starting a Cold stove..everyday

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Stump_Branch

Minister of Fire
Nov 12, 2010
878
MD
I am hoping someone has some good advice for me.
I know I cant be the only working slub who has to be away from the stove each day (near 12 hours). Also know I am limited by my plate steel small insert. With that, does anyone have to start a fire each and every evening? I bought the house almost 9 months ago, was nice to rip it apart and work on it when it was warm, moved in after getting married in september. I am very limited funds wise so I have to get creative most days. Where the stove sits is not ideal to heat the whole house, honestly that doesn't bother me, Theis area is where we spend most of our time anyhow. My problem is I have to start a fire everynight. Last night I came home to the stove room at a 'sweltering' 54* (16* outside). This part of the house is presently heated soley by the stove. As of now it takes about an hour before I get the stove to cruising speed, I find that if I use loads of kindling and smallish splits I can get a semi decent bed of coals in a shorter period of time. I am wondering to those who have to start one if they have hints, tips, methods. This is so far the only thing that bugs me the most. wish I could work at home, then I wouldnt have to worry!
Thanks
 
12 hours a day for work?

Does the wife get home any sooner?

I don't know anything about your stove. What if you put a full load on it in the morning before you left? Would it still be cold and 54 when you get home in the evening? I can't imagine that it's totally cold and no coals...

Get a supply of smaller splits to get it up and running. Good luck
 
I put 3 logs in in the morning when I get up so that by the time I leave at 7:40, I know the heat has stabilized and won't run into the red. By the time I get home at 5, all I have to do is put in a few small splits with larger splits on top, keep the door cracked open for a few minutes and the fire takes off again. No kindling or firestarters requried. With my Revere, I can sometimes go 24 hours without needing kindling. Maybe save your harder wood for times when the stove will be unattended for long periods of time so you get a longer burn?
 
Right now I'm running hard, but it's cold out. No problems lighting on coals.
But, when the weather moderates, I'll be starting cold a lot of evenings. It is what it is.
If you're looking for max heat as quick as you can get it, I recommend lots of small stuff to burn hot. Be careful here though or you'll get too hot.
Don't let that heat go straight up the flue. Close off the damper a little if you have one.

When the stove is hot put on a medium split or two for added coal bed.
Also, for starting cold, get your hands on super cedars or chunk up a duraflame log to get you started.

Sorry, nothing too brilliant here.
 
My stove and room situation is similar to you. I came home to a cold room and cold stove every day. Last year I experimented with getting a load going in the morning and letting it burn down to coals I could quickly get going again upon coming home. I avoided doing this the first years out of fear of a chimney fire or stove issue while I was not home. After burning 4+ years i was finally confident enough and addicted to the warmth to leave a load burning during the day. This puts some heat into the house (really just that room) so things do not cool off too much. A warm stove gets back up to speed much faster than a room temperature stove. Everybody's burning situation is different so I wouldn't blame you if you decided leaving a full load was not for you.

If you are going to stick with a fresh, cold start each evening.. In my own experience I have found seasoned poplar and pine to bring my stove up to temps much quicker than harder woods like oak or hickory. They ignite quicker and burn more rapidly. So my preferred first load is the softer woods, then follow-on loads are the longer burning hardwoods.
 
Thanks for the replys.

yes 12 hours, 4 of them i dont get paid for (anyone got a job opening!) and wife doesnt get home any sooner. she does leave a few hours after me. Now hold on with the..well just get her to load it up. Shes form the City, and while she is doing a decent job becoming a woodburner, Im not sure she herself would be comfortable loading and going. I one the other hand dont think id have a problem. I am liking the idea of at least having coals, even if they are dead, when I come back i have had this a handful of times and fires do get going nice and quick, maybe save some somehow. My wood supply is, almost non-existent, scrounging as best I can but, around my rural area wood comes at a high demand. I have some poplar...All I have ever heard is how it burns hot and fast, mine burns slow and low (leaning dead for 6 years, cut and spilt, maybe 2-3 months ago) Its dry, maybe not the greatest but I deal with what I have. I have tried the super cedars, love them, just cant afford at this time...money doesnt buy happiness but it sure can get in the way. I am thinking I will have to get the wife to load and go on day, see how it works. save some coals.
I hate being cold. If my one scrounge this weekend doesnt pay off, I'll be buying wood. not even sure how yet.

Thanks again.
 
I'm in the same boat. I have an endless supply of skids I use for my kindling. I do a top down fire that heats the stove fast and also gets the draft started really good. Seems to be the answer for me.
 
Troutchaser said:
Right now I'm running hard, but it's cold out. No problems lighting on coals.
But, when the weather moderates, I'll be starting cold a lot of evenings. It is what it is.
If you're looking for max heat as quick as you can get it, I recommend lots of small stuff to burn hot. Be careful here though or you'll get too hot.
Don't let that heat go straight up the flue. Close off the damper a little if you have one.

When the stove is hot put on a medium split or two for added coal bed.
Also, for starting cold, get your hands on super cedars or chunk up a duraflame log to get you started.

Sorry, nothing too brilliant here.

