does outdoor temp affect performance

[aaron12984]

I bought a house in july and I started fixing up the old old wood burner in the basement. Its a gravity flow deal. The old guy who owned the home hasnt used it for 10 years. I spent a lot of time cleaning it up and making it functional again. New gaskets new ducting cleaned the chimney.

I burnt some small stuff in it to test it. And everything functions great.

Well we had some cool evenings high 40s and low 50s and ive been racking my brain. As to why it wasnt heating the house more than 2 or 3 degrees.

tonight I built a fire in it. 37 outside and its heating like crazy. The burner has physically heated up better. From 60 in the house to 70 in an hour. I cant believe it.

2 changes happened tonight. I put a flue damper in and after it warmed I closed it about 1/2 and the temp outside is much lower

my question is does out side temp effect how a wood burner functions?

 

[HotCoals]

Yes it does.
Way more draft when cold out.
Temp differential thing..
Good to hear it's now working for ya!

 

[Sprinter]

It does make a difference in the draft, but I must say I wouldn't expect it to be that dramatic. But there are so many variables and the new damper is a wild card in how it affected things.

 

[PSYS]

I'm curious, as well.

I kinda wish we didn't have the new damper variable tossed into the mix. It would've been interesting to see how the cooler outside air temp affected performance on its own...?

 

[Sprinter]

The inside/outside differential will affect the initial draft and how well the fire starts, etc., but once a nice hot fire is established, it shouldn't make that much difference anymore since the heat of the fire takes over.

 

[HotCoals]

Well if the damper is open I doubt it is affecting much.

 

[aaron12984]

The damper is half closed at the moment.

I wonder if its my wood. Im using the same wood but it has been seasoning in my basement with a fan blowing on it as well.

its nice and toasty in here. My only goal with the wood burner is to cut down my oil consumption.

at this point I dont so much care so mich why but that it works. I spent a lot of time cutting wood and fixing up the furnace

 

[HotCoals]

The inside/outside differential will affect the initial draft and how well the fire starts, etc., but once a nice hot fire is established, it shouldn't make that much difference anymore since the heat of the fire takes over.

Hot things move to colder things faster then warmer things.

Thermodynamic Rocket Science it's called! lol

 

[Sprinter]

Hot things move to colder things faster then warmer things

Nicely put...

 

[HotCoals]

Nicely put...

I try! lol Cheers!

 

[aaron12984]

I try! lol Cheers!

Going to bed now. 31 outside and a sweaty 74 inside.

I cant wait for my order of 1 year seasoned locust to come in. I am ready now. For once one of my crazy ideas might just pan out!

 

[HotCoals]

Great wood choice!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

The damper is half closed at the moment.

I wonder if its my wood. Im using the same wood but it has been seasoning in my basement with a fan blowing on it as well.

its nice and toasty in here. My only goal with the wood burner is to cut down my oil consumption.

at this point I dont so much care so mich why but that it works. I spent a lot of time cutting wood and fixing up the furnace

Welcome to the forum Aaron.

For sure that is a poor way of trying to dry wood. Try getting into the habit of being no less than 1 year old wood and that stacked outside in the wind. Top cover it if you feel the need but we don't top cover until early winter. Better yet is the 3 year plan. That is, always be 3 years ahead on your wood pile and you will solve over 90% of wood burning problems. It works.

And for sure the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors will make a big difference on how you run the stove and how well the wood burns.

 

[aaron12984]

Welcome to the forum Aaron.

For sure that is a poor way of trying to dry wood. Try getting into the habit of being no less than 1 year old wood and that stacked outside in the wind. Top cover it if you feel the need but we don't top cover until early winter. Better yet is the 3 year plan. That is, always be 3 years ahead on your wood pile and you will solve over 90% of wood burning problems. It works.

And for sure the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors will make a big difference on how you run the stove and how well the wood burns.

I know it is.

I havent had the house and wood burner a year yet so I havent had time to season wood. I ordered wood thats said to be 2 year seasoned. So that should help.

 

[blades]

Ask them when it was split. If it was split just in the last few mo./wks it ain't season properly. Get a moisture meter most of box store home repair places carry them now for under $50,worth the investment. Take a split they bring respilt it down the middle and check the inside face with meter. 20% or less good to go, 20-25% marginal, above that , well your choice, but not usable this season.