Best way to light a woodburner with down draft?

[sandspider]

Hi all

 

As above. I live in a cold, still valley and have trouble with downdraft on both my woodburners. When cold, a breeze blows out of them which makes them hard to light without getting smoke everywhere. Both installs are fairly.new and correct height chimneys etc so I don't think there's a problem there. Both burn fine once warm.

I light them by building my fire as normal, then burning a couple of sheets of loosely scrumpled newspaper to overcome the downdraft. I light the paper, then my main fire, which works OK, though still smoky. I was thinking of (gently) heating the register plate with a blowtorch or something before lighting instead. Or any other suggestions? Don't really want to faff about with fans in chimneys etc. 

 

Oh, and I've been lighting fires and woodburners for years without problems, so don't think it's me! Cheers.

[Danny Boy]

I always light a loose sheet 1st as well to punch cold air out the flue.

Do you use one of those swirly cowls?

[MrNick]

My method is as follows logs on the previous fires ash, a firelighter then a kind of wigwam of kindling then smallish logs on top. When we light up usually leave the door open to increase the draw and warm the chimney up  once away shut the door and relax.

[Tom D]

like others have said use loose dry paper to warm the flue, also use the upside down method...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG_urpcjp7M

[sandspider]

I've tried all the above already, with varied success. No swirly cowl, there's not enough wind in my valley to spin it.

I normally light as mrnick does, but without paper first to overcome the downdraft it will smoke back into the room. I thought a blowtorch might be a less smoky way to warm things up and get it drawing...

[Peasgood]

I would be wanting a CO detector in there and kept in good order. Those conditions can be a recipe for disaster.

[billpierce]

Leccy leaf blower?

An electronic engineer pal of mine who used to programme smoke detectors told me that a standard smoke alarm would detect CO from a fire. Obv not from a faulty had appliance.

[sandspider]

Got CO detectors thanks, and once burning it's fine. Hmm, leaf blower might work. Or hairdryer!

[matelot]

I've read of people burning a candle in their stove before lighting it. Not really ideal, but maybe the lesser of two evils.

[Stubby]

There is a thing call " the flu cube " Don't know if its a gimmick or not . Not had to try anything as my flu has good draw but have heard others having success with it . Might be worth a look .