So, the hardest stages are behind you: you have chosen and bought a fireplace insert, installed the fireplace at home and are ready to enjoy the gentle crackle of the fire. Only one simple but important step remains — the first lighting of the fireplace.
You can find a great deal of advice online about how to fire a fireplace correctly, but a responsible installation team will never leave this stage to you. The first lighting of a wood-burning fireplace should always be carried out by the team that installed the fireplace and the flue.
The fitters should check the quality of the work themselves, in the presence of the customer, and rule out or if necessary correct any faults. The first firing of the insert and the check that follows are a standard part of the warranty service provided by the manufacturer or by the company that sold and installed the fireplace.
How do you light a fireplace for the first time?
If you have nevertheless decided to install the fireplace yourself and are now looking for guidance on how to light it correctly the first time, here are the key steps:
- Read the installation and operating manual for your insert carefully.
- Check that all parts and components of the fireplace are in place.
- Make sure there are no foreign objects in the ash pan — gloves, tools, parts and so on.
- Make sure the flue is connected correctly, that it is in good order, and check the draught.
- Put dry wood into the firebox. Choose deciduous species seasoned for at least six months after felling.
- Place two or three of the largest logs on the base of the firebox, three layers of smaller logs on top of them, and a little kindling at the very top. Lay each layer perpendicular to the previous one.
- Put a cube of purpose-made fireplace firelighter under the top layer of kindling and light it.
- Let the first load of wood burn down completely.
Please note! During the first firing the fireplace must be under constant supervision throughout the process.
Why is the fire built from the top down?
Because top-down lighting produces far less smoke. When the kindling is at the top, the flame slowly works its way downwards and the gases released by the wood below pass through the hot flame zone and burn off, instead of escaping into the flue as smoke. The result is a cleaner start, a faster warm-up of the chimney and less soot on the glass.
What should you expect during the first firing?
When you light a wood-burning fireplace for the first time, be prepared to watch the burn closely throughout. If you carried out the installation yourself, this is especially important. That way you can spot and prevent any problems with the fireplace or the flue, and call in qualified specialists in good time.
Remember also that for the first and every subsequent firing you should use only good, well-seasoned wood with a low resin and moisture content.
When the fire has only just caught, do not close the fireplace door tightly. First, air will come in through the small gap and the fire will catch faster. Second, during the first firing an unpleasant smell and some smoke may be released. There is no need to be alarmed — there is a logical explanation.
Why is there a smell during the first firing?
A sharp chemical smell during the first firing of an insert or stove does not necessarily mean something is wrong. During the first burn the heat-resistant paint covering the insert may be curing.
The paint hardens and gives off a characteristic smell as it does so. It is not harmful to people and will not appear again at later firings. To avoid the seal sticking, however, the firebox door should be left slightly ajar.
Some manufacturers use paint in modern inserts that is cured during production, so that no smell is released at all when the fireplace is first lit. The paint used by SAVEN for its steel inserts, for example, is environmentally safe and gives off neither smoke nor smell during firing, because it goes through the crystallisation process during baking at the production stage rather than in your living room.