Use Your Ceiling Fan (Winter Mode)

  • Set the fan to low speed, clockwise.
  • This gently pushes warm air down the walls without creating a cold draft.
  • Many people don’t know this one — it makes a HUGE difference.

Keep Interior Doors Open

  • Open doors allow warm air to flow through the house.
  • Closed rooms trap heat and reduce circulation.
  • For multi-level homes, heat naturally rises — use that to your advantage.

Eliminate Drafts

  • Seal drafty windows and doors.
  • Add weather stripping if necessary.
  • A drafty room forces the stove to work harder to maintain heat.

Move Furniture Out of the Heat Path

  • Keep couches, chairs, and tables at least 3 feet from the front of the stove.
  • Airflow needs room to move; blocking it reduces heating efficiency.

Burn Smaller Loads More Frequently

  • A common mistake is stuffing the stove full.
  • Smaller, hotter fires produce more heat with less creosote.
  • Avoid long, smoldering burns — they heat poorly and dirty the chimney.

Maintain a Healthy Coal Bed

  • A strong coal bed radiates heat long after flames die down.
  • Rake coals forward before reloading — this helps new logs catch quickly and cleanly.

Use Properly Sized Wood Splits

  • Large, thick logs burn slow and often too cool.
  • Medium splits (about wrist-thick) give the best heat.
  • Use small splits when you want quick temperature rise.

Consider a Stove-Top Fan

  • These heat-powered fans push warm air further into the room.
  • Great for homes with big living spaces or open layouts.
  • No electricity needed.

Keep Curtains and Blinds Open During the Day

  • Sunlight naturally warms the home.
  • Close curtains at night to trap the heat inside.

Clean Ash Regularly

  • Too much ash restricts airflow.
  • Too little ash slows fire-starting.
  • Ideal depth: 1 inch of ash in the firebox bottom.

Check Door Gaskets and Seals

  • A leaking door gasket reduces temperature control.
  • Replace rope gaskets yearly or when worn.

Use Heat-Shielding or Reflective Panels

  • Shields behind the stove push warm air into the room instead of absorbing into walls.
  • Also reduce clearance requirements and improve safety.

Burn the Right Wood

  • Seasoned hardwood burns hotter and longer.
  • Wet wood burns poorly and reduces room heat dramatically.

Humidify the Room

  • Dry air feels cooler.
  • A simple stovetop kettle or cast-iron humidifier makes the room feel warmer at lower temps.