First Fire In New Stove Guidelines Please

Congrats on the new stove Kimberly! I may be to late on this post but make sure you do let it cool off between your first fires for paint curing. A good rule of thumb is that if you cant rest your hand comfortably on the stove top you need to let it cool off more.

 

"Key words "May not"...."
Yep.
Kimberly.....I apologize. I missed your earlier post where you already read in the manual the minimum height required. I was attempting to assist.
Thanks to milleo for nudging me to look back a little farther in the thread.
I don't see mention of where to measure from either. Hmmm.
Leave the dang door open for a bit if you need to. I've had to do that MANY times when either the flue was clogged, or the wood was not dry enough.
You need FIRE!

 

Thank you.

 

No need to apologise, I need the help.

When loading; I am keeping the fire low for now, I open the door, let it burn a bit with the door open, then open wide and I am seeing smoke spillage.

This second fire does seem to be doing better, it could be that cold chimney on the first firing.

 

Thank you.

 

Yes, very breezy at times. I also have some large trees at the corner of the house.

 

I have my doubts.

 

What you are complaining of is typical of wet wood. No ifs ands or buts. Can't stress this enough.
You need dry seasoned wood!
Once you procure some dry wood, you will see and admit that this is the problem.
Wood that has burnt well without any problems in non-epa stoves will NOT work in epa stoves. Don't blame it on anything else, even with a shorter chimney (by not much) it will work with dry wood!

Buy some wood from someone who has an epa stove and has been burning it for years. Just an armload. You'll see.
This happens all the time-even to veteran burners when the switch is made to epa stoves.
This is also why you will see epa stoves for sale on sites like craigslist....Almost new, hardly used, won't burn right (rare admittance),
bought bigger stove, etc. Check out some of the complaints. "Fire won't stay lit" "Not enough combustion air" Every fault but the right one.

 

Nope, this wood is from dead trees that have been dead for many many years, then split and covered.

 

You'll see. I went through the same thing when I switched over to an epa stove.
Take the advice given or not, can't convince you until you learn for yourself, right?

The OAK shouldn't matter at all unless your house is super tight. By your description of it over the last few months, no an issue.

 

Congrats on your first fire Kimberly

 

Not sure who that would be from. I have seen some trucks sitting around saying dried firewood but without a moisture meter I would be at their word.

 

So trees that have been dead for say, five, six, years is not dry?

 

That is typical...every single wood burner I have ever fired from brand new had a lackluster "first fire". People say the firebrick needs to dry out, could be. Sounds logical to me.
It is possible that the wood is not optimal dry...it will still make heat. Have any dry 2x4s or the like around that needs disposed of? (don't load too much though...a few pieces with regular ole firewood works good)
It is possible the chimney is too short to work perfectly, it will still make some heat for now.
It is possible that the house needs make up air...crack a nearby window, see if it helps.
It is possible that the trees are affecting the chimney...too early to tell, need to verify the above issues first.

 

Thank you.

 

Yes, I would like those trees down; given the proximity to the house, the only way I would do it is from the top down and I can not afford to hire tree monkeys at the moment. They should have went down before we set the house up but we ran out of funds so left them.

 

Oh, and first fire dance! Soon you will need

 

Excuse my manners.

Congrats on the major accomplishment!

Now get in your vehicle, go and spend the $14 for a moisture meter, split your dry wood and immediately test it.
As far as vendors selling "dry firewood", well, there are tons of posts on here and other sites about that fallacy!

No one around there burns wood? What about old family friends? Don't you have any old lumber in the shed? Stuff that has been out of the weather for a few years?