A guide for buying & burning Kindling

Kindling follows many of the same rules for wood burners and multi fuel stoves as wood logs;

• Must be below 20% moisture

Avoid any treated woods such as pallets, MDF, painted timer etc.

• Must be stored where it protected from the elements but still able to breathe. 
  

Ready To Burn Certification

As kindling is a wood product it follows the same rules as logs in the 'Ready to Burn' legislation.

All quantities of wood below 2 cubic metres  sold to the general public for the purpose of burning on a woodburner, multifuel stove or open fire by law now has to carry 'Ready to Burn' certification (example pictured above). This means all logs certified as ready to burn contain less than 20% moisture.

Do I have to use Kindling?

You do not have to use kindling to light your stove, but it is highly recommended. Kindling helps the fire catch and will mean your fuel will light quicker. Directly lighting logs or coal can mean the stove will take longer to warm up, which can be damaging to the unit. The longer your stove takes to heat up, the less efficient it is, and you will produce more waste. 

Why does kindling have to be below 20% moisture?

 Like logs, if kindling is above 20% moisture it can be damaging your stove and pipework, as through prolonged use a sticky residue can build up and creates a risk high risk of a chimney fire.  

Does kindling have to be kiln dried?

Again, like with kiln dried wood logs, kiln dried kindling is ready to burn, whereas seasoned runs the risk of having a too high moisture content to burn straight away.

Why is correctly storing kindling important?

The same reason it is important to correctly store logs, it can soak up moisture and if wet, prolonged use can be damaging to the stove and pipework.

The following are things you should consider when storing your kindling:

• Moisture
  Ensure where you store your kindling isn’t exposed to the elements as this can cause moisture to build up again.
• Open Flames

Be careful not to store any wood products near open flames, however, kindling is especially susceptible as it catches fire easily. Be aware of this when storing kindling near your fire.

If storing outside, follow the same advice for storing logs. Ensure that it is protected from sources of moisture but is still able to breathe. You can purchase log store style structures for kindling. Or if you have a bespoke log store built, you can have kindling storage built into it.

Indoor storage options are available;

• Kindling Buckets
• Log & Kindling Stations
• Small Baskets.