Look what the wife left me

[mfglickman]

Some interesting comments here. I must be one of the few with an intelligent wife.

oh no, how did I get here? how did I get both the stoves lit today, run wood into the shed, cover the outside stacks for rain, take delivery of 2 tons of pellets, vacuum, make dinner, walk the dogs, and still manage to get online before going to pick up the kids? it's like magic...

To the OP - DH and I treat the stove like a challenge. I am home more so I actually burn it more, I clean it and maintain it and the pellet stove. I do relegate chimney cleaning to him. But we do face off now and then on the weekends on who can get the fire lit faster, hotter, longer...you get the picture. It's kind of fun because it's a competition in which strength does not come into it, you have to think and pay attention and anyone can win!

 

[firefighterjake]

My wife loves it when I criticize her, so I'd make sure to go ahead and point out the sooty glass immediately. I am sure your wife will enjoy the opportunity to improve her burning technique.

Hehheh . . . Troublemaker.

 

[BrowningBAR]

My wife loves it when I criticize her, so I'd make sure to go ahead and point out the sooty glass immediately. I am sure your wife will enjoy the opportunity to improve her burning technique.

I agree. I would also point and laugh. Maybe rub her face into the ash pan.

 

[charly]

One good thing is, she had a fire that wasn't running away out of control. I'd take the dirty glass over a runaway fire.

 

[begreen]

My wife runs the stove cooler than I do and that's fine. She prefers to add 2-3 splits every few hours and have a slow steady burn. In shoulder seasons that might lead to a sooty glass. No big deal. Give her a hug and and a little coaching. That's much better than a scowl and a lecture.

 

[certified106]

My wife runs the stove cooler than I do and that's fine. She prefers to add 2-3 splits every few hours and have a slow steady burn. In shoulder seasons that might lead to a sooty glass. No big deal. Give her a hug and and a little coaching. That's much better than a scowl and a lecture.

I agree with you, if I started griping at my wife for how she was running the stove she would usually just get frustrated and quit running it all. Just to clarify she does great with the T6, but the Dutchwest was a whole nother ball game lol.
To the O.P:Just be nice about it with her and think of it as gentle nudging in the right direction and all will be fine in a short time. Good Luck

 

[Lighting Up]

It's your wood...not your wife!

Sorry, had to be said...

 

[Swedishchef]

My wife simply won't touch the stove. She says "Electricity is cheap, I can't be bothered to learn". Wtf can I say to that????? If she ever tried to use the stove, I am sure she would forget the bypass damper...which would end up with a conversation along the lines of this " Hon, why'd you leave the bypass damper open? Now our chimney needs to be replaced". Her reply would be " you and that damn stove, I don't want to see it in this house again!"

Andrew

 

[billb3]

She didn't replace the splits ?

Maybe you could prove you're good for something and get her some more ?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Some interesting comments here. I must be one of the few with an intelligent wife.



You've clearly never operated a cat stove. I can crank mine down until the firebox is a smoldering mess, and the cat stays lit, chimney stays clean. The glass looks like hell after a slow burn like that, but that's how they're made to run, if you're going for a slow burn.

Not all stoves are made to do that at all! We can "crank" ours down so there isn't even a flame. Glass stays clean. We clean it maybe twice per year and that is just he white haze. We have not had black glass since the burn-in fires.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Methinks there are many homes with wood heat where husband and wife needs to spend some quality time together. Weekends might be that time so that wife can learn just how easy this wood heating is. Certainly does not need a rocket scientist to figure things out. Fuel and air. Only need to figure out the quantities of each.

 

[jjs777_fzr]

That glass door looks like it was the result of throwing splits in way too close to the door or as it burned - moved around and rested near the base of the glass or door frame.
The one or two times in 6 years I've had glass looking like that was due to exactly that - too close to the glass.
I can't imagine it being the result of just a smoldering fire or whatever - anythings possible though.

 

[jeff_t]

Pffft.
That there is dirty glass. And my wife didn't do it.

 

[rdust]

View attachment 75703

Pffft.
That there is dirty glass. And my wife didn't do it.

Mine is getting there but I can still see through a couple spots.

 

[nate379]

Don't think mine ever got THAT bad!

