I load my stove east to west with the most splits at least this year being 3 medium sized. Any more and I'd almost be afraid of either over firing the stove or getting the house too warm for comfort. This morning I put in 1 medium sized split which brought the house temperature from 71 degrees up to 78. The outside temperature was 31 degrees with about 10mph winds. So is loading the stove north to south better? I know I've seen many pictures of stoves loaded to top that way, but is it better than east to west. Or is it simply a matter of preference?
It's a combination of personal preference and what works best for your stove. I have an older non-cat stove, so if I want a clean burn, it's all about the combustion conditions. It loads from the front, and has air control on either side. My favorite configuration is 2 EW splits on the bottom, with all the coals raked in between them. Then I add a NS layer of shorter splits (stove is wider than it is deep), and another EW layer on top of that if there's room. This allows plenty of air circulation inside the box, which I find (for me) is key to getting a clean burn going quickly.
We can burn either direction but like the n/s loading better, you don't have to worry about any splits rolling on the glass and it's easier to load.
My owner's manual suggest an ideal split length that would definitely mean N/S loading but never comes right out and says which way to load it.
Unless I'm burning chunks or cookies; my stoves design dictates that I load EW with normal 16-18" splits. About all I can get into my 13 is about 4 medium sized splits EW. When I'm burning chunks and cookies; I can load them NS and get a lot more wood in the stove. Kinda surprised you even need a wood stove in NC!!!!! It don't get COLD there!!!
I think it really depends on the stove. Stoves that are end (or side) loading basically demand E/W loading. A lot of front loading stoves can use either direction but still usually have a preference due to firebox dimensions; one direction is usually easier or takes longer splits, etc. I have an Ideal Steel which is a front loading stove but because the top of the stove is tapered, higher at the front and lower at the back, I find I can usually get more wood in the stove if I load E/W, and the stove takes longer splits in that direction also. Of course loaded that way a split (or three) sometimes rest against the glass at some point in the burn but that does not seem to be a problem as long as I pay attention and do not open the door without using a shovel or similar to hold the splits back. And, of course, I never load the stove such that the door is used to force the last piece(s) of wood into the stove or such that a split or more rests against the door right after loading. So I would say it is first a matter of which one works best for the user and then a matter of which works best for the particular stove. Brian
Our fireplace insert is only 14" deep but 24" wide. Lose an inch for the firebrick and we're down to 13"x23". There is no way I'm cutting all my wood down to 12" so it will orient N/S. And since the smoke dragon which doesn't get used very often is 22" deep, cutting my wood to 20" is perfect for both.
Most times it simply depends upon the stove. Back when I was a kid we used to stand the logs on end and it worked just fine. It was a top loader.
I have the 13-NC Englander. I read through the entire manual and all it says about firewood is to use at least one year seasoned. I only use 3 year or more seasoned (15% moisture content or less)
I don't know about your definition of warm, but it gets mighty cold here during the winter months. We have lows at night as low as 10 degrees, though this winter I have seen it at 5 degrees. The weather today was a balmy 34 degrees with winds gusting at better than 40mph. It almost knocked me on my butt while I was on my way to the garage. From the last snowstorm we still have 4 to 6 inches of snow left on the ground, and I have at least 3 to 4 inches worth still on my roof. The weather services are seldom even close as far as what the temperatures are where I'm at, but then I'm in the mountains. So I plan to burn about a cord and a half per season not including kindling. If I need more, I have plenty since I'm around 7 to 8 years ahead. The current temperature at the time of this note is 26.8 degrees.
I think what I'll do is cut a dozen or so splits in half. Since mine are at or close to 16" that would give me 8" to use for north to south. That way I can at least try that method out. If it works out half way decent, maybe I'll start cutting a half cord at 10" in length. That's the comfortable depth of the firebox. 12" is right at the glass. The width is 20 inches so it will comfortably hold 18 inch splits. Thank you all for the input.
Dont take this wrong but its chilly in NC not COLD. follow some of the guys in Canada, Michigan Wisconsin. They regulary have postings of -20....
I'll agree with you there, but only to a point. Cold is subjective to where one lives. Someone can be cold in Florida if the temperature is at 50 degrees. But someone from my area may think it's bikini weather. Not me, I'm cold when it reaches 50 degrees! Most everyone acclimates to the particular climate where they live. Be it at the North Pole or Hawaii. Switch places and after a couple years switch back. What was once thought to be temperate in single digits is now down right frigid. I have experienced Wisconsin winters, Experienced the Blizzard of '79 in Chicago. Experienced winters in the Rocky Mountains where the snow caps practically remain year round. Yep, I know cold as in temperatures in the negative 30's with winds gusting easily to 90mph. But the interesting thing is, I'm as cold now at 10 degrees as I was at -30. I guess that just means I'm getting old.
