Good afternoon everybody.
Just like many other posts starts, I'm new to wood burning for heat. I have a basic understanding of fireplaces/stoves and ideas behind what to burn to heat my house. Have been talking to local guys when I get my wood, visited couple of fireplace stores and asked questions. And as always, any questions I have about burning wood, google leads me right to this place.
A little bit about my set up.
I purchased a house that was built in 1966. It has original non fire brick lined fireplace that looks like was used for wood burning insert. Pipe is clay stove pipe lined. I don't know if insert is original to the house or if it was added/replaced at some point.
I had chimney and fireplace inspected and chimney liner is in great shape with no cracks in the brick and insert did not have any damage/cracks/rust or anything. There is no metal pipe liner, insert is just venting straight in to original chimney and out it goes.
I tried asking around to find out what kind of brand of insert I have and seems like no one can tell me. Would you guys happen to know what is it?
I have been burning in it for a month none-stop and main house heater have not kicked in yet. When it dropped in to low 30's I would turn on the blower and my house stayed above 70.
Also when it got inspected guy never mentioned anything about fire brick. I know all the new stoves have fire brick lining and I just never even thought about if this needs a fire brick. It does have a log holder and I usually have a nice bed of coals to keep heat inside and off the bottom.
As you can see, on the thermometer I try to keep it in "normal" 400-600 degree range. but I don't know how much should I trust that thermometer.
I have a pretty steady supply of wood and since it's my first year, I've been really keeping an eye on moisture content of it this year. Usually I burn 17%-22%. Mostly hardwood, but lately I've been mixing with pine, per advice I was given. I'll do one log of dry pine and 3-4 logs of hardwood and with damper closed and just a little bit of air intake open I can get 7-8 hours of burn with temperature not dropping below 400.
Do you have any other advice for me?
Just like many other posts starts, I'm new to wood burning for heat. I have a basic understanding of fireplaces/stoves and ideas behind what to burn to heat my house. Have been talking to local guys when I get my wood, visited couple of fireplace stores and asked questions. And as always, any questions I have about burning wood, google leads me right to this place.
A little bit about my set up.
I purchased a house that was built in 1966. It has original non fire brick lined fireplace that looks like was used for wood burning insert. Pipe is clay stove pipe lined. I don't know if insert is original to the house or if it was added/replaced at some point.
I had chimney and fireplace inspected and chimney liner is in great shape with no cracks in the brick and insert did not have any damage/cracks/rust or anything. There is no metal pipe liner, insert is just venting straight in to original chimney and out it goes.
I tried asking around to find out what kind of brand of insert I have and seems like no one can tell me. Would you guys happen to know what is it?
I have been burning in it for a month none-stop and main house heater have not kicked in yet. When it dropped in to low 30's I would turn on the blower and my house stayed above 70.
Also when it got inspected guy never mentioned anything about fire brick. I know all the new stoves have fire brick lining and I just never even thought about if this needs a fire brick. It does have a log holder and I usually have a nice bed of coals to keep heat inside and off the bottom.
As you can see, on the thermometer I try to keep it in "normal" 400-600 degree range. but I don't know how much should I trust that thermometer.
I have a pretty steady supply of wood and since it's my first year, I've been really keeping an eye on moisture content of it this year. Usually I burn 17%-22%. Mostly hardwood, but lately I've been mixing with pine, per advice I was given. I'll do one log of dry pine and 3-4 logs of hardwood and with damper closed and just a little bit of air intake open I can get 7-8 hours of burn with temperature not dropping below 400.
Do you have any other advice for me?
