Multi-fuel stove

[MaryDou]

Does anyone else have problems getting their multi-fuel stove to a high enough temperature to burn correctly - I have bought dried logs, tried setting it with kindling and paper/kindling and firelighters, opened vents/closed vents and all to no avail. Am I alone in having this problem? Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[deggers316]

is your home more or less sealed (airtight) if it is you'll not get enough air to go under the fire to feed it,try opening a window see if that helps to get it going

[The Builder]

I've seen even small stoves glow red-hot when they're opened right up.
As Deggs has said, you may need to introduce more air. I doubt if the house is quite that airtight though... unless it's very recent build.

I would look at the flue. I guess you have a 125mm or 150mm steel flue pipe coming away from the fire? Just a few inches above the stove is the place where condensate trickling down from above, settles and condenses. That creates a buil-up of ash and tar which will effectively choke off a stove.

[MaryDou]

Thank you for your suggestions - I live in a very old house and there are more draughts than is comfortable - but of course it could be like "the wrong sort of leaves on the lines"!!!! Just not the right sort of ventilation but will bear in mind what you have said.