The last mild evening still feels far away. But the first evening you go looking for warmth comes sooner than you think. And it is most enjoyable when fireplace and stove simply work. No smoke in the living room, no dirty door, no nasty surprise at the first lighting.
Anyone who gets their fireplace and stove ready for winter in time saves themselves exactly this trouble. This checklist guides you through preparing for the heating season in seven steps. From cleaning and the safety check to properly stored firewood. All things you can do on a quiet afternoon.
Why preparing now pays off
In late summer and early autumn you have two things that are missing in November: time and peace. A brittle seal can be replaced at leisure while it is still 15 degrees outside. If, on the other hand, the stove fails on the first cold evening, spare parts are scarce and the chimney sweep is fully booked.
Then there is the fuel. Freshly felled wood needs many months to dry. Anyone who only stocks up in winter often heats with wood that is too damp. It smokes, soots up the glass, deposits soot in the chimney and in the end gives off considerably less heat. Early preparation is therefore also the basis for clean, efficient and safe heating throughout the season. Clever heating starts with a few calm steps in late summer.
It is best to work through the following seven points in order.
1. Book the chimney sweep
Before the wood stove starts the new season, the chimney must be in perfect condition. In Germany, regular chimney sweep inspections are required by law. Depending on the federal state and the fireplace, sweeping is due once or twice a year.
Why this is so important:
- Deposits in the chimney (glazed creosote) can ignite and lead to chimney fires
- A blocked or damaged chimney draws poorly, which lowers combustion quality and risks carbon monoxide leakage
- Damage to masonry or joints is detected early and can be repaired before the heating season
What is checked at the chimney sweep appointment:
- Sweeping the chimney (removal of deposits)
- Checking the flue system for tightness
- Visual inspection of the chimney draught and connecting pieces
- Flue gas measurement for certain fireplaces
The appointment with the authorised district chimney sweep should be booked in good time, ideally in late summer. In October and November the waiting times are long.
5. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
One press of a button that counts in an emergency. Test the smoke alarms in living rooms and bedrooms and replace weak batteries immediately. Alarms older than ten years are best replaced completely, as their sensors deteriorate over time.
Add a carbon monoxide alarm near the fireplace. The gas arises from incomplete combustion, is odourless and therefore treacherous. An alarm for a few euros gives you the safety that goes with responsible heating. Especially at the start of the heating season, this is a point you should not put off, because your health and that of your family depends on it.
2. Clean the firebox and glass
Old ash out, soot off the glass, a thorough look through the firebox. A clean glass shows you the fire as it is meant to be, and a clear firebox ensures even combustion.
For the glass, a damp kitchen towel dipped in a little cold wood ash is usually enough. The ash acts as a mild abrasive and loosens the soot without scratching the glass. You do not need aggressive cleaners. While cleaning, check the firebricks in the firebox too. Fine hairline cracks are normal, but broken or crumbling bricks should be replaced before the season, because they keep the heat in the firebox and protect the stove wall.
3. Check the seals on door and glass
If the sealing cords feel brittle or the door no longer closes cleanly, now is the right time to replace them. A simple test: clamp a sheet of paper in the closed door. If it can be pulled out without resistance, the seal is worn.
Intact seals are more important than many think. They ensure that air only enters the firebox via the controls and not uncontrolled through leaks. If the stove draws false air, the wood burns too fast, the heat yield drops and consumption rises. New sealing cord is available for most models from specialist retailers, and replacement is quickly done with a little heat-resistant adhesive.
4. Check grate, ash pan and air controls
Grate and ash pan should be free and intact so the fire gets enough air from below. Empty the ash pan and check that the grate sits straight and has no burn-throughs. A warped grate can usually be replaced cheaply and belongs before the season, not in the middle of it.
Then move the air controls all the way through once. They should run smoothly and click into place noticeably. A sticking or worn control makes lighting unnecessarily hard and costs you control over combustion. Anyone who knows where primary and secondary air are located can control the fire cleanly: plenty of air for lighting, less for calm glowing.
6. Store firewood and wood briquettes
Stacked dry and airy, your supply lasts the whole season. A covered, well-ventilated place is ideal, where rain cannot reach but wind can pass through. Do not stack the wood directly against the cold house wall, but with a little distance so air circulates all around.
Residual moisture is decisive. Only well-seasoned wood with less than 20 percent residual moisture burns cleanly and gives off its full heat. With a simple wood moisture meter you can check this in seconds. Wood briquettes have the advantage here, because they are pressed to low residual moisture at the factory and store space-savingly in the dry. Calculate your needs generously, then you will not have to buy more in the depths of winter when demand is highest.
7. Do a test fire
Finally, a short fire on a cool evening runs everything through once. This shows whether the draught is right, the door closes cleanly and the controls do what they should, before it gets really cold.
Use the opportunity for top-down lighting. Stack the larger logs at the bottom, the smaller kindling on top and light the fire at the top. It burns slowly downwards, develops less smoke and burns cleaner than lighting from below. If it smells strong or the stove smokes during the test run, you still have time to find the cause at leisure. That is exactly what this last step is for.
Common mistakes at the start of the heating season
Two things cost nerves every year. The first mistake is wood that is too damp. It robs heat, soots up the glass and burdens the chimney with dangerous glazed creosote. The second is lighting wrongly. Anyone who lights the fire at the bottom produces a lot of smoke in the start-up phase. Top-down lighting solves this problem and ensures cleaner combustion from the first minute.
Conclusion: into winter stress-free with the checklist
Getting fireplace and stove ready for winter is no great effort if you tackle it in time. These seven points take you through everything important in one afternoon, from safety to clean combustion. Only one thing remains: the full woodpile.
A well-filled supply now is the shortest shortcut to the first cosy evening. Secure your firewood and wood briquettes from HEIZFUXX® in time for the heating season.
HEIZFUXX® · SIMPLE. CLEVER. HEATING.
Wood pellets, wood briquettes, firewood, kindling, peat briquettes and hard coal – by the bag at DIY stores, by the pallet online. Where to get HEIZFUXX®.