There’s something timeless about the glow of a wood-burning stove. In homes across Wales, they’re more than just a way to stay warm – they bring comfort, character, and that unmistakable crackle of a real fire. Whether you’re gathered around one on a frosty evening or using it to keep energy bills down, a stove often becomes a natural focal point of the home.
But let’s not forget the main purpose of a stove: to provide reliable, consistent heat. When used correctly, they do just that, keeping your home warm and your energy bills low.
However, a few common mistakes can seriously reduce their efficiency, meaning more fuel is needed for less heat. These issues can also lead to increased maintenance, more smoke, and potential safety risks.
From fuelling slip-ups to poor lighting techniques and overlooked maintenance, many stove owners unknowingly fall into habits that undermine their stove’s performance. As full-time stove installers and chimney sweeps, we’ve seen it all.
So, in this blog, we’re sharing the five most common wood-burning errors we come across, along with how to avoid them to keep your stove running safely, efficiently, and at its very best.
1. Mistake one: burning the wrong type of wood
Did you know that burning the wrong kind of wood is one of the quickest ways to ruin your stove’s performance?
You’re most likely lighting your stove to heat your home efficiently, so it only makes sense to use fuel that helps you do that. However, wet or unseasoned wood is a major culprit in poor heat output and excessive smoke, as the high moisture content means it smoulders rather than burns, producing very little heat and lots of smoke.
And that smoke doesn’t just disappear; it leaves behind tar and creosote in your chimney, increasing the need for maintenance and raising the risk of chimney fires. Plus, it can leak into your room, causing smoke pollution and potential health risks.
So, if you’re burning logs that haven’t been properly dried, you’re not only wasting wood, you’re making your stove work harder and less safely than it should.
How to avoid this mistake:
Always use seasoned or kiln-dried logs with a moisture content below 20%. This isn’t just good advice, it’s the law – under the UK’s Clean Air Strategy, selling wet wood is restricted, meaning using the right logs keeps your home eco-friendly and legally compliant.
Plus, you should opt for hardwoods like ash, oak, or beech; they burn hotter, last longer, and produce less soot than softwoods.
A cheap moisture meter can help you check your fuel, and it’s a small investment that pays off in performance, making a huge difference to heat output and smoke levels.
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2. Mistake two: overloading your stove…
We get it, you want a roaring fire that doesn’t need to be topped up every other minute. But, counterintuitively, cramming your stove full of logs is more likely to have the opposite effect than taking your time building it up.
When a stove is overloaded, it chokes the airflow needed for proper combustion, resulting in a sluggish, smoky fire that doesn’t give off much heat.
Not only does this waste your fuel, but it also encourages soot and creosote to build up in the flue, leading to more maintenance and more risk.
How to avoid this mistake:
While it might be tempting to overload the stove, our biggest piece of advice is to start small. Build your fire gradually with kindling and a few logs, allowing it to establish a strong, clean flame.
Once it’s burning well, add logs a little at a time. This allows the stove to maintain a steady temperature and airflow, which means a hotter fire, less smoke, and a cleaner, more efficient burn overall.
📖 Read more: Common wood-burning stove problems (and how to fix them)
3. Mistake three: neglecting regular stove maintenance
Even the best stoves need regular care.
One of the biggest mistakes we see is letting routine stove maintenance slide. Forgetting to sweep the chimney or ignoring a buildup of soot and ash can severely reduce your stove’s performance, increase fuel use, and create serious safety risks like chimney fires, plus it can mean a shorter lifespan for your stove.
A blackened glass door is another red flag, it’s often a sign of poor fuel, a smouldering fire, or improper air control. Not only does it block your view of the flames, but it can also signal inefficient burning. This isn’t just about appearance; it helps maintain efficient burning, keeps the glass from overheating, and ensures your stove always looks and performs at its best.
