I'm getting better with this thing. I get my fires started with dryer lint, cardboard, and sticks. Then splits, usually something like 4x4 or 4x8 size. Get it up and hot out of the gate and build up the coals. What I really want is the coals. Once I have a nice bed of hot coals going, I add maybe two or three splits at a time and choke it down to just a sliver on each of the vents. Then I have a circulator fan about three feet away blowing at the stove. I keep the doors to the bedrooms closed, which keeps the heat more in the living area.
I probably check on my stove more than necessary, but that's what I'm comfortable with.
Just for fun, I took one of the cameras for my home security system and have it watching the stove, and I can check it from my phone. Last year I bought some cast iron tea kettles but this year I'm not putting any water in them. They still sit up there, catching heat and radiating it off. I'd guess there's about ten pounds of cast iron there now.
This is my second full winter with it. I had an HVAC guy come out and explain my heat pump and electric furnace the other day, and now I know the sweet spot (outside temp less than 40, inside temp less than 65) that I can use to conserve my fairly small wood stack but still keep my electric bill from eating me alive. Even when it's in the 20s I can keep the house at about 70 without blowing out my stacks.
I probably check on my stove more than necessary, but that's what I'm comfortable with.
Just for fun, I took one of the cameras for my home security system and have it watching the stove, and I can check it from my phone. Last year I bought some cast iron tea kettles but this year I'm not putting any water in them. They still sit up there, catching heat and radiating it off. I'd guess there's about ten pounds of cast iron there now.
This is my second full winter with it. I had an HVAC guy come out and explain my heat pump and electric furnace the other day, and now I know the sweet spot (outside temp less than 40, inside temp less than 65) that I can use to conserve my fairly small wood stack but still keep my electric bill from eating me alive. Even when it's in the 20s I can keep the house at about 70 without blowing out my stacks.
confused
