Stop Lighting Fires the Old Way: Why the "Top-Down" Method is Better

Author: J&H Logs Team Category: Guides & Tips

If you were taught to light a fire by scrunching up newspaper, building a "teepee" of kindling, and throwing a big log on top—you are not alone. It is how most of us in the UK learned.

But if you find yourself battling a cold chimney, dealing with black soot on your stove glass, or opening the door to a room full of smoke, it might be time to unlearn the "old way."

At J&H Logs, we spend our winters testing, burning, and advising on the best fuel practices. The industry standard has shifted, and stove manufacturers across Europe now recommend the "Top-Down" Method (often called the Swiss Method).

Here is why you should switch, and exactly how to do it.

The Problem with the Traditional Method

When you light a fire from the bottom, the heat has to rise through cold logs to get to the chimney. The heavy logs sit on top of the flame, cooling it down and creating incomplete combustion. This results in:

• Excess Smoke: Cold logs smouldering create thick smoke.

• Cold Flues: The heat takes too long to reach the chimney, meaning the "draw" (airflow) isn't established quickly.

• Dirty Glass: That smoke sticks to your cold stove glass, creating stubborn soot.

What is the Top-Down Method?

As the name suggests, you build the fire upside down. You place your large logs at the bottom and your firelighters and kindling at the very top.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but the science supports it. By placing the heat source (the kindling) at the top, the flames heat the flue immediately, establishing a strong airflow (draw) before the large logs even catch fire. As the kindling burns down, it pre-heats the logs below, allowing them to catch fire gradually and cleanly.

Step-by-Step: How to Build the Perfect Top-Down Fire

What you need:

• 2–3 Medium-sized Kiln Dried Logs (moisture content below 20% is essential).

• 6–8 sticks of dry Kindling.

• 1 natural Firelighter.

The Process:

1. Prepare the Base: Ensure your grate is clear of excess ash (though a small bed of ash helps wood burn). Open your stove's air vents fully.

2. The Foundation: Place two medium logs flat on the floor of the firebox or grate. Place them parallel to each other with a small gap in between.

3. ** The Structure:** Place a layer of kindling across the logs (perpendicular to them). Then, place another layer of kindling across the first layer (like a Jenga tower).

4. The Ignition: Place one natural firelighter on top of (or in the middle of) the kindling stack.

5. Light It: Light the firelighter and close the door (leaving it slightly ajar for the first few minutes if your stove manual suggests it to boost airflow).

Why This Shows Expertise (and Saves You Money)

From our experience helping thousands of customers in Leicestershire and beyond, switching to this method usually solves "bad batch" complaints. Often, the wood isn't the problem—the airflow is.

• Efficiency: You generate heat faster because you aren't wasting energy trying to burn through cold wood from the bottom up.

• Cleaner Air: This method significantly reduces Particulate Matter (PM) emissions, making it the most eco-friendly way to use a modern log burner.

• Safety: Less creosote build-up in the chimney means a lower risk of chimney fires.

The Golden Rule: Dry Wood Matters

No technique in the world can save a fire built with wet wood. The Top-Down method relies on the logs catching fire from the embers falling from above. If your logs are wet, the fire will simply die when the kindling burns out.

Always ensure you are using certified Ready To Burn logs, like our Kiln Dried range, to ensure the heat transfer works exactly as it should.

Ready to try it tonight? Make sure your wood store is stocked with the right fuel. Shop Kiln Dried Logs | Shop Kindling & Firelighters