an older relative of mine said that they would be splitting some wood for the stove this year soon (yes, wood for this season). Knowing that my input about wet wood would have gone nowhere, I offered up some of my wood as I have a couple season’s worth. He said no, he’s all set. Same person who told me not to burn conifers for safety reasons. Hate when this sort of thing happens. I’m curious if you all “go there” with people or not and, if so, how that usually goes. I remember telling a neighbor, who seemed clueless about chimney fires, that his burning fresh wood in his fireplace could be a problem. I get the feeling he heard was saying, and then just proceeded to do whatever he wanted.
If your relative hasn't burned good dry wood yet, maybe you could give him a days worth and just ask him to try it. If he turns it down....You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
Couple weeks ago i heard chain saws nearby and drove to investigate. Turns out Asplundh was cutting limbs back from the wires. No wood. I stop and ask for usable wood and one of the workers tells me they will be felling some big pine the next day, "but you cant burn that or you'll get a chimney fire." so i politely told him otherwise. Couldnt seem to convince him. Apparently they know all about cutting it, not about burning it. I'll share my knowledge and opinion, whether recipient believes or follows it is up to them. Prior to my being a member here i thought the same of pine and softwoods.
I've been through that with a neighbor, I don't bother offering my take on wood burning anymore. This same neighbor just had this years wood delivered just over a week ago, it's very green and most of it's still outside uncovered getting wet from the rains today. I will take some time each week and help get it inside before the snow hits the ground. He didn't order enough so I'll cover two face cord of seasoned wood if they end up needing it.
This answer, I'll share if given the opportunity, but most do as they please anyway. Cut in the fall & burn in the winter is how most learned to do it.
Tough call. If you know the individual will not be receptive to any information you'll only frustrate yourself. If you can get them to see the light, maybe it's worth it.
I politely explain my opinion and if they don't want to go that way, well i tried, and i forget about it. If they have a problem later on , i'm not one to gloat or tell them they were wrong and i was right. I'll just let them figure that part of it out for themselves. Some times no matter how hard you try, its best to let them learn on their own.
I'm in the camp that will tell them the truth, and wait for them to realize that water doesn't burn, and that's why their wood is sizzling and hard to start the fire. It may take them a while, and I may never run into the person again, but that "aha moment" will happen eventually. The line about " you can't burn water" is irrefutable. A moisture meter well also show them the truth as well.
There are people here where I live who won't burn hardwoods they would rather have the conifers, because they don't understand the seasoning period that hardwoods require. Most of them have tried to burn green elm at some point I guess. I actually had about a half cord of locust a few years ago and a neighbor told me it's "garbage" and I should take it to the landfill. Not many around here clean their chimneys either, in fact a coworker told me that burning aluminum beer and soda cans in your stove will eliminate creosote buildup.
There is someone not far from our house who bought a new wood stove a few years back (I've never seen anyone complain about this stove) but they wanted the dealer to take it back because they said it didn't throw enough heat but they never cover their wood from the time the get it and not even in the winter. The last I saw it they had it outside in the driveway for sale, I wonder if they even brought it inside the garage with his tractor before it rained today.
If those can burners are the same that say you don't need to season wood, then offer those people to burn a full can of beer in their stoves.
Hmm, sounds like maybe you need to inquire on the price...sometimes people like this will almost give "that POS" away...and if it is a popular model as you elude to...might be a good candidate to flip My experience in these situations is that it will either be almost full price, or real cheap...
Can’t beat the dead horse into them... but if they are willing to listen I’m going to let them in on experience and then let them figure out for themselves. It’s not all learned at the same pace...if someone makes that mistake of having a chimney fire, then they will have to learn the hard way, there’s no fix for that if caution has been thrown at them prior. That’s why now I tell it like it is: get the wood stacked up and covered before it gets burned. Glad it got done. Luckily most of it has been cut and split for almost 2 full years now.
It amazes me how many people around me cut in the fall and burn it come winter. I have yet to run across a seller that uses a moisture meter. I try to educate those that I can, but most are set in their ways.
Never give up! I had a guy who I've helped proudly show me how he had loaded all his wood for the coming winter into his dark damp basement...…. In April He took it all out of nice stacks exposed to plenty of wind and sun! So much for a summer of seasoning.
