05/10/2026
The most common question we get asked: what is the easiest was to light a stove?
Let’s show you on this Hunter Herald!
We prefer the top down method, it’s easy and works every time. Top down starts with a smaller fire which warms the flue slowly creating a good up draught.
Firstly, prepare the base, a nice flat bed of ash is perfect, this stove has just been swept so it’s all cleared out. That’s fine too!
Place a couple of dry small/medium sized logs onto the base then build a criss-cross jenga tower on top. I like 3 pieces of kindling per layer and 3 layers height, if there is space in the stove. Thicker pieces of kindling at the bottom, skinnier bits at the top. (Ours wasn’t the most aesthetic tower here, but it did the job!)
I like natural fire lighters, they burn for a long time. Place a couple within the kindling.
Open all of the stove vents and light the fire lighters!
Close the doors and allow the kindling to burn, warm the flue and eventually burn down and ignite the bigger logs in the stove.
Once the bigger logs are alight and a fire is established, start closing and managing the vents to operate the stove at is normal level.
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