Plan the firing cycles around your household routine. If someone is home to tend the fire, use a short firing cycle. If you must be away from the house during the day, use the extended firing cycle . Load the wood loosely in a crisscross arrangement. Let the fire burn brightly until most of the solid wood is burned before reducing the air setting.
Flash fires are effective in spring and fall when the heating load is modest.
Using the flash fire technique, you can avoid smoldering fires. Use it in spring and fall when you just want to take the chill off the house. The flash fire technique eliminates the smoldering fires that are common in spring and fall. To build a flash fire, rake the charcoal towards the air inlets and place several small pieces on and behind it. The pieces should be stacked loosely in a crisscross arrangement.