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  1. Slow1 Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 26, 2008
    2,338 posts
    Eastern MA
    Interesting read here - and after some thought I do have to admit I do pay attention to the outside temp in one regard. In the winter we do have a rule that if it is below freezing outside at bedtime, we have a fire burning when we retire. Naturally there is the exception for those weird "temp rising all night" thaw conditions, but that is the general rule of thumb here. That grew out of the experience of waking up a bit too cold a few too many times.

    Now I do wonder if once we have the PH and the ability to warm the place faster (greater heat output) if perhaps we will revise that rule of thumb or not...
    #26

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  2. It was 80 today with a 43 low tonight. I want to be a little cold tonight after today's roasting temps
  3. Jack Straw Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 22, 2008
    2,010 posts
    Schoharie County, N Y
    If it's sunny my house gets really warm, so I have to go with the inside temp, or if it feels damp inside.
  4. rideau Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 12, 2012
    1,346 posts
    southern ontario
    Go by what makes my family and guests comfortable - unless I want to cook on the stove, then I just light a small fire. Don't light the stove to cook if it is over 75 in the house, because we die of heat even with the windows open if I do.
  5. JBinKC Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 14, 2006
    261 posts
    Lake of the Ozarks
    Always when it is 45 or less outside and under 67 inside.
  6. PapaDave Minister of Fire

    The inside temp is what I look at, but also use the current and forecast outside temp to gauge the type of fire I'll light.
    We've mostly had morning fires here, when the house is down around 64 or below and the outside temp is below 40.
    It 's been hitting 60 or more outside, so a small morning fire does the trick.
    This weekend may require morning and evening fires. Started fires on the 18th of last month(I took out the pipe damper, so I had to test), which is about a week early for us.
    The first 3 years at this house, I had a fire if the house got below 67-68. :p
  7. Jaugust124 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Feb 14, 2010
    366 posts
    Mid-Hudson Valley, NY
    No fires yet. Still sleeping with the windows open most nights. Supposed to near 80 tomorrow, but will cool off after that. Don't really mind the house a little cool. Maybe when the inside temps get to 60 or below and outside temps get into the high 40s low 50s during the day. I have to admit, I'm itchin' to get started.
  8. Shadow&Flame Minister of Fire

    joined: Jun 6, 2011
    648 posts
    Central Arkansas
    Got to get below 45 before I will have a good fire. Might play with kindling fires in the morning sometimes, but it doesnt take much to get it warm enough for me. I like it on the cool side...
  9. fossil Super Moderator

    joined: Sep 30, 2007
    9,147 posts
    Bend, Oregon
    Well, this morning it was right around 23°F at 0700 (outside, of course). Haven't burned yet, but did run the electric forced air in the house for a few minutes. I'm thinking my first burn in the workshop, where I spend a lot of time, may happen tomorrow morning. We'll see. This morning it was still ~63°F in there, which I can live with while waiting for the sun to get up into the sky. It's coming though...Winter, that is...I can feel it. The central Oregon high desert is officially in shoulder season. Rick
  10. rkofler Member

    joined: Nov 15, 2011
    93 posts
    Long Island
    Haven't thought about it yet since my AC just kicked on!!
  11. tfdchief Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 24, 2009
    2,971 posts
    Tuscola, IL
    My wife has RA and sometimes she just needs warm dry air. My back likes the heat too. When you get old, everything changes ;)
  12. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,758 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    Mid 40° day time temps & mid 30° at night.
    Had a fire for 3 days, warm front here now, 58 today, mid 40s at night.
    Oh yea, Also when the wife says so. ;)
  13. Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle Minister of Fire

    joined: May 27, 2008
    3,992 posts
    Ridge, LI, NY

    Are you serious ???

    My Acs have been out of the windows for a month !!
    Backwoods Savage and PapaDave like this.
  14. Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle Minister of Fire

    joined: May 27, 2008
    3,992 posts
    Ridge, LI, NY
    You're a good guy, Neil !!!

