Should you close the door on a wood-burning stove?

Something that often causes confusion among wood-burning stove newcomers is the door. Should a wood-burning stove door be open or closed?

Should a wood-burning stove door be closed?

Yes, a wood-burning stove door should always be closed when the stove is in use. Having the door closed is fundamental to how a wood-burning stove operates. Controlling the flow of air through the stove system is what makes a stove burn correctly and efficiently. Having the door open will completely undermine this.

Why is it best to close a wood-burning stove door?

The main reason for closing the door of your wood-burning stove is that it performs better and more efficiently than when the door is open. A woodburner is designed to have the door closed, and closing it haas significant advantages.

Benefits of closing logburner door

• Greater efficiency - A wood-burning stove with the door closed is up to 60% more efficient than a wood-burning stove with the door open.
• More control - A key reason for choosing a wood-burning stove over an open fire is that it gives you greater control. By limiting the air supply, you can adjust the burn to help fuel last longer and give you more flexibility over the temperature in the room.
• Lower running costs - By adjusting the air supply to your stove, you can make your fuel burn longer meaning less refuelling and lower running costs.

When should a wood-burning stove door be open?

A wood-burning stove door should only be open when you're lighting the stove or adding more fuel to it. When you're initially lighting a woodburner, the additional oxygen from having the door open or ajar can help the fire to get established. Once the fuel is properly alight, you can close the door.

You only need to open it again when you need to add more fuel to your stove.

A wood-burning stove door should also be left ajar when it is out of use for extended periods, such as through the summer. Leaving the door slightly open encourages air to flow through your stove system, which helps to prevent corrosion.

What happens if you leave a wood-burning stove door open?

There are no additional safety risks caused by leaving a wood-burning stove door open than would be the case with an open fire. There is an additional risk of sparks jumping out of the fire, which you don't get when the door is closed.

The only downsides of leaving a wood-burning stove door open is that you miss out on the efficiency and financial savings that come from having the door closed.

When to close a wood-burning stove door

It's usually best to close your wood-burning stove door as soon as the fuel starts to burn. Ideally, you will close the door as soon as possible without risking the fire going out.

The reason for that is quite simple. As we've already discussed, with the door closed your stove is far more efficient than if you have the door open. That means more heat in the room and less expense for you.

You should already have the air vents fully open while lighting the stove, so there should still be a good air supply once you close the door. Some stove manufacturers give guidance on what to do with the door during the lighting process. Check your stove manual to see what is recommended for your stove.

You'll soon learn how soon you can close your wood-burning stove door and what works best for your stove from experimenting. In any case, as soon as the stove is properly lit you should close the door.

Should you close the air vents as well as the door?

No, closing the air vents on your wood-burning stove as well as the door will cause the fire to go out. Once the stove is burning well, you can adjust the vents to limit the amount of air getting into the stove. But cutting off the air supply completely will extinguish the flames.

A wood-burning stove needs a flow of air through the vents to supply the oxygen to feed the flames and keep it lit.

Why does a wood-burning stove feel hotter with the door open?

If you're used to the instant blast of heat that comes after lighting an open fire, a wood-burning stove might feel a bit different. With a wood burner, you're not supposed to feel the heat from the flames. Not directly, at least.

In a stove, the flames in the firebox heat the appliance's metal panels. They, in turn, heat the air around them and the rest of the room. It’s a more efficient way of heating your home than an open fire because less heat escapes.

This creates more and longer-lasting warmth – it just doesn't have the same intensity as standing next to a flame.

Keep your wood-burning stove working efficiently

The key takeaway is that to keep your stove fulfilling its potential, you should close the door fully once it's properly lit.

If you're closing your wood-burning stove door but still not getting the control and efficiency you need, you might need to replace the stove rope that creates the seal around the door.

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