So our inspection is this afternoon. There has been a LOT of work, a lot of things needed to be finished up before we have an inspector from the town in here. We have the wood (the oldest is oak and maple 1.5 years split and stacked) the stove (Jotul f500), part of the kitchen remodeled to accommodate fire-proofing (see steel floor thread), and money freely bleeding into big oil industries. We are hoping (praying) that the inspector tells me to put the screws in the stove.pipe, and have a fire. Im leaving it partially dissassembled in case they want to peek inside the flue etc. Edited to add: used/previously loved stove The question is weather or not we should have a break in burn or two. I sealed the crap out of it w/ furnace cement a week ago, I imagine that is pretty well cured. There were no instructions on the cement about break-in fires. I did not repaint the stove, but the stove pipe is all fresh and new. Im going to try a top down start, never having tried that before, and keep the stovetop at 400*. The chimney is masonry with a liner: the chimney has not seen heat since we pulled the oil burner a year ago, I anticipate the flue getting to 250* fairly quickly, but the masonry longer. We have tools, kindling, fire extinguishers, chimfex, a stash of newspaper, smoke and co detectors, and chairs to set in front of it to monitor for the evening. I found and read the "How to Build and Maintain a Wood Fire" from Woodheat.com, plan on discussing w/family tonight as we roast away next to the wood stove. I grew up with a Nashua, so am re learning about every aspect of wood burning. Here we go! Sca
Hope things go well with your inspection. Sorry I can't be of more assistance with your questions, but will be watching to learn from other's comments.
May the flames be with you! No scientific research here, but with a new stove, I'd heat it up just unti you can feel the heat radiating. Let it go out and repeat the next day. Small fire, just in case an issue should, become apparent. Then, if all looks well, use it. Just makes sense to me to do it that way.
Well, we did pass inspection. The fellow was focused on the clearances, but had a few other questions about the flue (like.is.it shared with another appliance, showed him the gas furnace vent). All the other prep was helpful...either he didnt notice, or did and didnt say anything about: a house tied smoke detector, a stand alone co2/smoke detector,fire extinguishers jus out of sight, chimfex in a couple easily seen hidey spots... That we exceeded code where we could...clearances, hearth was larger than required, we took a lot of time and used fire caulk in out of sight places....the like. Perhaps he noticed none. I added a layer of "zero clearance" where our chimney guy suggested we should, but was not requested of us today....perhaps that all counted for something. Got the "permit closed" email too late to call a certain company and let them know. So, no fire here for the record. Tonight the house is a lot warmer, there is the smell of warm metal, (but zero smoke coming out of the chimney). 200 is a nice number, 500 is also a nice number. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. We consider then answered. Sca
Congrats! When I got my new stove going, I just did a few small fires and built them up a little each day. You'll be opening the windows in now time. LOL
We have a good sized ground floor....so at hot as the f500 might get, we'll keep a fan running to move the floor air around. Kinda hoping that once the structure gets properly warm, we can run smaller fires, or use the fan less....not cooking ourselves out of the kitchen. Pic, a quick firewood box from lumber bits hangin around.
Good luck. It should work out well. On the fan, don't try to blow the warm air into the cold or you will be disappointed. Move cold or cool air toward the stove but do it at the lowest fan speed so it doesn't feel drafty and will still do the job you want.
