Matrix Insert Installation and Operation Manual
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5.2
LIGHTING FIRES
Each person who heats with wood develops their own favorite way to light fires. Whatever
method you choose, your goal should be to get a hot fire burning quickly. A fire that starts fast
produces less smoke and deposits less creosote in the chimney. Here are three popular and
effective ways to start wood fires.
5.2.1
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
The conventional way to build a wood fire
i
s to bunch up 5 to 10 sheets of newspaper
and place them in the firebox. Next, a dozen
pieces of fine kindling are placed on the
newspaper. This kindling should be very thin;
less than 1 inch thick (25 mm). Then, larger
kindling pieces are placed on the fine kindling.
The air control fully open, the newspaper is lit.
With a tall and straight venting system the
door can be closed immediately, and the fire
will ignite. Once the fire has ignited, the door
can be closed with the air control still fully
open. When the kindling is almost completely
burned, standard firewood pieces can be
added until the fire is the right size for the
weather.
DO NOT LEAVE THE INSERT UNATTENDED WHEN THE DOOR IS SLIGHTLY OPENED. ALWAYS
CLOSE AND LATCH THE DOOR AFTER THE FIRE IGNITES.
After the kindling fire has mostly burned, you can add standard firewood pieces until you have a
fire of the right size for the conditions.
5.2.2
THE TOP DOWN METHOD
The top down method solves two problems encountered when using the conventional method:
first, the fire does not collapse on itself and smother as it burns; and second, it is not necessary to
build up the fire gradually since the firebox is loaded before the fire is lit. A top down fire can burn
for two hours or more. The top down method works properly only if well-seasoned wood is used.
Three or four full-sized split pieces of dry firewood are placed in the firebox. Then, 4 or 5 more
finely split pieces of firewood (2" to 3" [50 mm to 75 mm] in diameter) are placed on the top of
the logs at right angles (log cabin style). Next, a dozen finely split kindling are placed on the second
layer at right angles.
The fire is topped with 5 sheets of newspaper, stuffed in between the kindling, under the baffle.
Knots can be made in the newspaper by rolling up single sheets corner to corner and tying a knot
in them. The advantage of knots is that they don’t roll off the fire as they burn. Newspaper is lit
and the fire burns from top to bottom.
