So, my first post here. I found this place as it came up multiple times during searches to various questions I had regarding wood stoves. So, I made my choice, purchased and installed the stove early last year, during a renovation. We've since moved in, last July.
This is my first stove, never had a fireplace, so i'm figuring it out. The stove is an Englander nc13. The building is a doublewide. So, I did hook up the intake to outside. Flue pipe inside is single wall, which I chose for the extra heat. The primary purpose of the stove is backup heat, since the furnace is a heat pump. I don't want the auxiliary heat running, and it will give heat when there's no power, as we're rural. If it ends up being more of the primary heat, i'm not against that. We are in se va.
So, this being the first winter, with a brand new stove, we had no wood put away. A friend gave me some, about a face cord, as his dad went to propane a few yrs ago. I did a pretty hot burn a couple months back, on a cold day, to burn off the preservative oil, while the wife was at work, since it was gonna smoke up the house. The wood I got from my friend is apparently quite dry, it lights right up, and burns fast. Friends dad was older, and had it split small.
Some more cold weather a few weeks ago, I don't have enough wood. Got some delivered, but it's not seasoned. And, so begins my troubles. With the older wood, lights right up, I been starting with 1 or 2 pieces, let it get going with the door cracked and air wide open, add a couple more, let that get going. When the flue is so hot I can only bounce my hand lightly off it, and none or only barely any smoke, I close the door. I can start backing down the air not long after, but this small split, real dry wood goes away in just over an hour. So, I got this other, greener wood. I start with the older stuff, just as before. I can put 1 or 2 pieces of the newer stuff in on top of at least 1" of red coals, open the air back up, even open the door, fire dies. I have to put it in while the old stuff is still actively burning, and it can still be a challenge to get the new stuff going. Later, adding more new stuff, is even more challenging, mostly doesn't happen, unless I add more old stuff first.
More searching found something about bringing wood inside, so i've brought some in, it's been about a week. I did get a couple nights of burn with it on either side of the stove, just outside the hearth area, it only got warm. I did set a couple pieces on top, while burning the old stuff, they lit right up, but I had keep a real close watch on them. I don't really like doing that, after doing it once or twice. Was a bit scary.
I think i've listed pretty much everything, hoping someone can maybe point out something I could improve. I'll be getting more wood in the spring, so it can season, but right now, this is what i'm stuck with. With the move, and trying to get the old place to market, finances are tight.
Yes, I am reading posts aimed at new stove users.
This is my first stove, never had a fireplace, so i'm figuring it out. The stove is an Englander nc13. The building is a doublewide. So, I did hook up the intake to outside. Flue pipe inside is single wall, which I chose for the extra heat. The primary purpose of the stove is backup heat, since the furnace is a heat pump. I don't want the auxiliary heat running, and it will give heat when there's no power, as we're rural. If it ends up being more of the primary heat, i'm not against that. We are in se va.
So, this being the first winter, with a brand new stove, we had no wood put away. A friend gave me some, about a face cord, as his dad went to propane a few yrs ago. I did a pretty hot burn a couple months back, on a cold day, to burn off the preservative oil, while the wife was at work, since it was gonna smoke up the house. The wood I got from my friend is apparently quite dry, it lights right up, and burns fast. Friends dad was older, and had it split small.
Some more cold weather a few weeks ago, I don't have enough wood. Got some delivered, but it's not seasoned. And, so begins my troubles. With the older wood, lights right up, I been starting with 1 or 2 pieces, let it get going with the door cracked and air wide open, add a couple more, let that get going. When the flue is so hot I can only bounce my hand lightly off it, and none or only barely any smoke, I close the door. I can start backing down the air not long after, but this small split, real dry wood goes away in just over an hour. So, I got this other, greener wood. I start with the older stuff, just as before. I can put 1 or 2 pieces of the newer stuff in on top of at least 1" of red coals, open the air back up, even open the door, fire dies. I have to put it in while the old stuff is still actively burning, and it can still be a challenge to get the new stuff going. Later, adding more new stuff, is even more challenging, mostly doesn't happen, unless I add more old stuff first.
More searching found something about bringing wood inside, so i've brought some in, it's been about a week. I did get a couple nights of burn with it on either side of the stove, just outside the hearth area, it only got warm. I did set a couple pieces on top, while burning the old stuff, they lit right up, but I had keep a real close watch on them. I don't really like doing that, after doing it once or twice. Was a bit scary.
I think i've listed pretty much everything, hoping someone can maybe point out something I could improve. I'll be getting more wood in the spring, so it can season, but right now, this is what i'm stuck with. With the move, and trying to get the old place to market, finances are tight.
Yes, I am reading posts aimed at new stove users.