In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

What would you do if you needed a real small amount of heat?

Discussion in 'Modern EPA Stoves and Fireplaces' started by williaty, Jul 30, 2020.

  1. williaty

    williaty

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    We have a pretty efficient home and a Woodstock Ideal Steel. It's great when it's -20 out. It's awesome when it's 0 out. It's wonderful when it's 10 out. It's pretty good at 20. Much above that and it overheats the house. We don't want to just open the window because it screws up the humidity in the house to do that. So the problem is the warmer winters actually get really expensive because we have to run the furnace when it's 30-50F out. Before the IS, we used kerosene space heaters and I know in the range we currently have a problem with I could carry the house on 10,000 BTU/hr worth of small kero burner.

    So, I have one chimney and a stove that's too hot for most of these new globally-warmed winters we're having :rofl: :lol: I don't want to just toss the IS for a smaller stove because once-twice a winter in a warm winter or 2 weeks at a time in a hard winter we run it full bore. You guys got any clever ideas about how to have a "shoulder season that just might last all winter" stove (and what stove would you recommend) at the same time as the IS for the heavy-lift days?
     
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  2. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    I use less wood and bring the heat up slowly.

    Try burning thinner splits, and just a few of them.
     
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  3. Geoff C

    Geoff C

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    You could install a mini split. Very efficient when it’s mild out.

    you could install the Woodstock mini gas stove.

    Or just build small fires in the IS. You don’t even need to engage the cat. Just run it like a regular tube stove with a few small fires a day.
     
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  4. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Yup, small splits of a low BTU wood...use less of them...stacking "log cabin style" helps a small pile burn better too.
    Maybe a smaller stove would work better most winter's...then boost the heat with the furnace as needed...might be cheaper in the long run?
    We use two different burners...on days that just need a little heat, I either let the oil furnace run, or make a fire in the upstairs stove in the fireplace...when it gets colder we use the wood furnace...works well.
     
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  5. Chaz

    Chaz

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    I've not posted in Dennis's SS thread yet.. but Chazsbetterhalf has asked me time and again why I don't do SS wood.

    I figure my time is better spent on COLD season wood.

    That said.. we do have some pine and poplar that I do need to work on.. regardless of burn time.

    I've come to the conclusion that we will end up running the furnace at certain times of the year, but we took on 200 G of fuel oil this summer.. which is the first delivery in 3 years.. I can live with that.
    :)
     
  6. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    When heating with wood, that 30-50 degree range is a challenge. Fortunately we are in a position where at least one of us are at home most of the time. This way we either burn 2 or 3 small pieces of wood at a time. Many times also we'll have a small fire and just let it go out then start from scratch again when it gets chilly. It works and we've done this for so long it just seems normal.

    Also, even though we don't do it, you indeed can run the stove without engaging the cat. Just know you may need to check the chimney a bit more often.
     
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  7. fox9988

    fox9988

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    Buy a Keystone. 16 hour burns are easy, 24 hour burns possible (on my oak). In a 1.4 cuff stove, that’s low and slow. The soapstone will help level the heat out over the day/night. Load more often for the cold snaps or set the furnace at 68F.
     
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  8. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Fart! :D:fart: It's warm in the pants :whistle::rofl: :lol:
     
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  9. williaty

    williaty

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    Looking at Woodstock's site, the Keystone is actually rated at a higher BTU/hr output than my IS.
     
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  10. Chazsbetterhalf

    Chazsbetterhalf

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    Ok question Dennis. One of my concerns in running just few pieces at a time, even if the cat is closed, since it is a lower temp aren't you running a chance of more creosote being built up?
     
  11. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    No. When we burn a few pieces at a time they are small pieces so there is a flame and, of course our wood is dry so we just do not have a creosote problem at all.
     
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  12. fox9988

    fox9988

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    Higher BTU/hr at maximum burn rate or minimum burn rate?
     
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  13. williaty

    williaty

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    Both the minimum and maximum rates are higher for the Keystone than the IS.
     
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  14. fox9988

    fox9988

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    Interesting.
    Can you easily stretch 1.4 cuft of wood out to 16 hours in an IS?
     
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  15. williaty

    williaty

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    Off the top of my head, I don't remember what the firebox size in the IS is. At about 2/3rds full, we get 20-24 hours depending on just how much we're able to throttle it down. That's our normal loading. Completely full, we've gotten 30 hours but that screws up the schedule, so we don't do it. Of course, completely full at -20F and we get about 6 hours, so there's that. :whistle:
     
  16. fox9988

    fox9988

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    The IS is advertised at 3.2 cuft, not sure how accurate that is. The KS is advertised at 1.5 cuft. The IS should be well over twice the size of a KS, for 25% longer burns. Sounds like the KS is capable of much lower BTU/hr burns. Straight cats burn slower than hybrids by reputation.
    But if you're only getting 6 hour burns during cold snaps with the IS, I doubt you'd want to reload a KS every 3 hours.

    BK Princes (which a forum member says will burn as low as a KS, he's had both on the same chimney) or keep the IS and add a small straight cat stove. Good luck.
     
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  17. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Same here. Recently took delivery of 191gal of fuel oil. First in a few years. Bought it when prices were low.
     
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  18. billb3

    billb3

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    The warmer days is when another time I burn pine. Usually just one fire in the morning and then another one just before supper time. Quick short hot burns that don't create creosote in the chimney. Every now and then I run out of junk mail and have to use something else. .
     
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  19. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    SS? Split & stacked? Seasoned &?
     
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  20. Horkn

    Horkn

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    If I needed a really small amount of heat, I'd fire a couple of rounds. You'd get nice gunpowder smells to boot.:rootintootin::thumbs:
     
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