This is how you light a fire with firewood

Norwegians with a few years under their belt usually grew up with firing in the old-fashioned way, so-called bottom firing - where you build the wood up into a pyramid and light it from the bottom, often with the help of old newspaper, a milk carton, or whatever you have on hand. But research clearly shows that top firing is both more effective and produces less emissions. Also, only use wood that should be burned in the stove, so skip the paper!,

Succeed with top firing - step by step,Use dry firewood At Plantasjen, you can be completely sure that you get dry birch firewood. The firewood comes with a quality guarantee, and it should have a maximum moisture level of 20%. See tips on how you can check if the firewood you have is dry further down in the article.

Stack the firewood horizontally When you are going to fire up, stack the firewood horizontally. Place two firewood logs next to each other at the bottom, making sure they do not go all the way into the walls or glass of the stove. Place two slightly smaller logs across the first ones. On top, place kindling wood or some small twigs. Fire needs oxygen, so make sure the firewood is not too close together and that you do not fill the stove with too much wood.Fire from the top Use firelighters or fire starter cubes when you light up, but avoid newspaper and the like. Light it at the top of the stack.Check the draft Poor draft results in poor fire and increased emissions, so make sure you have good draft. It takes at least ten minutes before the stove is completely hot, and only then can you adjust the air intake or close the door completely.,

Top firing in new and old stoves, In Norway, there was a requirement for clean-burning stoves in 1998, these stoves have two-stage air intake, one for primary air, which is used when starting a fire, and one for secondary air, which takes over when the stove is hot and ensures even and clean combustion. In old stoves, all air comes in as primary air. However, top firing is still recommended even in old stoves, even though the particulate emissions may not be as good as in a new stove, the effect is good.

Store the firewood properly, Store the firewood indoors to avoid moisture - or in a dry place free from rain and moisture. Why not create a firewood shelf along a niche in the wall? It makes it easier to fetch firewood for the stove, and it also creates a cozy atmosphere indoors. With firewood stackers and firewood racks in various sizes, you can stack as much firewood as you need and have room for. They are available in iron, wood, and other materials. Find something to your taste to make the firewood part of the decor.,How to check if the firewood is dry, Using dry firewood is important for firing. The moisture content in the firewood should not be over 20%. But how do you know if the firewood you have is dry enough?,

Feel the weight - dry firewood is light, moist firewood is heavier.Listen to the sound when you hit two firewood logs together - dry firewood gives a sharp sound, like when a baseball bat hits a ball, while moist firewood gives a duller sound.Use the dish soap trick - put a small dab of dish soap on the end of a firewood log, and blow hard into the wood from the opposite end. If it bubbles in the soap on the end, the firewood is dry and ready for the stove.

Buy a moisture meter - a fairly small investment, which you can also use when checking if it is dry enough to stain the deck or paint the house.

• Birch is the preferred firewood, The most common type of wood to fire with in Norway is birch. Birch burns well, provides good heat, and is easy to find all over the country. And when birch firewood burns, sparks and embers do not fly out onto the floor, which is convenient regardless, but especially important if you have an open fireplace.,Other types of wood you can fire with,
• Rowan - burns slowly and evenly, gives off heat without sparking.Oak - oak firewood should ideally have dried for a couple of years before being used in a fireplace, otherwise the tannic acid can damage the flue.
• Beech - a type of wood that burns for a long time and steadily, but like oak, it must dry for a few years.
• Spruce - burns quickly and provides good heat in the stove, sparks a lot, and should ideally be burned in a closed fireplace.Pine and aspen can also be used as firewood. The first burns with a crackling sound, the second burns calmly and evenly without giving off too much heat.