Wood size is an important part of proper wood heating appliance use. Starting with kindling, a good reference is pinky to thumb diameter size. The recommended amount is 3–5 pounds, or a large double-hand bundle.
Then stage 2 after kindling is 1.5” to 3” diameter pieces (6 to 10 pieces). After your fire is well established, move to pieces that are 3” to 6” diameter, placed in the firebox so there is some air space between each piece.
For best results and longer burn time, we recommend cutting wood so you can load it front to back (straight in) rather than left to right (sideways). This allows a fuller loading without worrying about wood rolling out or onto the glass.
Take this into account especially if you want to bank loads for longer periods like overnight. It is best to avoid letting the stove cool too much before banking for long periods. If needed before loading, place small pieces inside to preheat the stove.
Also avoid large pieces that would smolder instead of burn. This is poor combustion, which can lead to health and safety issues—such as excessive smoke spilling into the home or chimney fires—along with poor performance and reduced heat transfer into the home.