Wood stove burning...

[johnk]

I love the constant heat of the woodstove but it sure does get dry. You have to run a humidifier of some sort so you don't get nose bleeds with all the dry heat.

 

[Bill Barrett]

I love the constant heat of the woodstove but it sure does get dry. You have to run a humidifier of some sort so you don't get nose bleeds with all the dry heat.

I just keep a big pot of water on the stove, always ready for tea!
Or most of the time on weekends I'm cooking soup.

Here is the brand we have, very happy after 8 years.

Lopi Stoves: Wood stoves, Pellet Stoves, Gas Stoves, and Fireplace Inserts

 

[dmccarty]

Boy I must be bad at this wood stove thing! You guys are getting a winter's worth of heat from 3-3 1/2 cords.. What am I doing wrong? I burnt 6 cords. It would make my life easier if I didn't have to cut and split as much wood, not to mention storage issue.. my my my..

Tim, a cord of wood is 4x4x8. If you get a rick or face cord which are a half cord then you are burning the same as some of us.

What really helped us last year was the temp gauge. I would just burn the stove with the damper wide open to make sure we did not have creosote buildup. With the gauge I can close the damper but still keep the temperature high enough to not worry about creosote. The fire also burns long which means less wood use. It took me awhile to find the temp gauge but I found it at TSC.

I also put tarps over the fire wood as well as rounds drying and waiting to get split. This really helps seasoning the wood. This season will be the best seasoned firewood we have ever had. I'm hoping the wood will last longer in the stove...

Getting ready to go this morning and split wood all day. I'm so excited. Its not bad work with the tractor running the splitter while I stand in the shade. It will be in the mid 80s and I listen to music but it ain't my favorite chore.

But we appreciate the work in October when it gets cold.

Later,
Dan

 

[knute_m]

Knute...

maybe you can give me a quick idea how you post that link without pasting the entire URL in the message...Others seem to be able to just post LINK but I'm dumbfounded how to do it.

It is easy to include a link that directly displays a name. In a second browser window, open the page you want to link to. Select the link address in the browser display and copy it using either the browser EDIT COPY function, or by simultaneously pressing the <CTRL> key and the <C> key. Then go back to the TBN window, and click on the LINK icon (shown below as "for links to web addresses"). Then paste the address into the popup window using either the EDIT PASTE function or simultaneously pressing the <CTRL> key and the <V> key.

Example:

Re: Wood stove burning... You can also edit what it actually displays, but that is a little more difficult.

It is similar with photos. You just have to store the photo on a server that is always available to the Internet. Many of us use Photobucket.com. Upload your photo to such a site.

Start your posting here in TBN, and open a second browser window where the photo is located. Click on the "URL Link" associated with the photo, and copy the link location using either the EDIT menu in your browser, or simultaneously pressing the <CTRL> key and the <C> key.

Come back to the TBN window. Click on the icon show below "for photos." When it opens, paste the photo URL Link location using either the EDIT menu or by simultaneously pressing the <CRTL> key and the <V> key.

That's it.

Good luck,
Knute

 

[coachgrd]

Knute, you are a good man...thanks for the tip on the link posting!

 

[Highbeam]

The Quad you bought does not use a cat converter but it is a secondary combustion stove which is all I've ever used and know. I just removed my Lopi freedom bay (largest they make) insert along with its masonry chimney to make room for a Hearthstone soapstone freestanding stove. We burn wood for primary heat and last year in the big Lopi we used about three cords from Christmas to June.

Three cords of alder and fir which was mostly dry enough.

When setting up your wood stash for the winter you need to know the species of wood since a nice hardwood will have nearly double the energy as a poor softwood. Also, you need to account for the dryness of the wood since the energy spent boiling water out of the wood is energy wasted up the stack as steam.

Most people would not just acquire wood for the coming winter but enough wood for the next two winters. This gives you some safety margin that you won't run out since you can simply dip into next years wood. It also gives the split wood plenty of time to season.

My advice for a part time burner is to always be going into winter with 6 cords of hardwood or 8 cords of decent softwood like fir. It should be stacked, split, and drying, before now so you will be wanting to find some that is dry for at least half of your stash.

