8 Things You’ll Wish You Had Done Before Starting the Wood Stove

Lighting up the wood stove feels like crossing something off the to-do list—until the smoke starts backing up or you realize something’s off. There are a few simple things that, if skipped, will make your cozy moment way more stressful than it needs to be. Here are the things I always double-check before striking a match.

Open the Damper

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget. A closed damper traps smoke and keeps air from flowing. That’ll smoke up the whole room and set off alarms before the fire even gets going.

Clear Out the Ash

Letting ash build up too high limits airflow and makes the stove harder to manage. You want an inch or two max. If there’s a mountain in there from last winter, clean it out before starting fresh.

Check for Bird Nests

Birds love chimneys and stovepipes—especially ones that sit unused for months. A quick flashlight check could save you from smoke backing up or worse, starting a fire where you didn’t mean to.

Crack a Window

If your house is sealed up tight, your stove might not draw air properly. Cracking a window gives it a little help and can make the fire easier to light, especially in newer homes or mobile homes.

Prime the Flue

Cold flues don’t draft well. Holding a rolled-up newspaper flame near the flue for 30–60 seconds warms it up and helps air start pulling smoke up instead of into the room. It’s a tiny step that makes a big difference.

Check Your Firewood

Is it seasoned? Is it dry? Burning wet or green wood creates more smoke and builds up creosote fast. Knock two logs together—if it sounds dull, it’s not dry enough yet.

Remove Clutter Nearby

That laundry basket you shoved “out of the way” in spring might be closer than you think. Move anything flammable at least a few feet away from the stove before lighting up.

Set Up Your Tools

There’s nothing more frustrating than lighting the fire, then scrambling to find the poker, gloves, or ash bucket. Get everything in place before you start so you’re not fumbling when it gets hot.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.