Just bought a house with a wood stove, no clue what to do.

[DaveInPhilly]

So my wife and I just bought a house that has a traditional fireplace in the living room and a wood stove in the family room. We don't close until the August, but one thing that concerns me a bit is the wood stove. I'm hoping the guy is willing to teach me how to use it, but if not I have no idea what to do. I looked at the stuff in the FAQ thread, but even that was a bit more advanced because it addressed problems people were having once they got their stoves up and running...I'm not even sure how to do that much (safely, that is).

We have a fireplace now, and we use it a good bit. I have always loved the idea of a stove, but I understand that they require a good bit more care. Is there a really basic, beginner level FAQ out there that someone can point me to? Any pointers or things to look out for that I should know right of the bat?

One concern I do have is that this is in the family room, which is where I imagine we will spend the majority of our time. I have two small kids, my oldest is only three. How dangerous are these to touch? Are we talking, "that really hurts, I'll never do that again" or "call the chopper, get him to the burn ward"?

I know the stove works and is used often by the current homeowner. It appears to be in really good shape, but I don't really know what I am looking for.

This is the stove:

 

[begreen]

Welcome. The picture is tiny but the stove looks like the Hearthstone Mansfield. A good place to start is to download the manual for this stove from Hearthstone's website. In the manual you will find several pages on how to operate the stove.

Another good step will be to require the stove flue system be cleaned and inspected as contingent on closing the sale. The sweep can also verify the stove condition. Get a CSIA certified sweep to check it out, preferably one that knows this stove and will be gentle on the baffle board. www.csia.org

And then you will need good quality fuel. EPA stoves like dry wood. It is hard to get good seasoned wood in some areas so it would be good to start looking and if possible purchasing it now. Otherwise maybe stick to kiln dried wood for this next season.

 

[Ashful]

I love these threads! I was in your shoes four years ago, always heated with fireplaces, and then bought a house with a stove.

As begreen already cautioned, the first thing you need to consider is dry fuel. No more burning wood in the season it's bucked and split... you'll need a year to three to get your wood down to the required moisture content for operating that EPA stove.

On the concerns of safety, you'll be pleasantly surprised. We now keep two wood stoves running 24/7 during the heating season, and it is our primary means of heating the house, like many others on this forum. It's a great pass-time, good exercise, and I love the way it brings the family together around the stove on cold evenings.

On kids and stoves, yes... a kid face-planting into a stove could cause very serious injury. But kids, even as young as 1 year old, seem to have a very innate sense of "too hot". I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, both of which have grown up around my stoves (one is just ten feet from their toybox), and both almost instinctively avoided it from a very young age. Every kid and situation is different, but for us, it has been a non-issue.

We'll get you schooled on how to run the thing, as heating season approaches. For now, just rest assured that a modern EPA wood stove, run on good dry fuel, is a very safe way to heat your home. Welcome aboard!

 

[Babaganoosh]

As suggested I'd definitely get a sweep in there to inspect the stove and deem it safe. Your insurance and the town/city might require that anyway. Absolutely make the sale contingent of it meeting code and being safe.

I was a first year burner last year and found this website a godsend. Closed on my house in July. The only reason I had wood to burn was because my buddy had a maple cut and stacked in his back yard for 2 years and wanted it gone. Plus I found a few places that sell the compressed bricks that can be used in lieu of or mixed in with traditional cord wood. If you can't find a source of dry wood or can't get some of the compressed bricks you would be better served to skip burning the first year and put the time and effort into getting some wood to split and stack or having it delivered and then stack it.

Lots of wood sellers advertise seasoned wood. Its BS. I'd say 99% are not stove ready for at least a year. If you end up with some types of wood like oak you are looking at 2 years.

Is there any wood on the premises now?

 

[Wildo]

On kids and stoves, yes... a kid face-planting into a stove could cause very serious injury. But kids, even as young as 1 year old, seem to have a very innate sense of "too hot". I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, both of which have grown up around my stoves (one is just ten feet from their toybox), and both almost instinctively avoided it from a very young age. Every kid and situation is different, but for us, it has been a non-issue.

