Ive never had any of that happen. Ive try all wood types same results even wood with 10% water. Just in the time in took me to type this its back to 1Cherry is not the highest BTU wood...but a box full of it ought to heat your house this time of year.
The last time I had the firebox stuffed full was last January when the high temp for the day was around zero...an the computer on medium, loaded every 8 hours or so IIRC...a couple times the high temp alarm went off because I loaded on too many coals, and had a full firebox of real dry wood...went 3, 2, 1, c real quick, and stayed on c for a LONG time...2 hrs maybe? CRS n all....