Struggling to get your log burner going, or finding that your fire goes out shortly after lighting it? Building a good fire is all about using dry wood, starting with enough kindling and allowing the flames to develop before adding larger logs.
Whether you’re lighting a wood-burning stove or an open fireplace, following a few simple steps can help you establish a steady fire without wasting fuel.
At Heritage Products, we supply kiln dried beech logs, kindling and firelighters to help you get started. Here’s our step-by-step guide to building a fire and keeping it burning efficiently.
What Do You Need to Build a Fire?
Before lighting your fire, have the following ready:
· Kiln dried logs: Dry hardwood logs provide the main fuel once your fire is established.
· Kindling: Small pieces of dry wood that ignite more easily than larger logs.
· Firelighters: Suitable firelighters help get your kindling burning quickly.
· Matches or a long-reach lighter: For safely lighting your firelighters.
· Fireplace tools and heat-resistant gloves: Useful for safely adding and positioning logs once the fire is burning.
It’s important to choose logs that are suitable for your appliance. Oversized pieces can be difficult to arrange and may restrict the airflow your fire needs.
Heritage Products supplies kiln dried beech logs, advertised at a maximum length of 25cm, suitable for many domestic wood burners and open fireplaces. Always check your stove’s recommended log dimensions before purchasing.
How to Build a Fire Using Kiln Dried Logs
The method below follows the kindling-first approach recommended by Heritage Products. It involves establishing a small fire with kindling and firelighters before gradually adding larger pieces of wood.
Different appliances can have different lighting requirements, so always follow your stove manufacturer’s instructions where these differ.
Step 1: Prepare Your Log Burner or Fireplace
Before you start, check that your appliance is clean, properly maintained and safe to use.
Remove excessive ash or debris that could obstruct airflow. Some wood-burning stoves are designed to retain a thin bed of ash, so check the manufacturer’s recommendations rather than removing everything.
Make sure the air vents are clear and adjust the controls to the recommended lighting position.
If you use an open fireplace, ensure the chimney is clear and the damper is open, where fitted.
Never light a fire if you suspect your chimney or flue is blocked.
Step 2: Arrange Your Kindling
Start with a small handful of dry kindling. Heritage Products recommends an amount that you could comfortably hold in one hand as a useful starting point.
Arrange the pieces into a loose pyramid or teepee shape in the firebox.
Leave a gap in the centre for your firelighters, with enough space between the pieces of kindling for air to circulate.
Avoid packing everything tightly together. A fire needs oxygen to establish itself, and even dry kindling can struggle to burn if airflow is restricted.
Step 3: Add Your Firelighters and Light the Fire
Place one or two suitable firelighters in the centre of your kindling arrangement, following the instructions on the packaging.
Use a match or long-reach lighter to ignite them carefully.
The firelighters should gradually ignite the surrounding kindling, creating the initial flames needed to heat the larger logs.
Allow the kindling to catch properly before adding more fuel.
For a wood-burning stove, keep the door and air controls in the positions specified by the manufacturer during lighting.
Never use petrol, lighter fluid or other flammable liquids to start or revive a wood fire.
Step 4: Add Smaller Kiln Dried Logs
Once the kindling is burning well, carefully add one or two smaller kiln dried logs.
Choose pieces that fit comfortably inside your stove or fireplace without crowding the kindling.
Position the logs so that the flames can reach them while leaving space for air to move around the wood.
Starting with smaller logs helps the fire establish itself before you introduce larger pieces.
Avoid adding several large logs immediately, as this can smother the kindling and cause the flames to die down.
Step 5: Allow the Logs to Catch Fire
Give the first logs time to ignite properly.
As the wood heats up and begins burning, the fire should become more established and produce a bed of glowing embers.
If the flames weaken, check whether the fire has enough air and whether the logs are positioned too closely together.
Avoid making frequent adjustments or repeatedly opening the stove door while the fire is establishing itself.
Once your stove reaches its normal operating temperature, adjust the air controls according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6: Add More Logs to Maintain the Fire
When the first logs are burning steadily and a suitable bed of embers has developed, you can add more kiln dried firewood.
Refuel gradually rather than filling the entire firebox at once.
The number of logs needed will depend on the size of your stove, the size of the firewood and the heat output you’re trying to maintain.
Heritage Products’ existing fire-lighting advice emphasises that adding too many logs at the beginning can cause a fire to struggle. A smaller, well-established fire is a better foundation than a large pile of wood that hasn’t caught properly.
Always stay within your appliance’s recommended fuel load and never leave a burning fire unattended.
