As the handle implies, this is our first year burning wood--I'm a Wood Noob (Well, it depends on whatcha mean by wood, but that's a whole 'nuther forum). We recently moved into our 3,500 sq.ft. home with a reasonably open floor plan. Between the cathedral ceilings (with skylights, of course), huge floor to ceiling windows all over, and three teenage daughters who like their showers, we 'd been paying over $1,000 per month in heating oil since October. WIFE NOT HAPPY. So, three weeks ago, we installed a Lennox/Country Canyon 310 insert via our local stove shop in NW CT.
Aside from about three days of breaking in, we've been experimenting and trying to figure out how this wood stove thing works. (At this point, I should mention that I've been lurking here since December; thank you all for your invaluable comments and advice, particularly Be Green, Bro Bart, Dennis, Brian and all of you Fire Honor Society members...you really can't appreciate the peace of mind I feel from your posts!)
Anyway, after some initial mishaps that I'll share once our warranty expires, I think we've got the burn cycle down. Since we have no wood stocked up, we're using kiln dried hardwood. (also hellaciously expensive at $290 (refill price) for about 1/3 cord (a full Woodhaven rack (8X4X16")) Planning to move to Eco-bricks for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, burn cycle wise, I'd like to make sure I'm doing this right. I'm particularly interested to know If we're burning too hot, or too much and if my refill is at the right time...that sort of thing.
SO I logged today's stove use. Your comments would be greatly appreciated!
Wood burn times
11:00 am. Cold start with last night's old embers (stove temp 100f) damper open full - load size two rows n/s (14-16 pieces of wood).
11:15 am secondaries engaged; temp to 200f damper down to 1/2; most splits ignited. Room temp 71
11:25. Blower kicks in. Stove Temp to 600. All splits ignited. Damper closed.
11:47. Stove Temp cruising at 700. Room temp up to 73. Bit of the funky metal smell (likely from the kettle on the stove). No glow on the stovetop.
12:30. Wood mostly chunky coal. Stove Temp down to 450. Room temp up to 77.
2:00. Room temp up to 80. Stove temp at 300. Open draft to 3/4 open.
7:15 pm. Blower shuts off. 2-3 large log-like coals still glowing red. Temp at about 200f. Room temp still 78.
9:45 pm. Oven temp 150. Room temp 73. Raked remaining embers to create even bed of coals. Loaded another 16-18 splits. Damper opened full. Here we go again.
10:15 pm. Blower kicks in. Stove temp passes 600. (eventually reaches 750, but no glow) Nothing I can do. Damper is closed and I'm off to bed.
Thanks!
The Wood Noob
Aside from about three days of breaking in, we've been experimenting and trying to figure out how this wood stove thing works. (At this point, I should mention that I've been lurking here since December; thank you all for your invaluable comments and advice, particularly Be Green, Bro Bart, Dennis, Brian and all of you Fire Honor Society members...you really can't appreciate the peace of mind I feel from your posts!)
Anyway, after some initial mishaps that I'll share once our warranty expires, I think we've got the burn cycle down. Since we have no wood stocked up, we're using kiln dried hardwood. (also hellaciously expensive at $290 (refill price) for about 1/3 cord (a full Woodhaven rack (8X4X16")) Planning to move to Eco-bricks for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, burn cycle wise, I'd like to make sure I'm doing this right. I'm particularly interested to know If we're burning too hot, or too much and if my refill is at the right time...that sort of thing.
SO I logged today's stove use. Your comments would be greatly appreciated!
Wood burn times
11:00 am. Cold start with last night's old embers (stove temp 100f) damper open full - load size two rows n/s (14-16 pieces of wood).
11:15 am secondaries engaged; temp to 200f damper down to 1/2; most splits ignited. Room temp 71
11:25. Blower kicks in. Stove Temp to 600. All splits ignited. Damper closed.
11:47. Stove Temp cruising at 700. Room temp up to 73. Bit of the funky metal smell (likely from the kettle on the stove). No glow on the stovetop.
12:30. Wood mostly chunky coal. Stove Temp down to 450. Room temp up to 77.
2:00. Room temp up to 80. Stove temp at 300. Open draft to 3/4 open.
7:15 pm. Blower shuts off. 2-3 large log-like coals still glowing red. Temp at about 200f. Room temp still 78.
9:45 pm. Oven temp 150. Room temp 73. Raked remaining embers to create even bed of coals. Loaded another 16-18 splits. Damper opened full. Here we go again.
10:15 pm. Blower kicks in. Stove temp passes 600. (eventually reaches 750, but no glow) Nothing I can do. Damper is closed and I'm off to bed.
Thanks!
The Wood Noob