    :cool:
  15. Doing The Dixie Eyed Hustle Minister of Fire

    joined: May 27, 2008
    3,992 posts
    Ridge, LI, NY
    I don't worry about temps until it gets to 40 ish. The house holds the heat to atleast 65F to that point. If it's windy and damp, I might fire up the PE, but with those conditions, the PE can handle the entire house.

    When it dips lower, then we think about the 13.

    I pay more attention to the temps for the horses, they might need sheets or blankets if the temps drop. Ya never know ;)
    tfdchief likes this.
  16. lopiliberty Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 7, 2011
    565 posts
    Mineral County, WV
    Just had the AC on yesterday and last night but its always set on 80. Looks like sunday will have to have a fire all day with highs in the low 50s, rain, and wind. I refuse to have to run around in my house dressed for alaska. If its delow 75 inside you can bet there will be a fire in my liberty
  17. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Round about when the daytime temps fall below 50.
  18. DuckDog Member

    joined: Sep 3, 2010
    68 posts
    Eastern Ontario
    In my case it depends more on sunlight rather than temperature. Even if it gets down to mid 30's at night the house seems to never dip below 62-63. As long as we get a sunny day the next day, the sun on the windows usually has the house recover to 70 or so. Now if we get a couple cool nights and an a rainy or cloudy day inbetween then I will put a fire on. So far I have not had a fire yet. We have had frost twice already. I assume I will have a first fire within a week or 2. The sun will be getting weaker and weaker.
  19. Highbeam Minister of Fire


    Heck yeah. I burned it on day one and since have burned a few small fires that lasted way over 12 hours. Small like one or two small splits. Tonight I fully loaded the stove for a long run to see if more wood really does mean just longer burn time and not just a hotter stove. Still learning to trust the cat principle. Hard to believe that this much wood won't just cause an explosion of heat.
  20. robertmcw Member

    joined: Aug 27, 2008
    116 posts
    Texas
    Wife had RA too so she really can’t deal with the cold. If it was up to here, the house would be set in the 90’s but we keep it in the low 80’s inside but keep it in the mid 70’s at night. Most times I won’t burn at least 60 outside but I did burn one fire last week when it was 64 and it did get a little warm but I wanted to break in the new baffles and burn tubes and I wanted to sure they wound not smoke out of the place when I really use it.
  21. nate379 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 21, 2010
    4,004 posts
    Palmer, Alaska
    I usually wait till we are no warmer than the mid 40s during the day before I start messing with the stove. I don't have the desire to mess with starting a fire every day or two. Once it's cold enough that I can just keep throwing in wood, then it's time.

    Until then I just let the natural gas boiler handle it. The $20 I spend "extra" on gas is worth it.
  22. Woody Stover Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    3,386 posts
    Southern IN
    If it goes 60/45 for a couple of nights and it drops to 67 in here, I'm lighting up. :ZZZ
    Had two fires so far, will be burning for the next few nights.
  23. etiger2007 Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 8, 2012
    1,034 posts
    Clio Michigan
    Definatley this weekend, in Michigan were looking at low 50's for the high and low to mid 30's for the low. Ill probably wait until Saturday night to fire it up.
  24. Kaptain New Member

    joined: Feb 2, 2011
    72 posts
    Central PA
    I keep an eye on the weather\forcast daily to determine if I need one. In central PA on Saturday it's going to be about 65 and rainy, going down to 41. The high on sunday will be in the upper 40's and rainy then going to back to 32 overnight. That means a fire will be happening for the first time this year... of course, I need to get the 30NC off the skid first ;lol
  25. Joful Minister of Fire

    joined: Mar 7, 2012
    2,626 posts
    Philadelphia
    I dunno about that... but scotch and bourbon sure do. I'll have to ask my wife about the sherry.
    milleo, etiger2007 and neumsky like this.

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