Why Are Kiln Dried Logs Better for Building a Fire?
One of the most important factors when lighting a wood fire is the moisture content of your logs.
Freshly cut or poorly seasoned wood can contain considerable moisture. When it burns, some of the heat is used to evaporate the water rather than providing useful warmth.
Wet wood also produces more smoke and can contribute to tar deposits inside your chimney.
Kiln dried logs have been mechanically dried to reduce their moisture content, making them ready for use without requiring further seasoning.
Wood with a moisture content of 20% or less is recommended for domestic burning.
Heritage Products supplies kiln dried beech logs with a moisture content below 20%. Beech is a dense hardwood that provides a steady source of heat once your fire is established.
Choosing dry, suitably sized logs can help you:
· Light your fire more easily than with damp wood.
· Make better use of the heat available from your firewood.
· Reduce the excessive smoke associated with burning wet logs.
· Avoid some of the tar and soot problems caused by poorly dried fuel.
All wood burning produces emissions, so using dry logs alongside a properly maintained appliance and correct burning techniques remains important.
Common Mistakes When Lighting a Log Burner
Even with good-quality kiln dried logs, a few common mistakes can make your fire harder to start.
Adding Large Logs Too Early
Large pieces of hardwood need sufficient heat to ignite. Adding them before the kindling is burning properly can weaken or extinguish the flames.
Start with smaller logs and gradually increase the size once your fire is established.
Using Too Little Kindling
Trying to start a fire with just a firelighter and a large log can be frustrating.
A suitable amount of dry kindling helps build the heat needed to ignite the main fuel. Take the time to establish a good initial flame before adding logs.
Overloading the Firebox
It’s tempting to add extra logs in the hope of producing more heat, but too much wood can restrict airflow and interfere with combustion.
Follow your appliance’s recommended fuel load and leave enough space around the logs for air to circulate.
Closing the Air Vents Too Soon
Restricting airflow before the logs have caught properly can cause the fire to smoulder.
Allow the stove to reach its normal operating temperature before adjusting the air controls as recommended by the manufacturer.
Burning Damp Wood
If your fire struggles to light, check the condition of your firewood.
Even kiln dried logs can absorb moisture when stored outdoors without adequate protection.
Using a moisture meter on a freshly split surface can help you check that your firewood is suitable for burning.
How to Keep Your Fire Burning Efficiently
Once your fire is established, keeping it burning is mainly about maintaining the right balance of fuel, heat and airflow.
Add new logs when there is a suitable bed of glowing embers, rather than waiting until the fire has almost gone out.
Use heat-resistant gloves and appropriate fireplace tools when refuelling, and avoid disturbing the logs unnecessarily.
Follow your stove manufacturer’s instructions for adjusting airflow. Allow newly added logs to catch properly before reducing the air supply.
It’s also important to store your firewood correctly. Kiln dried logs should be kept somewhere dry, sheltered and well ventilated to prevent them from absorbing moisture.
A dedicated log store or covered, raised storage area can help protect your supply from rain and damp ground.
For further advice, read our guide on how and where to store your firewood.
Important Fire Safety Tips
Before using a wood-burning stove or open fireplace, make sure your appliance and chimney are properly maintained.
· Have your chimney swept regularly by a competent chimney sweep and follow the recommended maintenance schedule for your appliance.
· Fit working smoke alarms and a correctly positioned carbon monoxide alarm.
· Never use petrol or other flammable liquids to light or revive a fire.
· Keep firewood, furniture and other combustible materials a safe distance from the fireplace.
· Use a suitable fireguard for open fires, particularly where children or pets are present.
· Use heat-resistant gloves and appropriate tools when adding or moving logs.
· Never leave a burning fire unattended.
· Allow ashes to cool completely before disposing of them safely in a suitable metal container.
If smoke enters the room unexpectedly or you suspect a problem with your stove or chimney, stop using the appliance and arrange a professional inspection.
Check local restrictions: If you live in a smoke control area, additional rules apply. Burning wood indoors generally requires a Defra-exempt appliance, and you must follow the conditions for its use.
Find Kiln Dried Logs and Kindling at Heritage Products
Building a good fire starts with the right preparation and suitable firewood. By allowing your kindling to establish a strong flame, adding logs gradually and maintaining the correct airflow, you can make lighting your log burner much easier.
At Heritage Products, we supply kiln dried beech logs with a moisture content below 20%, ready to use in suitable wood-burning appliances.
Our firewood is available in nets, barrow bags, bulk bags and loose loads, making it easy to choose a quantity that suits your needs. We also supply kindling to help you get your fire started.