I'm a new burner, and am still getting used to the process of burning in a stove. I went to bed last night thinking after getting a fire started in the insert and having it stabilize at about 600. I was lying there with my eyes wide open thinking "did I close the air supply down enough?"; "am I sure that I closed the door?"; "has the coupling come off my liner at the stove outlet?"; "is everything moved back far enough away (did I even check that tonight)?". Ultimately, I went back downstairs and checked everything, and all was fine.
However, it got me to thinking: I don't know what I don't know. I mean, I know the basics like 'make sure your flue is clear and clean before burning' and 'keep combustibles away from the stove' and 'burn dry wood'. But I wouldn't have thought about my child stuffing a plush toy up into the convection air cavity on the top of my stove - until I was told to look for that. I also would have thought that ashes sitting for two days would not have any live coals in them that could ignite the trash can - until I was told about that.
So, I'd like to hear the 'cautionary tales' that could result from having a live fire in your house. The result would be to have a list of things to do (and not do) to prevent the worst from happening, and to allow those of us who are new to be able to sleep easy knowing that we've covered all the bases.
However, it got me to thinking: I don't know what I don't know. I mean, I know the basics like 'make sure your flue is clear and clean before burning' and 'keep combustibles away from the stove' and 'burn dry wood'. But I wouldn't have thought about my child stuffing a plush toy up into the convection air cavity on the top of my stove - until I was told to look for that. I also would have thought that ashes sitting for two days would not have any live coals in them that could ignite the trash can - until I was told about that.
So, I'd like to hear the 'cautionary tales' that could result from having a live fire in your house. The result would be to have a list of things to do (and not do) to prevent the worst from happening, and to allow those of us who are new to be able to sleep easy knowing that we've covered all the bases.