I brought my daughter near the woodstove @ 15 months and held her hand out so she could feel the heat told her it was hot and will hurt so don't touch it. Whenever she goes near it she now knows when it is safe to be near. Three years and only a burn from the oven on the gas range after we said that it was hot and don't touch, so she did it anyway... One time only

All you need to know about burning is here if you choose to listen.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

Another good step will be to require the stove flue system be cleaned and inspected as contingent on closing the sale. The sweep can also verify the stove condition. Get a CSIA certified sweep to check it out, preferably one that knows this stove and will be gentle on the baffle board. www.csia.org[/quote]


definite first step!

also noting the worry about kiddies and burns, it is a real concern. KidCo makes a great product called a "HearthGate" designed to keep the toddlers from being able to reach the stove. ive recommended that product for several years to homeowners who worry about young children and woodstoves.

here's a link to look at the product (full and honest disclosure, neither I, nor England's Stove Works are affiliated with or sell them but I do direct folks to them quite a bit)

 

[webby3650]

Looks like a Heathstone Heritage to me in Sea foam enamel.

Look for cracked stones, particularly on the right side rear stone and the lower rear stones. That's the most likely.
The baffles in these are extremely fragile if misused, make sure it's intact. It lays on top of the secondary burn tubes in the top of the stove. You should not be able to see up the flue. I've been to service calls where the entire baffle was missing. It was serviced annually by a certified sweep, so educating yourself is a good idea as well.

 

[jeff_t]

Looks like a Heathstone Heritage to me in Sea foam enamel.

What I was thinking. Looks like a door handle on the left side. And it's rear vented.

 

[bwise.157]

I started with a wood burning insert three years ago. At that time, kids were 4 and 2. Told them it was extremely hot and they can't touch it or it will REALLY hurt. They will sit on the hearth in front of my insert when cold, but they have never touched it. Me on the other hand... let's just say I have a few battle wounds from accidental touches of the insert on reloading that have left marks! They will burn you in an instant, but as others have mentioned, read the manual and definitely respect the stove. It will treat you well if operated correctly! No better/intense heat than a wood stove! You will laugh when the weatherman says 0 degrees tonight if you have seasoned wood. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[webby3650]

Both of my kids grew up with a stove or 2. One was right out in the middle of a great room. Neither have ever been burned, ever.

 

[begreen]

I had similar concerns about our 2nd floor bedrooms and staircase with our young boys. It was unfounded. They listened and figured out how to safely get down the stairs pretty much on their own. (Hold on railing, butt bump down a step, repeat a dozen times.)

 

[Wildo]

I have found that quite often people don't give there kids enough latitude in situations like this, myself included since she probably would've figured it out on her own.

 

[Wood Duck]

Standard advise for all newbies is GET WOOD NOW! It is already late to get wood for this winter. If the current owner has some wood on hand I'd negotiate for it to stay. That way you'll have wood at least one year old this fall. If not, I'd see about buying wood as soon as possible. If you can get some wood split and stacked in a really good spot (sunny, wind, single rows, top covered) you should be OK by winter as long as it isn't oak or another of the most dense hardwoods, which take a long time to season. There are dozens of threads on seasoning wood in the Wood Shed part of this site.

Running a wood stove isn't rocket science If you can manage to work a computer well enough to post on this site, you are intelligent enough to run the stove.

 

[DaveInPhilly]

Thanks for all the advice. We are going to the house for an inspection on Thursday, so I'll take a closer look at the stove and maybe take a few more pictures. There was plenty of wood in the listing photos, but I can't remember if it was still there when we toured the house, I'll check on that too, and if so I'll see if they would be willing to sell it to me. I downloaded the manual for the stove and it doesn't seem as complicated as I was making it out to be in my head. I guess we'll see how it goes. A quick internet search tells me that wood is going for about $250 a cord here in south eastern PA, but I have no idea how well seasoned that will be.

 

[Grisu]

A quick internet search tells me that wood is going for about $250 a cord here in south eastern PA, but I have no idea how well seasoned that will be.

Even when it says "seasoned" in the ad it most likely is still green. Call them and ask how long ago it has been split and stacked (not a big heap on the ground). Only then does the drying really start. A few months will probably be the best you can find and I would not even count on that one.

If the previous owner sells you its split and stacked firewood you will have lucked out. As soon as you move in you can order a few cords for the winter after. Ask for ash, that dries pretty quickly.

 

[Babaganoosh]

If I was buying the house I'd expect it to he included. On top of that I'd inquire and get it in writing.

If on the odd chance that the current homeowners are expecting to take the wood I'd request to split the wood with him 50/50. Even offer to help move his half. Plain and simple you want and almost need that wood if you want to use that stove this winter.

 

[Dix]

Welcome to the forums !! We've all been pretty much where you are, you've come to the right place!!

First ... the kidlets ... they pick on "No. Hot. Don't touch" pretty quickly. Safety gate, if you are still antsy, makes a great clothes dryer in the winter, too I doubt a chopper would be needed

Second .... firewood supply. Get on it, and keep on it. Look for pine or ash for quick drying stock, Get what ever you can going & stacked to insure an adequate supply for the future. Worth the money spent, IMHO.