Myself, I have 10 cords put up and drying nicely. It is soft woods like red cedar, alder, cottonwood, and fir but it is nice and dry and will be ready to go this fall. I own a harbor freight moisture meter and have been very happy with its performance to indicate wetness of wood. 20% is burnable, 15% is a good fire. Attached is what 5 cords of wood looks like. The corner on the right is finished and the top is covered with a black tarp hanging over a foot on each side. The row is 60 feet long and two rows deep on pallets.

Excessive moisture will make secondary combustion very difficult in your new quad unless you want to run stovetop temps at 600 all the time.

 

[pat32rf]

We have a 1600sq ft house in central Ontario that we heat with wood. The heater is a big Home Depot cheapy that we got on sale 9 yrs ago. It was about $450 (marked down for some reason) but it does do the secondary burn thing. Four yrs back we put on a 800sq ft addition so bought a second stove (for the new living room) from the local wood stove store. It was a brand name at $1600 but smaller than the cheapy. When we built the addition we ran an air pick-up from the cathedral ceiling, put it thru a fan and filters and fed it into the cold air return of the electric furnace.( the furnace works but is never used above -20F. Its fan runs constant all winter) This air pick-up draws 80-90deg air from the peak of the ceiling which get blown thru-out the house, including the basement. Two winters later we sold the small brand name and replaced it with the bigger cheapy.
We keep the living room warm, the bedroom at the other end cool and the basement about 70. Humid air from the shower is vented back into the house and my wife starts the seeds for her "grow-op" in January, when we turn on about a dozen 4' flourescent fixtures. The plants also add humidity and by the end of Feb we have about 1kw of lighting burning 16 hrs a day.(so we do actually have some electric heat.)
The stove will produce usable heat for over 8hrs/ filling and if we go away for 12hrs there are enough coals so we just toss in some kindling and it ignites.
Our wood shed holds about two bush cord plus I have another BC in reserve. There have been years when the whole 2 cords were burnt but I normally MT the shed while doing maple syrup. We burn what-ever hardwood I find lying around our 80acres, oak,maple ,birch, poplar etc. Haven't had to cut a living tree yet just for firewood, but haul back anything the storms or beavers get and anything I knock over to improve a trail etc.

 

[Ductape]

Our house is about 1500sq ft.... a hundred and thirty years old with the original windows (drafty!!). A few years ago we installed a mid sized Vermont Castings woodstove..... best thing i ever did. We have burned a good six cord per winter for the past couple years. I have saved a small fortune in heating oil, but have re-invested in my firewood operation. I figure i'm close to breaking even now. Seeing as i don't believe in paying for wood, i'm always scrounging it wherever i can. This has led to a new splitter ($1300), a larger truck (well... i needed one anyway $0), i nice used #7000 dump trailer ($2200), four chainsaws ($1600), all sorts of comealongs,timberjacks,wedges,mauls,sledgehammers,etc ($500),Personal safety wear($350),chain grinder(sharpener) and extra chains for the saws($300)..... not to mention the cost of the stove and having the chimney lined. BUT HONEY..... LOOK AT THE MONEY I'M SAVING !! Anyway... a guy's gotta have a few tools, right?? I currently have enough wood for this coming winter, next winter.... and part of the next. Good luck !!

 

[rosietheriviter]

My brother in northern California has a quad 3100 milinium (sp) wood stove. He lives in a 3700 sq ft uninsulated, one story, masonry house with winter lows normally no lower than 27 or 28 degrees F, down to maybe 23 or 24 F every few years.

He burns between two and three cords of well seasoned (1-1/2 to 2 years) Oak and Douglas Fir each year.

He, his wife, and six kids say it it very comfortable, although I usually feel like a sweater or at least a long sleeve shirt is a little better.

The stove is terrific for cooking when the power is out and is used quite often even when power is on to cook "stew-type" meals.

The only visible smoke is at first start up and the burn time is around 14 hours. Usually able to restart without paper or matches within 24 hours of last burn.

I am planning on getting the same model next year myself. Yep, I'm sold on it.

