This will be my first winter with my brand-new pellet stove, and I wanted to see how everyone else learned to "trust" their stove. I'm pretty paranoid, and have yet to leave the house with it running, and actually let it run overnight for the first time just a couple days ago. What can I do to reassure myself that I'm not going to burn down my house or kill my cat with carbon monoxide? Do you have any tips or things you wish you had known starting out?
Learning to trust my stove
- Thread starter Nuggets
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hemlock
Feeling the Heat
You've just got to get used to the idea. It takes a bit of time. Put it in context (especially if you have an oi/gas/propane furnace or boiler) - they are also just a controlled fire in your house. In all truthfulness, I would be far more nervous of a natural gas appliance in my home. So long as you have a few working smoke alarms and CO2 detector and your unit was installed correctly - don't give it a second thought.
jtakeman
Minister of Fire
It takes a while, But coming home to a toasty house will soon win out! One way to ease the mind is to look at all the safeties these stoves have. 
krooser
Minister of Fire
SmokeyTheBear
Minister of Fire
hemlock said:
Correct install, making sure its kept clean, working Smoke/Fire alarms and CO detectors. It only took about a week. Once I seen that my furnace was not kicking on when we were home, I let it rip. Furnace has not ran since. Its been 3 yrs, going on 4.
I am more afraid of having a fire from my Dryer (lint) than my pellet stove.
SmokeyTheBear said:
So what are you guys trying to say?? So easy, a cave/imacman can do it???
But to be serious, getting used to running it while you're away will come soon enough. These stoves have many safety systems built in, and as long as you have the above mentioned smoke & CO detectors in place, you should be fine.
If you ran the pellet stove all day say from 6 am to 9 pm 7 days a week while you where home. and nothing happened, how long is it going to take to learn not to worry? I run mine in the winter 21/7. 3hours for cooling and cleaning, then light it up then do what I want. Don't let the stove run your life use it to warm your house. You'll be real happy.
rideboard147
Member
Took me a few days to let it run while I was gone, but like everyone else is saying you will get use to it. I even had a live cam feed to my iphone to watch the stove sometimes. It was a free app but I cant remember the name of it now. I got to the point of not even looking at it and ditched it. Give it time.
Phatty
Member
smalltown
Minister of Fire
Nuggets relax I think everybody was nervous when the pellet stove was first installed I know I was.
I was especially anxious those first few nights as I could hear the stove running when I was trying to go to sleep.
I think it's a matter of getting used to your stove and feeling confident in its operation.
We now have absolutely no qualms about leaving the stove on while we are not at home.
I was especially anxious those first few nights as I could hear the stove running when I was trying to go to sleep.
I think it's a matter of getting used to your stove and feeling confident in its operation.
We now have absolutely no qualms about leaving the stove on while we are not at home.
SmokeyTheBear said:
I can confirm it. I lived in the cave next to him. The smoke from my wood stove drove him crazy.
As to the OP. All stove owners go through it. Not unusual for a wood stove burner to sleep down stairs for a few nights. Sleeplessly watching that the house doesn't burn down. Then just going to bed and enjoying the heat.
Takes time. Then you won't even give it a second thought. But what a previous poster said is true. That oil burner is kicking a 2,000 degree flame and you never even think about it.
Shortstuff
Feeling the Heat
I'll admit that it does take a little getting used to once you do it. Being confident in the installation and having smoke and CO detectors in working order will win out and give you peace of mind.
I did my own install and doubled ALL the required clearances and it still took me a while to accept my pellet stove as my unattended source of heat.
I did my own install and doubled ALL the required clearances and it still took me a while to accept my pellet stove as my unattended source of heat.
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