2X on using chunks of duraflame to get started works awesome for me
 
I have a Napolean 1402 and I'm in the same boat as you. The main family room (25x20) is located on a slab and is the furthest point away from the natural gas furnace. The floor is a clay hard tile with a carpet inlay in the middle. That room is always about 6 degrees colder than the rest of the house and the tile floor just sucks the heat out of the room.

I start a fire at about 6pm every night using half a StarterLogg (from Lowes) and about five white ash splits. It takes about 30 mins for the blowers to kick on and I can increase the room from about 58 to 70 degrees in an hour. At this point I turn on a floor fan to start pumping the hit into the adjoining kitchen. The temperature in the family room will get to around 76 while the house's thermostat is set to 63 or so. I go to bed around 11pm and let the fire burn out. I'll probably use about 8-10 splits each night, now that it's so cold out.

The stove is idle until the next day. There are usually some hot spots in the ash, but not concentrated enough for me to start another fire without using a starter. I repeat the process.

So the bottom line is you're not the only one starting a cold stove each nite.
 
I have a Montpelier Insert. When I want fast heat, er, well faster heat, I load at least the bottom layer of splits going north-south. This allows air to flow underneath. This really gets the flames going.

While I don't go away for 12 hours, I do burn overnight. In the morning the unit is not heating, but there are usually live coals buried in the ashes. I take the poker rod and stir them up to settle the ashes and expose the lumps to oxygen. A few sheets of paper and kindling and the fire leaps to life.

I've learned that if you have to burn it as you find it, seek out opportunities to fell the bald trees. The crowns and top 2/3s of the trunk are often ready to burn. If it has been laying on the ground it starts to soak up moisture again.
 
I'm gone about 11 hours too. Stove usually is still warm with a bit of coals. I need the stove fairy to come to my house every day. Or a bigger stove.
 
I find a "modified" top-down approach works well. Especially when I get home to a small amount of coals. Two splits leaned in a "v" with paper in the middle, maybe some cardboard, if you have it. Then small splits, kindling, then two small - med splits on top of that.
 
I am away from home at least 10-12hrs each day for work and I don't end up with a cold stove... or house.
 
~*~Kathleen~*~ said:
I'm gone about 11 hours too. Stove usually is still warm with a bit of coals. I need the stove fairy to come to my house every day. Or a bigger stove.

Tis a pain being gone so long. If you get word to the fairy ask if its possible to swing up the Appalachian mountain's and stoke mine. Oh and if its not too much trouble a bigger stove too, just set it near the other stove, dont worry I'll hook it up.

So the bottom line is you’re not the only one starting a cold stove each nite. - Makes me feel better

Update, last night after getting home later then usual Wife had started a smallish fire. I played around with the stove and used the tunnel of love/zipper method of raking the little bit of coals available lengthwise. placed oak and poplar splits on top and let it get going. Shut the air down just a tad and left to go buy some wedding gifts for a buddy of mine (they come to yours, somehow you get asked to be groomsmen in theirs...) was gone about half an hour come back to a nice fire going and...a warmer room. Was about 62-63 about 10 degrees more then when the stoves off. Which as you all should know takes more then a smile. cut the air back got the tubes pumping and enjoyed a nice warm room. Thanks all. Now if only you could tell me how to season wood in a day...produce wood from thin air...I would be golden.
 
Stump_Branch said:
does anyone have to start a fire each and every evening?
Yes, but not because I'm away, but because if I had more fires it would overheat the house. But that doesn't mean there are no glowing coals. 24 hours after starting a fire there are still plenty of coals. If you are coming home to a stone cold stove it is because you are not leaving enough ash in the stove. In my stove there is normally between 0.3 and 0.5cf of ash. This ash keeps the coals away from the cold steel of the stove so they stay alight for ages. The only time I take ash out is if I can't fit wood in, and then I just remove a few shovelfuls.
 
Ouch .5ft^3 of ash would leave me 1ft^3 of wood! problem with suchs a dang small stove. I do leave ash most of the time. every now and again I get a hankering and clean it all out but thats mostly a weekend type chore middle of the week, I dont have the time. I wouldnt say the stove is 'stone cold' the ash is warm as is the firebrick, but warm is relative, certianly not hot enought ot light off of.
This is where I am jealous of the pellet stoves, or my parents coal burner. You can fill the hopper and it keeps it going. however the trade offs of electricity and fuel cost make it far less appealing.
 
Have you had a blower door test done to your home? Here in mass, they are done for free if requested. Paid for by a .000025 charge per kilowatt of electricity.

Even without said test (though I highly recomend it) you should me able to make serious improvents in cold air infiltration in your home for very short bucks.

54 degrees in Md after twelve hours tell me you are leaking a LOT of heat. My first concern if I were you would be to slow the heat loss/cold air infiltration as much as possible.

Getting a little ahead on the wood would also help. Poplar not giving a hot flame is a bad sign. Store some poplar in your house (in the stove room, but not too close to the stove, for two or three weeks. It will dry much faster in there due to higher temps/lower humidity. Same with whatever other wood you are burning.
As mentioned above, look for long dead, still standing trees. The tops and top part of the trunk will burn great, even oak. The bottomhalf or so of the trunks will be good next year, if cut, split small and stacked loosely, single row, on pallets, in the sun. Get some free hardwood pallets. Look around, find some that are light grey. They will be very dry. Do not overfill your stove with pallet wood, it will burn too hot. Use it to start fires, build coal beds, and mix with less than perfect wood.
 
