i think im hooked

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fitter9

fitter9

Member
Oct 10, 2013
100
central jersey
ive been burning almost non stop since my insert was installed on wednesday.
it warmed up a little in new jersey today so i let the stove go out around 11 am. its around 50 outside and around 65 in the house. i know i really dont NEED a fire.
i found myself looking in to that window on my lopi all day, wishing it was a little colder out.
i think im going to light it anyway, what do you think?????
 
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Well...you can always open a window!
 
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I think you're an excited newbie with a new stove, burn away. I was the same way (in August). AND, don't worry the cold is coming
 
Let it be known that new wood burners will typically burn a lot more wood than they need and this is one of the reasons. Just make sure you don't burn up your good stock now as you may need that come January-February.

Just to give an example, in the fall we start burning in September most years but usually won't have to empty ashes until the end of October or into November. No, we have not emptied ashes yet this year. However, in the coldest part of winter we have emptied ashes in as little as 4 days. Now compare that 4 days to October and you should get the idea that you will be having a good time with that fire in a short time. Why try to hurry it? But if you do, then enjoy it.
 
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I definitely agree, as a new burning I've been doing nighttime fires since parts of September, only well full time this week with lows in the 30s...and of course my stove room is 78F now with the windows open, haha.
 
138.JPG
 
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Welcome to the family. I started my experience with a small stove with the intention of emergency back up heat and those weekend relaxing burns. The more I used it the more I wanted too. Now I got a big Englander cause I'm addicted and don't want no stink'in furnace usage. No regrets, loving it. Enjoy it!
 
+1000 on the dont be in a rush, you may burn up your wood, I was scraping by last year because of that. This year I am prepared, but Im still only lighting at night right now...Relax(I know it is hard, damn near impossible) you will have more than enough time to burn when it gets COLD!!!
 
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If you have a good inventory of dry wood then burn , I hate to be chilly and I'm not a rookie burner.
 
I am also a newbie and have had my Montpelier by VC for about 2 weeks. The best thing is to practice and try various types of wood and burn techniques. This way you will be well prepared when it gets really cold. Just make sure you have enough burnable wood for the rest of the winter. I have been experimenting with different wood species, stacking, top down burns, cleaning the insert and all sorts of fun things. I also am learning my splitting techniques from splitting large rounds to making up kindling packages. Whe the weather is warn it is a great time to scrounge for good free wood as well. the warm weather and fallen trees from Sandy have produced tons of free wood in my area. I just have to do my own splitting and that exercise is keeping me warm and in shape. Watch lots of you tube videos and you will learn quickly. Burn during the day and see if you have a smoke free fire.
 
I have also been burning here in Jersey since Wednesday. It's been great learning the insert and I have been throwing in bigger splits/logs. House has been cozy warm :). I cannot for the life of me imagine "packing" this box up. I just don't know how. How do I load this stove when what I've been doing raises me to 400/500? (My insert doesn't recommend routinely reaching 600/stove top temp) It will definitely be interesting when it's really cold outside to see how comfy things are in here.

I think I read a previous post by Brotherbart about trusting your stove and boy am I trying. :)
 
I As Well Live In Jersey. We Had OurR Insert Installed Weds. I Cannot Wait TI'll The Evening So I Can Light A Fire.
 
Believe it or not, by the time spring arrives, you'll be ready to take a break from it. 'Course, you'll be itchin to go again in the fall...it's a disease, and the only cure is FIRE! ::-) (and we think we are so far removed from the caveman days...HA! (still buildin fires, n lookin for a good steak)
 
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Welcome to the disease :)


Every year come September most of us cant wait to light up.
Every year come March most of us cant wait for it to end and open the windows.


Yes there is a support group, you just found us ::-)
 
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no matter, hes a newbie. he will have his fun this year and fall into it over time as we all have
 
i m new to a insert, but not at all new to burning wood. Ive been burning in an open fireplace for many years. the open fireplace got lit almost every day in the fall and winter.
i think i manage my wood pretty good.
thanks to hurricane sandy, i have a 5 to 7 year supply of mostly red oak. most of that wont be ready till next year and beyond. i also have around 5 cords of mixed hardwoods that i checked with my m/m and the highest reading i got was 18%. BURN BABY BURN!!!
thanks to all you fellow wood burners for all the info. The learning curve has been short because of hearth.com
i got a 7 hour burn time last night with the box only around two thirds full
 
seabert said:
I am also a newbie and have had my Montpelier by VC for about 2 weeks. The best thing is to practice and try various types of wood and burn techniques. This way you will be well prepared when it gets really cold. Just make sure you have enough burnable wood for the rest of the winter. I have been experimenting with different wood species, stacking, top down burns, cleaning the insert and all sorts of fun things. I also am learning my splitting techniques from splitting large rounds to making up kindling packages. Whe the weather is warn it is a great time to scrounge for good free wood as well. the warm weather and fallen trees from Sandy have produced tons of free wood in my area. I just have to do my own splitting and that exercise is keeping me warm and in shape. Watch lots of you tube videos and you will learn quickly. Burn during the day and see if you have a smoke free fire.
Click to expand...


Caution on those youtube videos. There is a lot of stupid junk there and it would be difficult for someone new to watch different ones and know good from bad. I've seen a few and have been amazed at how ridiculous most of them are.
 
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fitter9 said:
i m new to a insert, but not at all new to burning wood. Ive been burning in an open fireplace for many years. the open fireplace got lit almost every day in the fall and winter.
i think i manage my wood pretty good.
thanks to hurricane sandy, i have a 5 to 7 year supply of mostly red oak. most of that wont be ready till next year and beyond. i also have around 5 cords of mixed hardwoods that i checked with my m/m and the highest reading i got was 18%. BURN BABY BURN!!!
thanks to all you fellow wood burners for all the info. The learning curve has been short because of hearth.com
i got a 7 hour burn time last night with the box only around two thirds full
Click to expand...


There is a world of difference between burning in an open fireplace vs burning in a stove. What one learns with one does not necessarily go with the new one as they are two different things. In addition, it makes a world of difference in how you use that moisture meter. There are right ways that will give you a guideline and there are wrong was of using them that will give you readings that mean nothing.

Also, getting a 7 hour burn with a firebox 2/3 full is not unusual at all and many of us would expect much longer. We won't even fill our stove 2/3 full at this time of the year. However, I admit that I do not know where you live and if in Alaska or the Yukon, then that is different. We live in Michigan and I can tell you we usually burn 2 or 3 splits in our fires until sometime in November or December. That is plenty to keep us warm until the air gets cold outside.
 
27 degrees at night here. the last few nights. kept the house at 75 all night. 2/3 full was 5 nice splits.
wood is free and the gas company didnt get a dime.
doesnt get much better then that.. using a m/m isnt really rocket science. split the wood,stick it in and read the numbers..
 
Backwoods Savage said:
There is a world of difference between burning in an open fireplace vs burning in a stove. What one learns with one does not necessarily go with the new one as they are two different things. In addition, it makes a world of difference in how you use that moisture meter. There are right ways that will give you a guideline and there are wrong was of using them that will give you readings that mean nothing.

Also, getting a 7 hour burn with a firebox 2/3 full is not unusual at all and many of us would expect much longer. We won't even fill our stove 2/3 full at this time of the year. However, I admit that I do not know where you live and if in Alaska or the Yukon, then that is different. We live in Michigan and I can tell you we usually burn 2 or 3 splits in our fires until sometime in November or December. That is plenty to keep us warm until the air gets cold outside.
Click to expand...
Some of us do!
How else we going to get 24 hour burns silly! LOL
 
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