Why is my firewood smoking and hard to light?

Most often, the wood is too wet. Firewood that has not dried long enough is slow to catch, hisses, smolders and sends up smoke. The rest of the time the fire is starved of air, the chimney is cold, the pieces are too large, or the wood is rotten. Work through the checks below in order; the first one usually solves it.

1. The wood is too wet

Wood burns best at a moisture content of less than 20 percent.^[2] EPA lists the symptoms plainly: "A smoldering fire, 'dirty' glass doors, or smoke from the chimney are all signs that the fire needs more air or your wood is too moist."^[1] It adds that wet wood can create excessive smoke, which is wasted fuel.^[1]

How to tell. Seasoned wood is darker and lighter than wet wood, and sounds hollow when knocked against another piece.^[2] Wet wood feels heavy for its size and may hiss or bubble at the ends in the fire. For a firm answer, buy a wood moisture meter, split a piece and test the newly split face; properly dried wood reads 20% or less.^[1] The outside of a log can read dry when the center is not, which is why the fresh face matters. Test several pieces, since a delivered load can be mixed.

What to do. Wet wood does not dry in a week. Softwoods take about 6 months to dry and hardwoods about 12 months,^[1] split, stacked off the ground and covered only on top. Set the wet wood aside to season and buy dry wood or kiln-dried bundles for this winter. If you bring a day's supply indoors to warm up, keep it, and anything else that can burn, at least 3 feet from fireplaces and wood stoves.^{[5] [4]} See how to stack firewood so it dries.

2. The fire is short of air

A fire with too little air smolders and smokes even with good wood. Prince William County's fire department says to keep air inlets open on wood stoves and fireplaces, because closed inlets cause creosote buildup and lead to chimney fires.^[4] When lighting a stove, EPA's advice is to fully open the air controls until the fire is burning vigorously.^[1]

On a fireplace, check the damper. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue says to open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool, to avoid a buildup of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide.^[3] A damper that is only partly open, or stuck, is a common reason smoke rolls out into the room.

3. The chimney is cold

A cold flue does not draw well, so the first smoke can spill into the room instead of rising. EPA's checklist is to start a small fire with dry kindling, then add a few pieces of wood,^[1] and to burn the fire to heat the chimney or flue before adding more wood.^[1] Loading a cold firebox full of big logs at the start is the usual way to get a smoky, sulking fire.

4. The pieces are too big or packed too tight

Large rounds and tightly packed loads light slowly and smolder. Split wood to a range of sizes that fit your firebox, no larger than 6 inch wedges,^[1] keep a supply of small kindling, and keep space between the pieces as you add more.^[1] Air has to reach the wood for it to burn cleanly.

5. The fuel is wrong

Light fires with newspaper, dry kindling, or all-natural fire starters,^[2] and never use gasoline, kerosene or charcoal lighter fluid to start one.^[2] Some wood should not be burned at all. EPA lists wet, rotted, diseased, or moldy wood,^[2] and coated, painted or pressure-treated wood, plywood, particle board and saltwater driftwood.^{[2] [1]} Soft, punky wood from a pile that sat on the ground is a common culprit; Prince William County notes that soft, moist wood increases creosote buildup.^[4]

When it is not the wood

If tested, dry wood still smokes with the damper and air controls open, the problem is probably the chimney, flue or stove. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue recommends chimneys be inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.^[3] It warns that creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimney raise the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning,^[3] and advises you to keep the top of the chimney clear of tree limbs and debris.^[3] See why a fireplace smokes into the room for chimney causes.

Stop and call a pro if

• Smoke keeps coming into the room even with dry wood, an open damper and a small, well-lit fire.
• You see heavy black or shiny deposits in the firebox, stovepipe or flue, or nobody has had the chimney cleaned and inspected in the past year. Fire safety officials recommend having heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year by a professional.^[5]
• The damper will not open or close, or something seems to be blocking the flue, such as a nest.
• A carbon monoxide alarm goes off, or anyone gets a headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing while the fire is burning. Get everyone outside to fresh air right away,^{[7] [8]} then call for help from outside or from a neighbor's home, and let the fire department tell you when it is safe to go back in.^[8] Prince William County's fire department advises that you install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms.^[4]
• You see flames or dense smoke coming from the top of the chimney, hear loud roaring or popping from the flue, or smell burning from the walls near it. Treat it as a chimney fire: fire officials say to be prepared to leave your home immediately in the event of a fire,^[6] so get everyone out and call the fire department from outside.

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