Update on the insert...
Friday I stay home from work (played sick) and cut down the standing dead tree in my yard. I think I got under a cord, probably close to 1/2 a cord. The tree has been dead for the last 2 years I lived here, so how long exactly I am not sure. The wood is pretty dry, make the clink noise when banged together. The stuff burns pretty good, but does not last long, but it is free.
I picked up a thermometer the other day. I tried it on the top of the insert, on the front above the door and on the side of the insert. I did notice a drop of about a 100 degrees when I put it on the front or side. So I keep it on the top. My temps are usually around 500-600 during a good fire, peaking at about 700. When I am down to coals, the fireplace will drop to about 300-400 degrees.
My father has been hunting down oak pallets for me. He grabbed a bunch the other day and cut them up. Six more he found today and is cutting them right now. When he stopped over to drop them off, I had a fire going with wood from the store and I threw a bunch of the oak on there. The fire was intense once they caught and I watched the temps spike up too 800 degrees. I was getting nervous, and shut the air down all the way. I checked for any red areas on the stove and did not find any. But that thing was cooking and after a few minutes the temps started to drop. Now I know to only put a few pieces of the oak on at a time.
So right now I am using the wood I cut down mixed with a couple pieces of oak pallets and my house is staying nice and warm. I cannot wait until next year when I will have some good seasoned wood!
Friday I stay home from work (played sick) and cut down the standing dead tree in my yard. I think I got under a cord, probably close to 1/2 a cord. The tree has been dead for the last 2 years I lived here, so how long exactly I am not sure. The wood is pretty dry, make the clink noise when banged together. The stuff burns pretty good, but does not last long, but it is free.
I picked up a thermometer the other day. I tried it on the top of the insert, on the front above the door and on the side of the insert. I did notice a drop of about a 100 degrees when I put it on the front or side. So I keep it on the top. My temps are usually around 500-600 during a good fire, peaking at about 700. When I am down to coals, the fireplace will drop to about 300-400 degrees.
My father has been hunting down oak pallets for me. He grabbed a bunch the other day and cut them up. Six more he found today and is cutting them right now. When he stopped over to drop them off, I had a fire going with wood from the store and I threw a bunch of the oak on there. The fire was intense once they caught and I watched the temps spike up too 800 degrees. I was getting nervous, and shut the air down all the way. I checked for any red areas on the stove and did not find any. But that thing was cooking and after a few minutes the temps started to drop. Now I know to only put a few pieces of the oak on at a time.
So right now I am using the wood I cut down mixed with a couple pieces of oak pallets and my house is staying nice and warm. I cannot wait until next year when I will have some good seasoned wood!
