How to properly put out a log burner

Log burners are a fantastic way to keep your home warm during the cold months, creating a cozy ambiance with the comforting crackle of wood. However, when it comes time to extinguish the fire, it’s important to do so safely and properly. Failing to do so can lead to issues like lingering smoke, unsafe conditions, or even a potential fire hazard.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the proper steps for putting out a log burner, ensuring that your home stays safe and your stove is in good condition for the next use.

Why Properly Putting Out Your Log Burner Matters

Before we dive into the how-to guide, let's quickly discuss why it's so important to extinguish your log burner correctly:

• Safety: Uncontrolled flames or smouldering embers can lead to fire hazards if left unattended. Properly putting out the fire minimises this risk.
• Ventilation: If a fire isn't fully extinguished, it can produce smoke or carbon monoxide, both of which are harmful to your health.
• Longevity of the Log Burner: Consistent misuse of your log burner can shorten its lifespan and create a buildup of creosote in the chimney, increasing the risk of a chimney fire.

Now, let’s go over the steps to ensure that your log burner is safely and properly extinguished.

Step 1: Allow the Fire to Burn Down

The first thing to do is let the fire burn down naturally. Don’t rush to put it out when it’s still roaring, as this can result in burning coals and embers scattering. Instead, allow the flames to gradually subside.

• Monitor the Fire: Sit by the stove for a while and keep an eye on the flames. Ensure the fire is gradually burning itself out, leaving just a bed of glowing embers.
• Close the Air Vents: As the fire starts to burn down, reduce the airflow to the burner by closing the air vents slightly. This helps to slow down the combustion process and prevent the fire from reigniting.

By the time the flames have settled, most of the fuel in the burner should have been consumed, leaving only embers.

Step 2: Use the Damper or Air Control

Once the fire has reduced to embers, you can use the damper or the air control system (if your log burner is equipped with one) to close off the air supply completely. This helps to ensure that the embers won't receive enough oxygen to reignite.

• Close the Damper: If your log burner has a damper, close it to restrict the airflow. This prevents fresh oxygen from fuelling the remaining embers.
• Air Control: If your burner uses an air control mechanism, close it as well to stop the supply of air to the firebox.

By limiting the airflow, you're ensuring that the embers smoulder and eventually die out.

Step 3: Spread the Ashes

Once you've reduced the airflow and allowed the fire to smoulder, it’s time to manage the ashes. Spreading the ashes helps to cool them more quickly and prevents any hidden embers from reigniting.

• Use a Poker: Carefully use the poker to spread the embers out across the bottom of the firebox. This allows the embers to cool down evenly.
• Don’t Stir Too Vigorously: Avoid stirring too aggressively, as this could cause hot embers to fly out of the burner and create a fire hazard.

The goal is to make sure that all the embers have a chance to cool completely. Spreading them out ensures the heat dissipates more quickly.

Step 4: Wait for the Stove to Cool

After spreading the ashes, it's essential to give the log burner time to cool down naturally. Depending on how large the fire was, this process can take several hours.

• Wait Before Opening the Door: It’s important not to open the door of your stove too soon. Opening it while the stove is still hot could cause air to rush in and reignite any remaining embers.
• Allow Enough Cooling Time: The cooling process is gradual, so be patient. Depending on the size of the fire and the type of burner, it could take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours for the burner to cool down sufficiently.

Step 5: Clean Out the Ashes (When Cool)

Once the stove has cooled down completely, it’s time to remove the ash. This is not only for cleanliness but also for the safety of your burner and home.

• Use a Metal Ash Can: When cleaning the ashes out of the stove, always use a metal container to store them. Avoid using plastic bags or containers, as hot embers can remain in the ashes for hours and could ignite.
• Wear Gloves: Wear heat-resistant gloves when handling the ash, as some embers can remain hot even after several hours.

Removing the ash regularly helps maintain airflow in the burner and prevents ash buildup, which could potentially lead to chimney problems.

Step 6: Ensure the Stove Is Completely Out

After removing the ash, it’s important to double-check that the stove is completely out and there are no remaining hot spots that could reignite the fire.

• Feel for Heat: Carefully touch the stove’s exterior to see if it's still warm. If it’s still warm, wait for a little longer.
• Check the Vent: Make sure that the air vents are closed completely, and there are no signs of smoke escaping from the burner.

By ensuring the stove is completely cool and that no embers are left, you’ll be able to leave your home knowing that it is safe.

Conclusion: 

Putting out a log burner properly is an important part of maintaining safety in your home. By following these steps—allowing the fire to burn down, using the damper or air control, spreading the embers, and giving the stove plenty of time to cool—you can ensure that your burner remains in good condition for the next use. Regularly cleaning the stove and removing ash also contributes to its longevity.

If you haven’t been following these steps already, now’s the perfect time to get into the habit of properly extinguishing your log burner. Whether you're winding down after a long day or finishing off a cozy evening with friends, always remember that safety comes first.

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