is burning through it really quickly. Make sure that you turn the air down on your stove and add some less seasoned wood to balance out the flames.
Potential Damage
- Distorted or damaged baffle plates
- Damaged flue/chimney system
- Cracked fire bricks
- Warped stove body
Overburning your stove / burning it too hot can be very damaging to your liner ( often forgotten about once installed ) and stove. It can damage your firebricks and warp inner parts such as the baffle which can be costly to replace.
How to Prevent It
- Avoid overloading the stove with fuel
- Maintain appropriate airflow settings
- Use only the correct fuel for the stove
- Service the stove regularly
- Install a stove pipe thermometer to monitor temperatures
- Ask your chimney sweep to check the seals on the door and the glass in case extra air is able to enter and feed the fire.
What to Do if the Stove Is Too Hot
- Stop adding fuel
- Close air vents/air controls to reduce airflow
- Allow the fire to cool and the stove temperature to drop
Overfiring can seriously damage a stove and chimney system, but it can be avoided through correct fuel use, proper airflow control, regular maintenance, and temperature monitoring.
This is why GTD Installations Ltd always give our customers a free stove pipe thermometer when we install a wood burner or multifuel stove for them. It's a simple device that is really helpful and lets you see visually when your stove is burning too hot ( and not hot enough ).
