Last year, from mid-winter on, we heated with our FV 201. We had bought "seasoned" wood that wasn't, and we had a little bit that was, plus a little score from someone who didn't want to burn anymore. But it was mostly sub-prime, wet wood and it was a struggle to get hot fires.
We supplemented with some bio bricks / envi bricks / eco logs, whatever I could pick up at TSC or the local stove store.
So today we had the chimney swept, so DH could see how it was done and what to look for etc.
We got a pile, maybe 3 cups or so, of black stuff out of the chimney. Not gooey, it was fairly fine, though some pieces were like large pieces of sand and shiny. I assume that's creosote. The sweep was quite impressed; said most people have A LOT more in their chimney, that we must've burned good hot fires.
He spent another few minutes admiring the FV (he installed it and was curious how it would work for us) before leaving.
Got a little fire going in there right now, plus the pellet stove its lowest setting, and enjoying being HOT in the house (72). When we heated with oil, we'd never, EVER set the thermostat over 65, and even that was a big treat for a cold, cold night.
Thanks so much to all of you on this forum for getting me through that first year! I'm sure I'll keep having questions and panic attacks now that we're into year 2.
ETA this is not a post recommending burning green wood! It's just to say that, if your wood is not perfect, listen to the people here on this forum, consider supplementing with pressed bricks, and you will get through it.
We supplemented with some bio bricks / envi bricks / eco logs, whatever I could pick up at TSC or the local stove store.
So today we had the chimney swept, so DH could see how it was done and what to look for etc.
We got a pile, maybe 3 cups or so, of black stuff out of the chimney. Not gooey, it was fairly fine, though some pieces were like large pieces of sand and shiny. I assume that's creosote. The sweep was quite impressed; said most people have A LOT more in their chimney, that we must've burned good hot fires.
He spent another few minutes admiring the FV (he installed it and was curious how it would work for us) before leaving.
Got a little fire going in there right now, plus the pellet stove its lowest setting, and enjoying being HOT in the house (72). When we heated with oil, we'd never, EVER set the thermostat over 65, and even that was a big treat for a cold, cold night.
Thanks so much to all of you on this forum for getting me through that first year! I'm sure I'll keep having questions and panic attacks now that we're into year 2. ETA this is not a post recommending burning green wood! It's just to say that, if your wood is not perfect, listen to the people here on this forum, consider supplementing with pressed bricks, and you will get through it.