Rose is Rose

 

[coachgrd]

We have burned a good six cord per winter for the past couple years.

Hey Ductape...is this 24-7 burning?

Enjoyed this pics!

I've also enjoyed getting my wood ready, strange as it may seem. It is darn envigorating. Nice to stand back and watch the stack get bigger and bigger...

Reason why I ask about the 24-7 burning is b/c I'm trying to gauge how much I'll need burning weekends, evenings, and holidays.

Thanks to everyone who's offered advice thus far.
-Gary

 

[dmccarty]

I've also enjoyed getting my wood ready, strange as it may seem. It is darn envigorating. Nice to stand back and watch the stack get bigger and bigger...

I understand and its not strange to me. I am one of those people who could care less to watch sports, play them, "work out", etc. I get my "work out" working and the idea of watching any game is about as inviting as going to get a tooth pulled. I tell people at work I would rather split wood than watch a ball game. They look at me like I'm some very strange creature that can't be fathomed. They maybe right.

When splitting wood I listen to my mp3 player, three Johnny Cash CDs will get me about a half cord , and listening to the who 2GB is about a cord. Far more enjoyable than sitting at the ball park crammed in with a zillion other people, having to wait in line to pee and get outragously priced food. Yep, rather split wood.

At the end of working you have something to show for the effort and I know the family will be warm in the winter even if the power goes out. Go to a ball came what do I get? Tired. Hot. Stressed at the crowds/traffic. Empty wallet. Back hurts from the seat. Nope. Lets go split wood and listen to Clapton and Kottke!

Best of all I can pee when I want. Where I want. And not stand in someone else pee to do so!

Later,
Dan

 

[Matt_W]

I just had a wood stove installed in the family room of our home. I am located in northwestern PA. I would not go so far as to say we have Minnesota cold but ours are no walk in the park and they seem to drag on for 13 months a year.

Anyway, my intent in purchasing the stove is to take the chill off in the house while perhaps cutting into the propane consumption. My plan is the burn evenings & weekends throughout the season. I may even fill it up before I leave for work on exceptionally cold days. Any of you with stoves have an idea how many cords of wood I should get ready with a burning pattern such as the one I described?

Thanks in advance...
Gary

I have a fireplace xtrordinair model 36zc cat insert and burn m-f evenings for about 6 hours, weekends all day and burn about 5 cords year. I have heard this stove is a wood hog but it heats well and only wish I could keep it burning all night long. Certainly helps with the heating bills, I insulated and with the burning pattern I cut my propane usage in half.
I hope this helps.

 

[Ductape]

Hey Ductape...is this 24-7 burning?

Enjoyed this pics!

I start burning on occaision (perhaps a couple nights during the week, and on weekends if its cold enough)..... sometimes as early as mid-september. I'd say we burn 24/7 starting late November/early December through late March/early April. Of course, the furnace kicks on at night, or mid-day when we are at work..... so i couldn't get away with burning wood only. The past two winters have been a little mild (though long), and i'd estimate we burned less than 150 gallons of oil per winter. In fact, with two tanks in the basement, i have not purchased oil in two years.

I too have to admit that i enjoy working on my wood pile. As long as i'm not under pressure time-wise. I'm trying to get well ahead, so the pressure will be off me next summer. Two years ago we ran out of wood, and had to "borrow" some from the in-laws..... not a good feeling.

 

[3RRL]

rosietheriveter,
He, his wife, and six kids say it it very comfortable, although I usually feel like a sweater or at least a long sleeve shirt is a little better.
Your brother has 6 kids? lol ... It's no wonder he stays warmer than you.

I had a general question where to keep the wood pile. How far away from the residence is reasonable?

 

[irwin]

I had a general question where to keep the wood pile. How far away from the residence is reasonable?

I hear ya Rob, I've heard several answers, so I keep it as close as possible. Don't want any long trips durring the real cold weather. I'm about 40 feet from my closest pile, about a hundred from the last section. My sister in law thinks I shouldn't have all that wood in my side yard, "it should be up by the barn" 240 feet from the side door, up a hill