The first stove lighting of the year..

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Central MA here. Haven't had a fire yet, but possibly this week. It's been dipping into the low 40s overnight several nights, but the days have been sunny and 50s-60s...until the weekend. Still, the house seems to hold heat pretty well. Now that the sun has been hiding I expect that to change. Had 65F this morning in the bedroom. Still not bad but starting to "make the case" for a "small fire" lol!
 
So, I gave in today.
Third day of clouds and high wind. 51 F now. Without solar gain, the home dropped to 64. THat's too cold to be comfortable behind my (work) computer. So the minisplit was used for the first time. Highly efficient at these outside temps.

Fire is still a long way off, I think.
 
Central MA here. Haven't had a fire yet, but possibly this week. It's been dipping into the low 40s overnight several nights, but the days have been sunny and 50s-60s...until the weekend. Still, the house seems to hold heat pretty well. Now that the sun has been hiding I expect that to change. Had 65F this morning in the bedroom. Still not bad but starting to "make the case" for a "small fire" lol!
Hi Neighbor. I am just down the road in Douglas. I had a couple over the weekend. Never typically start this early but I have a good wood supply and and will burn up the ugliest. Nice to take the chill off. Might have another one tonight.
 
We've had a few nights in the 30's so today I lit a wee fire. A few of the kids are coming for supper so I'll most likely take the chill off again this evening.
The first stove lighting of the year..
 
Cleaned the liner yesterday. Put insert together today. Dropped one brick putting the top baffle together. It broke. Put it in the floor. Clean break. Would be o.k.to leave it. Ordered replacement brick today, though.

Routine fires start when the daily highs are 50s. Looks like that will be in a couple of weeks. As I posted, first fire averages October 25. May have a fire before then if we have a couple of chillly day.

Warm couple of days forecast later this week.

Put an extra blanket on bed this afternoon.
 
Cleaned the liner yesterday. Put insert together today. Dropped one brick putting the top baffle together. It broke. Put it in the floor. Clean break. Would be o.k.to leave it. Ordered replacement brick today, though.

Routine fires start when the daily highs are 50s. Looks like that will be in a couple of weeks. As I posted, first fire averages October 25. May have a fire before then if we have a couple of chillly day.

Warm couple of days forecast later this week.

Put an extra blanket on bed this afternoon.
I've forgotten how warm the ocean keeps massachusetts in the fall. It's been highs in the fifties here in PA most of the last week. I lived in Quincy for a few years until February of '21.
 
Last edited:
I am metrowest Boston. Between Boston and Worcester. Does help.
 
Looks like our first lighting will be on Nov. 1st as expected.

Screen Shot 2022-10-29 at 3.26.18 PM.png

The wood box on the porch has been filled along with the wood rack in the house. The T6 has a full belly too with just enough room for a top-down start. I tested a few thick splits to see how the doug fir is drying. The readings were from 15.6 to 18.3. That's a good start. Just for yucks, I also tested some thick elm wood rounds from a big limb that came down early this summer. These were 5 & 7" logs. The log ends were checking and the wood looked dry but the tester said no with readings in the 26.5 to 27.2 range. That goes in next year's pile.

Now I need to go out and collect the garden hoses and keep putting beds to sleep.
 
Put up a half cord in the enclosed porch rack today. It’s been an unbelievably warm October, shirtsleeve weather during the day and an occasional frost. Our nightime forecasted temps for next week are not too different but calling for days around 60 and no rain. The mini split has been meeting our needs even after opening up the upstairs which we usually don’t heat and which added a little lag time. Finally fired up the Waterford tonight and baked some chicken parmesan. Need colder weather to make that cooking more comfortable but it was worth it. Still hemming and hawing on the Jotul f45.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VirginiaIron
Started mine yesterday. Cooler last night and 37 degrees this morn'. Real toasty.
 
70s forecast here metrowest Boston for this weekend. First fire probably mid-November.
 
Well it looks like we will get a lot here in Richmond, but we've been needing it. I just hope it's not too bad for all those further south.
Oh hey, another Richmonder. Still haven't fired it up yet, doesn't look like I will anytime soon. Am dying to see how it runs after the latest rebuild...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jmorg
Oh hey, another Richmonder. Still haven't fired it up yet, doesn't look like I will anytime soon. Am dying to see how it runs after the latest rebuild...
Hey, what part of town are you in? I’m on the south side/Chesterfield. Looks like we’re going through a bit of a warm stretch for a while. I’ve had mine going quite a bit this month…I’m refusing to buy heating oil at the moment so we haven’t had any other heat source.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VirginiaIron
Hey, what part of town are you in? I’m on the south side/Chesterfield. Looks like we’re going through a bit of a warm stretch for a while. I’ve had mine going quite a bit this month…I’m refusing to buy heating oil at the moment so we haven’t had any other heat source.
Museum district. Old brick house, holds the daytime heat pretty well. Haven't used any heat so far...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jmorg
Ive been burning off and on for a month. Basically dying to light one. Its been down to 28 at night, and cool rainy 50s days. Nothing beats the warmth of a fire. My furnace, oil one, just doesnt have the same effect on my house. It was built in 1886, so its drafty to say the least!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jmorg
Going to be in the 70s next few days in Connecticut. Guess I'll be waiting a bit longer. It's okay. I thought I was moving this year so I don't have as much seasoned wood as usual. A shorter burning season will work for me.
 
Going to be in the 70s next few days in Connecticut. Guess I'll be waiting a bit longer. It's okay. I thought I was moving this year so I don't have as much seasoned wood as usual. A shorter burning season will work for me.
New England is off to a mild start. We, on the other hand, are getting winter early after a very warm October. The leaves are still on the trees and the storms are coming in. That is not good. I suspect we'll be seeing power outages by this weekend.
 
Last year my first fire was Nov. 19. The year before that Oct. 29.

This year it will likely be later than last year.

Just took a walk, sunny, 65, yellow, orange, (and brown oak due to drought) leaves everywhere - though my lawn is getting a full coverage now. So they are dropping.
 
Had our first fire in our brand new PE Super 27 about two weeks ago. Forgot about the initial burn-in, so the smoke coming off the stove from the initial build wasn't a fun surprise. Opened some windows and it was all good. But - since then, it's been great. We've already had one night with it cold enough to have ice (not frost) on our vehicles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: begreen
Had our first fire in our brand new PE Super 27 about two weeks ago. Forgot about the initial burn-in, so the smoke coming off the stove from the initial build wasn't a fun surprise. Opened some windows and it was all good. But - since then, it's been great. We've already had one night with it cold enough to have ice (not frost) on our vehicles.
Yes, it suddenly became winter here. Hold onto your hats. The weather will be wild starting tonight with lots of wind for a day, and snow level going up to 6500', then down to 300' by next Wednesday. Hope the power stays on.

I think you are going to love the Super. It's a sweet burner.
 
  • Like
Reactions: back2basics
Snow in the west made the Boston news this morning.
 
We've had a few nights in the 30's so today I lit a wee fire. A few of the kids are coming for supper so I'll most likely take the chill off again this evening. View attachment 299916
I have that same stove. What temp are you able to get your soapstone up to? How are your burn times? I absolutely love my stove, but do wish it would burn longer and throw a bit more heat.
 
Its been a week.. just to warm.. the house was 62 this morning so we closed the windows its 75 out today and 65 in the house.. ill keep the stove off and house cool. its going to be 78 tomorrow so looks like the next time I burn will be the latter part of next week or next weekend.. kinda sucks
 
Crazy here. 57º and really gusty. Tomorrow will be 15º colder, and by Tuesday, below freezing at night.