How to avoid this mistake:
You should have your chimney professionally swept at least once a year, twice if you use your stove heavily. This removes soot, ash, and dangerous creosote buildup, which is one of the leading causes of chimney fires.
Keep the stove glass clean with a damp cloth dipped in wood ash for a natural, chemical-free polish. Many modern stoves are designed with built-in airwash systems that direct airflow over the inside of the glass, helping to keep it clear from soot and tar buildup as you burn. While this clever feature reduces the frequency of manual cleaning, it still pays to give your stove glass a regular wipe-down to maintain that cosy, crackling view.
You should also empty ash regularly to maintain airflow, but don’t scoop it all out; leaving a thin layer helps insulate and ignite your next fire more effectively.
If you’re ever unsure, ask your sweep to show you the best way to keep things in check between visits to ensure you get the most efficient and safe burn.
🔍 Find out more about our maintenance options
4. Mistake four: blocking the stove’s air supply
Your stove needs air to burn effectively. One of the most overlooked aspects of stove operation is air control.
Shutting the air vents too soon or failing to open them fully when lighting the fire can cause the fire to smoulder. This not only makes it harder to get going, but also leads to more smoke, poor combustion, and increased creosote buildup in your flue.
In more modern, airtight homes, poor airflow can also cause smoke to linger inside the room rather than rising cleanly up the chimney.
How to avoid this mistake:
Always open the air vents fully when lighting your fire to establish a strong draft and help the fire catch quickly. Once the fire is going well, you can gradually reduce the airflow to control the burn rate without snuffing out the flames.
If you live in a newer or very well-insulated home, make sure the room has enough ventilation; cracking a window slightly or installing an external air supply can make a big difference to performance and safety.
Many modern wood-burning stoves have built-in air control systems, including primary, secondary, and sometimes tertiary air supplies, which are designed to optimise combustion. These systems automatically or manually regulate airflow, improving efficiency and reducing smoke.
📑 Read more: The best wood-burning stoves for sustainable homes in Wales
5. Mistake five: not using the stove for effective heat retention
Wood-burning stoves are designed to do more than just look pretty, they’re built to be a powerful and efficient source of heat.
But if you’re not using yours in a way that maximises heat retention, you could be losing out on one of its biggest benefits.
Common mistakes include placing the stove in the wrong part of the room, not circulating the warm air properly, or relying solely on the flames for warmth rather than allowing the stove body and surrounding materials to radiate heat long after the fire has burned down.
In poorly planned setups, heat escapes quickly, and the room never really reaches that cosy, consistent warmth you were hoping for.
How to avoid this mistake:
First, make sure your stove is correctly sized and positioned for your space – too small and it won’t heat the room efficiently, too large and you risk overheating or underusing it. If possible, place the stove in a central location with good airflow around it to help the heat circulate more effectively.
You can also improve retention by making small changes around the room. Use thermal curtains to prevent heat loss through windows, avoid placing furniture directly in front of the stove (which can block heat), and consider installing a stove fan. These little devices sit on top of your stove and push warm air further into the room, no electricity required.
Finally, take advantage of your stove’s natural thermal mass. Many models are made of cast iron or steel, which means they’ll continue to radiate heat long after the fire’s gone out. Keep the doors closed, and let the body of the stove do the work; it’s not just the flames that keep you warm.
If you’re unsure about any of this, speak to your professional installation team, who will be able to advise you on which stove suits your home best, and where to place it to maximise heat output and retention.
📑 Read more: How to prepare your Welsh home for a wood-burning stove installation
Need help with your wood-burning stove?
Wood-burning stoves are a brilliant way to heat your home – efficient, atmospheric, and cost-effective. But, like everything, they’re only as good as the way they’re used.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll get more heat, spend less on fuel, and keep your stove (and chimney) in good condition for years to come.
If you’re unsure about any aspect of your stove, from lighting it to choosing the right wood or booking a professional chimney sweep, don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’re always happy to ensure you get the most from your stove, safely and sustainably.
