The "Wife's" first fire

She told me yesterday, that she wanted me to watch her start the fire when I came home for lunch, so I did. I coached her while prepping my food, and she did fine.

When I got home at 4:45 PM, there was a TON of smoke coming out of the chimney that normally shows no smoke at all.
I know she had our grandson there, so I figured she just prioritized his needs over the fire's needs, and sure enough (understandable), she had kept it running, but had over-stuffed the box and had essentially created a smoldering fire.

I pulled out the extra logs, squirreled around the glowing coals, threw in some kindling and let it re-start itself......all was well.

She was pretty frazzled though. The construction guys, the noise, the dogs, the grandson, a vendor trying to get a contract for some brick work.........she was a mess!

She told me that about an hour before that, she had a "roaring fire." I wonder how much creosote built up in that half-hour or so, while the fire smoldered, and the smoke was pouring out???

-Soupy1957

I noted that the glass has some clouding happening on either end of the glass. I expect the glass to be somewhat "dirty" after a few burns.

I still haven't seen evidence of the "after burners" kicking in ("glass wash") and don't really know what it'll take to make that happen (just so the second burn helps clean the smoke more, going into the environment).

She has "washed her hands" of any more wood stove maintainance........lol........perhaps she'll be more receptive when she is under less stress. The re-construction project going on in the home right now; having to watch the grandson; her phsycial limitations (M.S.), all make for a stressful day for her. (Wish I didn't have to be "at work" and not able to help).

-Soupy1957

Pyro: Wood is dry and seasoned, and the air control was fully "open"........I dunno......I'm a rookie. I figured she just over-loaded it. Can't figure any OTHER reason for all the smoke comin out the chimney. (It went away when I unloaded the extra pieces that hadn't "caught" yet, and re-kindled it.

Wasn't a black crud on the glass.........very light gray on the outside edges. I got a good hint that "vinegar" makes a great glass cleaner.......will try that tonight, after I take out some of the excess ash. It burned well for the rest of the evening (no smoke from the chimney) as I let it burn itself out.

I have more room "East to West" in this particular Fire Box, than I do, "North to South" (which is a bit disappointing, since I like to let the air burn "through" the wood, and not "over" and "under" it; even if it IS a more laid back heat from East to West. The 1/2 cord I bought, I recall asking the guy to bring 16 - 18" split logs, and some are a pretty tight fit.
Next time a guy comes with wood, I'm gonna tape measure a few, and pull out my moisture meter! (I recall that someone in here said that the "moisture meter" won't give me good results on "frozen" wood, by the way).

I'm sure "the wife" will contribute more, in the future. She just had a bad day yesterday, is all. I was a bit too over-sensative to the smoke I saw coming from the chimney. As a relative "newbie" to indoor wood stoves of my own, I was admittedly nervous about finding that smoke coming out like that. Sure, I "fixed" the problem, but still......I was probably a bit too dramatic with her. She was soooooo proud that she had "kept the fire going" (basically) since "lunch" time, and I should have been more low key about the smoke.

It's been interesting to hear the guys chiming in on this topic about the wife. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has had a similar issue of helping the spouse to feel comfortable about the fire.

She loves "a fire" and will probably be receptive again, after she's done being P______d at me for running in to save the day!!

Pyro: this wood was stacked for 9 months before I bought it......I simply re-stacked it in my own garage a week ago. It was dry and seasoned when received. I thought about the logs I pulled out with regard to bringing embers out with them, and broke my own rule in taking them out. I tried "opening the door" to let more air in, and it didn't seem to have any positive affect. Perhaps I could have waited a couple minutes more.

-Soupy1957