I am mixing my loads in the stove with 2 Envi-blocks and 3-5 splits. This is working extremely well. Keep in mind that the wood I am currently burning was split last year. The combination gives off very good heat, leaves a nice bed of coals to work with and still getting little to visible smoke out the chimney. The way I stack it is that I put to of the Envi-blocks on their sides against the edge of both sides of the stove. I then lay a row of splits on top of the blocks. On a fresh start I put the paper and a little bit of kindling below the splits. If it's to keep it going, I spread the coals out between the two blocks. Both methods have proven to be very effective in starting and keeping the fire going. Once the fire gets going good, I'll put the rest of the splits on. I'm getting a good 10 hours out of a full firebox. My logs are 18-20" long. The firebox will take up to 22". The only problem that I've encountered is when I load too many splits at once. It seeks to choke out the available O2 and slows down the overall process. It took several fires for me to come up with the proper balance. I believe that with properly seasoned wood I'd not have this issue. Thought I would update everyone on how things were going with this year. I still have over half of the first ton of blocks to burn. By burning two block with each load, we should make it well into Jan before I need to go get the other ton. Jason from RI
We have been toying with those lately. Sweet Melissa likes to use them when she loads up late morning before heading to work.
The two upsides are very low ash and a clean chimney. The downside is no coals to keep the fire going. That is a but frustrating restarting the fire on just about every reload. I've watched videos where people line them up so that they will burn one after the other. I have never been able to get this to happen. In our firebox, they all seem to ignite. Especially when you get up into the burn zone. Each time I load the wood stove, I'd only put 4 blocks on. Now 4 blocks will get us 6-8 hours. Which is pretty good. I just wish I could put more blocks in the stove to get more time. Instead you overheat the room.
Interesting loading the stove tonight. I must have taken out some splits that were from this year. After loading the fire with the door cracked, the temp would not not get up over 150. It was roaring pretty good, but I could hear some steam in the firebox. After a good 10 minutes, I closed the handle and another 10 minutes and the temp finally went over 200. With the air still opened full, it's just pushing over 200. This is another downside of not having properly seasoned wood. I did know going into this season that I would encounter tough burns from time to time. With it being colder of late, I should have put two packages of blocks on tonight to get the higher temps out of the stove. Then during the day when I don't need the higher temps run the splits in it. I'll need to keep an eye on my chimney. I started the season clean, but with unseasoned wood, I don't want to clog it up. Hopefully when I burn just blocks, the flu temps will help clean the chimney out some. Let's just say this is going to be an interesting season. Though I am sure most if not all of you knew that. There is never a substitute for properly seasoned splits. Well the blocks are a substitute. What I mean is mixing in unseasoned splits is no substitute. And just now as I am typing a log shifted and it took off like a rape ape. Temp is now at 300 and climbing. Amazing how shifting one log allows for better air flow.
I will burn those also. Used to get them for 2.39 for a pack of six. Now they are up to 3.09 fir sane sized package.
The price has gone up to $310 for a ton. We still have half of the first ton left. Mixing the wood should get us to end of the year and possibly middle of January. It all depends on temps. Hopefully it stays cold and we see snow soon. If that doesn't happen, the blocks will last longer.
Betting you will be glad to get back on top of the wood quality battle in the future! Sounds like your doing what you can for now. Best of luck on your burning season.