Stove fairy is a good idea - maybe a friend/neighbor/relative who lives next door or happens to drive by the house often. Kind of like dog-walkers in the city. Only trouble is, most experienced stove fairies drink too much beer to make it economical.
 
Dune said:
Have you had a blower door test done to your home? Here in mass, they are done for free if requested. Paid for by a .000025 charge per kilowatt of electricity.

Even without said test (though I highly recomend it) you should me able to make serious improvents in cold air infiltration in your home for very short bucks.

54 degrees in Md after twelve hours tell me you are leaking a LOT of heat. My first concern if I were you would be to slow the heat loss/cold air infiltration as much as possible.

Getting a little ahead on the wood would also help. Poplar not giving a hot flame is a bad sign. Store some poplar in your house (in the stove room, but not too close to the stove, for two or three weeks. It will dry much faster in there due to higher temps/lower humidity. Same with whatever other wood you are burning.
As mentioned above, look for long dead, still standing trees. The tops and top part of the trunk will burn great, even oak. The bottomhalf or so of the trunks will be good next year, if cut, split small and stacked loosely, single row, on pallets, in the sun. Get some free hardwood pallets. Look around, find some that are light grey. They will be very dry. Do not overfill your stove with pallet wood, it will burn too hot. Use it to start fires, build coal beds, and mix with less than perfect wood.



No Joke, in the 25x30 some room two walls are shared to a bathroom...thats completely gutted. I can hang meat in there. that and previous owners skimped on just about everything, including insulation. I have been fixing things all over the place. money is real tight and just found out no raise from the job either so going to stay that way...yay
 
The cheapest, most cost effective move is weather stripping topside, and crack sealing in the basement. Slow down the bleeding. Check craigslist for deals on insulation. Stop at jobsites where renovations are happening. I got 30 trash bags of fiberglass from one jobsite. It is still working in my attic. Mound up leaves against your foundation. You will be amazed how much that alone helps.
Get the cheap window film for all your windows. Sell somethng you are not using to pay for some attic insulation. Of all insulation attic is most important. Put your shoulder against it and push. Every effort you make now will make you more comfortable as long as you own the house. Heavy tight fitting drapes, (could be old blankets for now) will help, especialy on north side windows. Close off any unused rooms in your house to reduce your heat load. Good luck.
 
Thanks,

I am thinking that adding insulation should go towards the energy tax credit as well, correct me if I am wrong. I will be adding a layer of 6mil vapor barrier to the crawlspace, already decent insulation, in this area as it was an addition. I do have 6.25in in the attic over this area, minus the bathroom where they skimped. I am leaning towards some blow in type, anyone have any expirences?
 
We are in a similar situation ourselves. I start cold every night as well. My wife and I are in the medical field and 12hr shifts are the norm. Here is my 2 cents and in today's economy well...good luck. haha.

Mind you I do top down fires. I first lay down a row of eucalyptus (hardwood) and then some pine (softwood) on top of that top it off with a super cedar and small kindling. The pine lights easy and fast. Not only that, but it burns very hot. This will get the heat in the stove up quickly and the eucalyptus will then light up and continue the heat. As for the Super Cedars. You mentioned money being tight so do what I did and make your own. Here is a link to my post on how to make your own https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/59511/P22/

Well anyway this is what I do and it works great for me. I have a warm house within an hour. Hope this helps.
 
I work in the daylight basement of my home and start a fire in the X33 from scratch every day. It's a really easy stove to get going. It burns from about 9am to 4pm on weekdays. I prep lots of kindling before the season begins and don't worry about burn times.

The Quad upstairs has no problem holding coals 10+ hours after the flames die, burning pinon pine. The key to keeping the coals from burning down is being able to control the air going through the stove. That is how you control the burn rate of the coals. There is no other way, except possibly by banking the coals.

If you load your stove before you go to bed at night and let it burn while you sleep, after the flaming part of the cycle dies, you have lots of air going through the stove - almost as much as when it had flames - and the coals WILL burn down. If air over the coals is moving, burn down they will.

Instead, install a secondary air shutoff on your stove. Then after the flaming part of the cycle ends, shut off all of the air controls except for a very small amount of bleed air. Usually, the amount coming through the doghouse is plenty. Absolutely guaranteed to extend your burn times.
 
I use saw dust to restart my stove. I hooked up with a couple different wood workers in the area, and about once a month I go over and pick up a garbage can worth of saw dust... I take 2 generous hand fulls, and make a bed... then, using kindling, i build it up from there... as soon as the fire is up, and stable, i add a 4-6in round to it even though the fire itself isnt really ready for it... then more little stuff, then bigger stuff,. takes about 15 minutes to go from ice cold to about 500F flue temp.
 
Good for you. Wow that is quick jump on the temp. Why do you start cold every day? Just curious.
 
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