Looking for hints about woodburning stoves

Self | 02/13/2006 | Bob

[djf]

I have a pellet stove and it works out to about 3 dollars a day, about a bag a day.

Couple things: It gives out a VERY dry heat. I put a pan of water on top of it to keep some humidity in my house.
Another, of course, is that it is an electrical device. Power goes out, you're cold. (not me, I have generatos and inverters)

I read recently though that the FIRST place to look if you are trying to make your house more heat efficient is the windows.
Something like 80% of the heat escapes through your windows if they are the el cheapo type.

[gorush]

To expand on post #11...an outside wood boiler can be connected to your existing in-slab coils. Place the outdoor wood boiler such that the prevailing winds do not take the smoke toward your house. You are probably looking at 5 to 10 grand depending on how much work you hire out.

If, instead, you choose an indoor unit, take pains to duct your combustion air in from the outside. This will increase the efficiency of the stove immensely.

[sausageseller]

Consider a "pellet stove". They don't smoke the house up.

http://www.spasetc.com/wood-pellet-stoves-2300.htm

[RightWhale]

My success with wood stoves began when I ceased to make them out of wood.

[RightWhale]

City code allows for wood heat

You are fortunate. In Fairbanks, where it is below freezing nine months of the year and where forty below is expected every winter, wood stoves may not be operated if particulates are above a certain level, which happens to coincide with the times one might wish to operate a wood stove.

[Westlander]

#1. Make sure the wood stove you buy is EPA approved.
#2. Local code departments know zilcho so make sure #1.
#3. Get permit to install, and have installation ok'd.
#4. Burning wood is not as clean as gas.
#5. Know your wood descriptions and sizes.
#6. Have your insurance company ok the stove.
#7. Never put a pot of water on the surface of the stove
put it on a rack raised off the surface.
#8. Buy a stove that has parts available 10 years from now.
#9. Become freinds with your DPS department.
#10. Check local ordinances on the amount of wood you can
store.
#11. Privately reply to me.