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Woodburner question..

 
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sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 05 1:06 pm    Post subject: Woodburner question.. Reply with quote
    

Why does a woodburner/fire work better when there's a bed of ash?
I've just lit mine for the first time this year and it took ages to get going compared with when it's in regular use.

Alchemist



Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 123
Location: Aberdeenshire
PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 05 1:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Dunno, but that's basically the difference between coal-burning and woodburning stoves by all accounts. Woodburners have flat bases to the cavity because the wood benefits from the ash, and coal-fired stoves have grates to allow the ash to fall through because they get smothered otherwise. Haven't quite worked that one out myself yet.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 05 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Don't know, but ours does too. when we clean it out, we always leave some in now, to stop it being such a nightmare after. The wind has been odd recntly too, affecting the draw.

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 05 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

In short, yes. If we are burning wood we clean out once a week, if using coal then once a day.

Millymollymandy



Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France
PostPosted: Sat Oct 15, 05 6:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Our woodburner has a grate for the ash to fall through. We clean it out every day and it lights without any problem at all!

Jonnyboy



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.
PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 05 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Millymollymandy wrote:
Our woodburner has a grate for the ash to fall through. We clean it out every day and it lights without any problem at all!


I probably will, but your wood will be burning too fast as well.

Millymollymandy



Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France
PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 05 12:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Why would that be? It's our first year with one. Any tips gratefully received!

Northern_Lad



Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere
PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 05 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Millymollymandy wrote:
Why would that be? It's our first year with one. Any tips gratefully received!


It burns quicker with a clear grate as the air-flow is increased, alowing more oxygen through.

Millymollymandy



Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France
PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 05 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

With mine, the air doesn't come up from under the grate. It is above it so wouldn't make any difference whether there was ash there or not.

Will



Joined: 30 Jun 2005
Posts: 571
Location: Grenoside, Sheffield
PostPosted: Thu Oct 20, 05 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

As I understand it even in a stove without a secondary airflow opening under the grate, the effect of convection (warm air rising up the chimney, cold air being drawn down to replace it) will cause air to be pulled up from below the grate through the fire.

My stove has two air controls - one above and one below the fire. When burning wood, I usually keep the bottom one closed and the top one open with a layer of ash on the grate. Smokeless fuel needs the bottom one open, the top one partially closed and a clear grate.

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