View attachment 75703

Pffft.
That there is dirty glass. And my wife didn't do it.

 

[salmonhunter]

well I found out what my wife did wrong she tried to start a fire with just paper and big splits she didn't use any kindling. She told me she just crumpled up some paper and put splits on top. After she realized the fire stoped after a few mins she put some more paper in and tried again. When that didnt work she noticed half our sample supercedar on the mantle and stuck that under the split and that got the fire going. I have a big box of chopped up pallet wood in our garage for kindling now she knows why its there. I ordered a bunch of supercedars to make it easier for her. Im guessing her next fire will be easier for her now that she knows about the kindling.

 

[jeff_t]

That'll do it. I have a few homemade firestarters there for her, plus a bit of kindling, just in case. We don't get any newspaper, so I won't have to worry about that

Don't think mine ever got THAT bad!

Some of it actually burned off. It seems like it only gets that bad when it's full of oak. Burned some ash, cherry and maple the last few times, and it cleared up quite a bit.

 

[ridemgis]

My wife loves it when I criticize her, so I'd make sure to go ahead and point out the sooty glass immediately. I am sure your wife will enjoy the opportunity to improve her burning technique.

And that my friends, is the correct response to the original post!

 

[velvetfoot]

Windex might not be the best because of the ammonia in it.

 

[neumsky]

Hand them the manual...if you don't...you'll set yourself up for a divorce and liability suit hahaha

 

[velvetfoot]

in same boat here

 

[neumsky]

My wife simply won't touch the stove. She says "Electricity is cheap, I can't be bothered to learn". Wtf can I say to that????? If she ever tried to use the stove, I am sure she would forget the bypass damper...which would end up with a conversation along the lines of this " Hon, why'd you leave the bypass damper open? Now our chimney needs to be replaced". Her reply would be " you and that damn stove, I don't want to see it in this house again!"

Andrew

Your doomed! Lol

 

[DAKSY]

well I found out what my wife did wrong she tried to start a fire with just paper and big splits she didn't use any kindling. She told me she just crumpled up some paper and put splits on top. After she realized the fire stoped after a few mins she put some more paper in and tried again. When that didnt work she noticed half our sample supercedar on the mantle and stuck that under the split and that got the fire going. I have a big box of chopped up pallet wood in our garage for kindling now she knows why its there. I ordered a bunch of supercedars to make it easier for her. Im guessing her next fire will be easier for her now that she knows about the kindling.

I sold a Hampton H300 insert to a customer a coupla years ago & after the install he came into the showroom, got in my face & HOLLERED at me for selling him a POS. He attempted to light his first fire & he had a smoke filled home with the fire company there...
IIRC, I sold it in July & we installed it August. He was not home for the install, but the wife was. Our installers have a well-rehearsed tutorial on fire-starting techniques that they go thru after the completion of the install & all customers are advised to call their salesperson or our service depaertment to get any questions answered before they begin to burn. Well, it turned out that this guy came home at lunchtime, wadded up the Sunday NY Times & threw a 6"D x 18"L piece of unsplit oak on top. He lit the paper, closed the door & left to walk around the block with his daughter. No draft started. no kindling. Nostarter size splits. The outside air was warmer than his air-conditioned house, so the smoke from the smoldering paper back-puffed out the primary & set off his smoke alarm. Needless to say his wife was upset as well.
Anyway, after he got done with his rant & drew the attention of everybody in the store, I got my chance to speak... I will admit that I was ready to explode, myself, but I held my tongue, remained civil & courteous. I reminded him that I had shown him the proper technique for starting a fire during our time in the showroom, BEFORE he made his purchase, & then told him why his technique was faulty. Looking rather embarrassed, he said "oh, yeah, I remember" & tucked his tail between his legs & exited the store. The store owner actully congratulated me on the way I handled the situation...

 

[Swedishchef]

I am doomed indeed...

 

[Pallet Pete]

Shoot I get that occasionally too especially when I burn long on low air. Our stove burns very clean on about 1/3 air but if I leave it for a day it will get dark about halfway up the glass. I just crank the air up for 15 minutes or so on the next load and it cleans itself for the most part.

Pete