When I got up this morning there was only a few small coals in the stove. I didn't have any kindling on hand and I didn't think there was enough coals to start a fire without kindling. I was sure I would be heading out to split some kindling to get the fire going. However, I went ahead and placed a small split on the coals, left the door cracked open, and went and poured a cup of coffee and started reading my emails. A few minutes later I heard the sound of burning wood coming from the stove. I went back to the lounge, and yes, the split I had placed on the coals had nice flames leaping from it. I put a few more splits in the stove and soon had a nice fire going. That is the joy of having good dry wood. I really enjoy having a wood burning stove to heat the house. For many years I froze each winter trying to keep the electric bill where I could afford to pay it; the house has an electric forced-air furnace. Now I can enjoy a cosy warm house in the winter. Currently the lounge is 27C/81F.
No substitute to burning firewood! I just got done firing up my furnace. Had a similar experience. Raked my coals from this morning and there was just one coal that had a tiny orange spot on it. Left the pile of coals over the grate and cracked the ash pan while I ran upstairs to get the firewood. Once downstairs, the coals around the original were orange too. Loaded up the firebox and sat there for a few minutes until it was going well enough for the blower to kick on. Close the ash pan and the door and repeat in the morning. Crazy what a little air flow and a tiny little ember can accomplish!
You nailed it! That is how I typically start my fires in the morning. There is nothing quite like the heat from a fire. I can’t really describe it. You don’t see people standing next to forced air vent or electric baseboards. But it’s amazing how people gravitate to the heat of a wood stove.
I don't really comprehend or try to understand people who don't like a home with a wood stove in it. Just feels so good! My best friend is almost to the breaking point on 350$ a month power bills during the winter, I think he is gonna go with some type of modern catalytic wood stove and give the heat pump a break.
Envious you get coals, our lodgepole burns to pure ashes. We put a big chunk of coal in our previous stove overnight to I could light it easier in the morning. Sift a bit for the remnants, then either split, or tinder dry pine cones between the coal and split. Do you have conifer down there?
Its pretty amazing how some wood just takes off like that. Usually what happens is when I think I need to get extra it surprises me, but when I count on that it takes everything but the kitchen sink.
I burn mostly Douglass Fir, Aspen, and ponderosa. There is a little bit of lodge pole and scrub oak here too. I burn that stuff all day, and I love it. Burns great and heats the house wonderfully. But I cheat a bit. I have a good friend that owns a tree service in Denver. I get free Ash, oak, mulberry, maple, walnut etc from him. He gives it to me, to save himself dump fees. Seems crazy, I know. So, I throw a big chunk of hardwood in the stove before bed. That’s how I have big coals in the morning. A big chunk of Doug Fir or scrub oak will actually leave good coals in the morning too.
One of the joys about dry wood for me is... coming home after work, having not touched the stove in 10 hours, stirring up the coals, tossing a few splits in, then 10 minutes later having this:
Something to keep in mind when emptying out the ash. Make sure it ALL gets into a metal container and none spills out. What might appear to be a chunk of black burned wood might still be alive and a little open air and wind can reignite it, blow it up against your house or porch and... well, we’ve all heard the tales of how someone lost their house.
If I have a few glowing coals left I will rake all the coals into a pile, then close the side door and open the ash pan door. Within minutes I can hear the stove starting to ping from expansion of the metal, then I toss my wood in and it takes off. If the stove is dead cold with no coals, I do the same as above, bit I use a propane torch in 1-2 spots for about 20 seconds each, then close the door and wait for the coals to take off. No need for the kindling
Absolutely love it. I love the hunt for free wood, love the satisfaction of turning what some people think is trash, into an awesome, sustainable fuel source, that only depends on myself to get it. I think it is the most important step in self sufficientcy. I usually have some decent coals to get the stove going. But I also make sure I have a box or two of kindling on hand. I usually split a copy paper box full of kindling on a rainy day. I put aside really straight grain splits, and use 2 harbor freight hatchets to split them down to 1 inch thin pieces. I box might last a month or so, if I am just using a handful every couple of fires, when I do lose all my hot coals.
I was just thinking about this tonight that it is an awesome thing on a friday night to be able to look at your stacks and say "It is good!". Its only happened to me a few times in the winter, but there is a great sense of calm that comes over you when the power goes out during a storm and you suddenly remember why you don't have to worry about the heat.