Third ... check chimney, clean if needed, check stove for cracks, broken blocks, gasket issues, fix as warranted. Keep in mind, if the stove has issues, it might not live ( it happens). As a new homeowner, and all the $$$$ lay out that that entails, can you afford the layout for a new stove, with a slow payback ratio? (being said not knowing type of furnace in house or type of heat ... oil, gas, electric???... some pay backs are alot quicker, especially in our climate).

Again, welcome to the forums

 

[xman23]

I've had all our grand kids around our stove, with no issues. They all learned at a year old how to feel the heat. I never saw a kid or animal get near the stove.

If you have the opportunity, talk to the owner, let him tell you what he has been doing. He should have a yearly routine that he follows. If not, you can easily learn all you need to know here.

 

[TommyTally]

I think everybody above has really already hit the high points. I'll just say that I was in the same position 3 years ago, and transitioning my mindset from just turning up the thermostat to learning how to properly use the stove as our primary heat source has been liberating and at times, challenging. The biggest payoff for us was this past winter when we lost power for 4 days with temps at that time around -10F. We were still able to keep the house relatively warm (58-60), and without the wood stove, we would have either been very cold or would have had to stay somewhere else for those nights. It pays off all season long, but it especially pays off those times when you can provide heat for your family in spite of the failure of all other systems. I really think it helps satisfy my desire to be self-reliant, and you can't put a price on that.

Stick around here, read everything you can, and you'll be fine. With all of the experienced people on this site, I generally find I can take their advice to the bank.

 

[Grisu]

If I was buying the house I'd expect it to he included. On top of that I'd inquire and get it in writing.

If on the odd chance that the current homeowners are expecting to take the wood I'd request to split the wood with him 50/50. Even offer to help move his half. Plain and simple you want and almost need that wood if you want to use that stove this winter.

Maybe it is different in NJ than here in VT. When we bought the house we would have taken an estimate of the amount of heating oil left in the tank and paid current market rate for it. (Since the tank was empty that was not an issue.) I would ask for the wood and expect to pay something for it.

 

[therdlesstravld]

That's pretty neat Grisu to hear the regional differences in buying a house. I've bought quite a few homes in NJ and never had anyone suggest paying for the oil in the tank.

I do know if i were to sell my house my wood supply would go with me because I'd be taking my woodstove. If the seller doesn't intend to run a woodstove in his new place then you've got a good chance of getting him to throw it in. He's already moving and going through a ton of headaches that goes along with selling/buying so one less thing to move May be nice for him.

 

[stovelark]

Def a HS Heritage (left side load and new style legs). As webby said, check the baffle, check the ash door handle for complete closure too, then decide if its seafoam green (what HS says) or if its blueish, like a lot of folks think... get good dry seasoned wood ready too.

 

[DaveInPhilly]

Here in PA, you pay for the oil in the tank when you buy a house. If not, the seller has every right to sell it back to the oil company before closing. I assume it works the same with firewood, but I'll check with my realtor. The stove is more blue than green to my color blind eye and definitely doesn't look enameled, but I'll take a closer look tomorrow. We're buying the house whether or not the stove checks out, so we won't make the sale contingent on a CSIA inspection, but I will definitely have one done before I start using the stove (and fire place for that matter). I have been reading up on firewood suppliers in the area. As soon as we close, that will be my second call, right after Fios. I realize it won't be ideal by winter, but I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that it will be dry enough that I won't burn the house down.

As for the kiddos, my concern is not so much that he's going to walk up and give it a hug (though, he might), but that he'll be running around playing Superman, tumble over the cat and faceplant into the side. I think we'll be fine because this has a giant hearth (it has to be 8" at its widest) and there is a transition from carpet to tile before that, so I think the kid will naturally avoid going near the stove, but his penchant for self inflicted injury has surprised me in the past.

 

[gzecc]

I have friends that have put temporary fences around them. More to protect the visiting kid than their own.

 

[Ashful]

Here in PA, you pay for the oil in the tank when you buy a house. If not, the seller has every right to sell it back to the oil company before closing. I assume it works the same with firewood, but I'll check with my realtor.

I've bought and sold a number of houses in PA, all with oil heat, and I don't recall ever discussing the amount of oil in the tank. Heck, you can go thru a half dozen tanks of oil just during the settlement period, so it'd be fun trying to figure out what you even have at the moment of settlement.

A tank of oil is $700 on a bad day, not much when considering the price of a house. The issue with firewood is different, in that it'll take you a few years to get back to seasoned wood, not as simple as dropping seven bills on a new stash.