First Fire In New Stove Guidelines Please

Yes. I let the stove go out again last night but there was enough warmth left to keep the heat off; it only got down to 49F in the house and the heat was set to come on at 48F.

 

I had intended to be cutting some trees while the sap is down. And there are two poplars that were felled but never bucked up. I need to get busy.

 

X2
I always try to let the firewood sit a week in the stove room.
Seems to make a difference

 

You're tougher than I am Kimberly! We set the thermostat at 65F.

 

No doubt! I was under a blanket with the house at 70 yesterday...then I broke down and fired the second stove...75* here we come!
I work outside a lot in all kinds of weather conditions at work...I hate being cold at home!

 

It is not that I am tough, it is just that the electric heat is too costly to allow it to run.

 

I am convinced that most of my problems is that the chimney is not tall enough for my conditions. I was outside checking on the exhaust of the chimney and thinking what would be the easiest way for me to increase the stack height. Currently I have a slight "crack" in the door and the exhaust looks clean without the fire roaring away uncontrollably. I will be checking the moisture content of my wood as soon as possible and if necessary would buy some seasoned wood. I am thinking a serious wood seller would have a moisture meter on hand and willing to split a piece to show a buyer; would that be a correct assessment?

 

You'd think so, good luck finding that scenario though. If you find a firewood supplier that has truly dry wood, you put him on your Christmas card list and then make sure you are his favorite customer!

 

Totally understood! I hope you get a bunch of fast drying wood stacked up soon.

When we were trying to get ahead on our "stash" of fire wood, there was next to no scrounge that wasn't worth the effort. When the word got out we could hardly keep up processing it. It was the best problem to have! We cut and split and stacked for what seemed like the whole spring, summer, and fall. I'm thankful that we were so lucky, but at the time it was almost overwhelming.
This year we were even able to give a full cord of good seasoned wood to a family that could put it to good use. That in itself made all the work well worth it.

You'll get there Kimberly! I'm sure you will!!

 

That is what this world should be all about, helping each other. Kudos to you.

 

This is the way I am currently burning, damper all the way open, door together and latch in place but not locked down tight, so there is a slight gap. Definitely not the way it is suppose to be working. I am going to see about increasing the chimney ASAP but winter storm is coming in tonight and tomorrow.

 

The winter storm is here in Illinois right now Kimberly. It's only supposed to leave 3"-5". It will just be a mess come Saturday when it's going to be over 50F

I hope you get that draft issue taken care of, you'll be in great shape then!

 

I don't think more chimney is going to help wood burn that was cut and split a few months ago. Just my unprofessional opinion as I'm no stove installer.

As said above, good luck with buying seasoned wood. I live in a city of over 1 million people and I know of exactly 2 people that sell true seasoned wood, and they sell out quickly at $300 per cord. I'd be out cutting and splitting for next year (and beyond) asap.

 

This wood was not cut just a few months ago. The popular may have too much moisture; will be checking when able.

 

The manual that came with the Madison stated "We require a minimum chimney height of 15.0 ft." Note, the text "require" was bold print in the manual to emphasis the requirement. I do not have 15 feet of chimney.

 

Get a good coal bed established. Load the stove with small to medium sized splits with 2 or 3 on the bottom N/S (straight in) leave some space between them. Then place 3 or 4 splits on top E/W or sideways. And leave the door cracked till Its burning good. See how that works.

 

The wood I am burning now is sweet gum that was cut two summers ago and has been covered under a tarp. Hopefully will last me for for several days; it was a rather large tree and there is still a few rounds at my sister's house; not covered though. There there is the dead locust that I cut and split back at the end of summer which has also been covered from the elements.

 

Just so you understand, wood that is covered as soon as it is cut/split doesn't dry well. I like to let it sit out in the open (a couple years at least, let the rain/snow/whatever hit it, no big deal, it will evaporate quickly when the sun comes back out) until it is dry and then when I am planning on using it that coming winter...then I will top cover it...but leave the sides open for airflow. If it is totally covered you will find tons of condensation on the bottom of the cover...a "greenhouse" does not make for good drying conditions

 

That is definitely a good thing to do to help get ahead. I did that last winter and it really shows on the moisture meter how much less MC the trees have compared to letting them sap up in spring.