Wood stove and moisture

mommathea · #1 09/25/12, 11:45 AM

Dh just called and said that the guy who's going to be installing our wood stove is going to do it Monday!!! I'm so excited. We've been collecting,splitting and stacking wood for the past year with the goal in mind to get a wood stove and use it as our primary heat source.
I know that the wood stove is going to dry the air out. What can I use on top of the stove to add moisture back in? A regular pot, tea kettle? What is best?

Danaus29 · #2 09/25/12, 01:03 PM

I've used both. As long as it holds water and won't melt it will work. (although glass holds water and won't melt it will break when you add more water) On, and as long as it doesn't give off toxic fumes. Don't use teflon. Stainless steel containers are best, IMO.
I've seen a really cool cast iron dragon holder for on top of wood stoves. When the water gets hot steam rolls out his nose! I want him but never have enough $$$ when I see the catalog.

Silvercreek Farmer · #3 09/25/12, 02:18 PM

I use a large steel stock pot that probably holds 2.5 gallons so I don't have to fill it every day.

7thswan · #4 09/25/12, 02:49 PM

I keep all kinds of old things that hold water on the woodstove. On the w. cookstove,I keep 4 coffee pots/tea kettles. Usally I'm canning or doing some all day cooking on the cookstove. I just love cooking with wood,something about it brings out the Cook in me. Pretty soon I'll have all the Hunters to cook for

meanwhile · #5 09/25/12, 03:39 PM

We have an old rusty cast iron kettle. When we first make a fire each year, the rust burns off and the kettle looks good again. We also set a metal pan under the wood stove too.

We dry our clothes inside near the wood stove and that helps too.

andyd2023 · #6 09/25/12, 03:43 PM

I use an old revere copper bottom tea pot. As said above anything that holds water and is unbreakable.
Andrew

pinfeather · #7 09/25/12, 04:06 PM

We don't use anything, but we live on the coast and the air is damp anyway.

chickenista · #8 09/25/12, 05:21 PM

We have used all sorts of things to try to combat the dryness.
We have found that using a wide pan works the best and the quickest.
More surface area to release steam and it heats quicker.
So.. we keep a kettle on the top and a pan on the bottom and just remember to tip water into the pan whenver we think about it.

old school · #9 09/25/12, 07:41 PM

Congratulations on the wood stove instillation you will get many years of use from it ,heating ,cooking,help dry cloths...We always enjoy the smell of wood burning out side when shoveling snow or splitting wood.Our wood stove has came in handy many times when the power was out ,ours has a glass door so it gave us light,heat,and we cooked some leftovers and enjoyed a cup or two of coffee. Enjoy!!!!

badlander · #10 09/26/12, 08:26 AM

I scored a one gallon stainless steel kettle on Ebay and keep it full at all times. Amazing how handy it comes in for things other than humidifying the air. Recipes that call for a cup of boiling water...no problem. Need some really hot water for cleaning or doing some hand laundry...no problem. You just cool it down to a tolerable level. I have even used mine as dish water, giving the water heater a rest and saving a little money at the same time.

You will fall in love with your new stove and find it hard to be without one.

Fae · #11 09/26/12, 10:03 AM

I used to use an old enamel on steel pot but asked for the cast iron pot made for the purpose for my birthday and my children( adult) got it for me. I don't have a wood cookstove though.

Tirzah · #12 09/26/12, 10:26 AM

You are going to love your woodstove, congratulations!

We purchased an old cast iron kettle from an antique store and use that. The cast iron works better than the old enamel kettle we used to use.

Enjoy!

ronbre · #13 09/26/12, 10:50 AM

generally we find wood heat is not as dry as propane heat..and yes you can use steam to replace humidity..if you want

frankva · #14 09/26/12, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danaus29

I've used both. As long as it holds water and won't melt it will work. (although glass holds water and won't melt it will break when you add more water) On, and as long as it doesn't give off toxic fumes. Don't use teflon. Stainless steel containers are best, IMO.
I've seen a really cool cast iron dragon holder for on top of wood stoves. When the water gets hot steam rolls out his nose! I want him but never have enough $$$ when I see the catalog.

Non whistling (and larger) SS tea kettle with big handle high up enough that it won't get too hot. Big enough that you won't have to refill it every time you turn around.

Dragon is very cool, but only for when company comes over. If then. Moving/refilling is a pain.

mommathea · #15 09/26/12, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinfeather

We don't use anything, but we live on the coast and the air is damp anyway.

Our winter air is very dry, so we run 2 humidifiers w/ electric heat just to keep the air comfortable for breathing. We'd get nose bleeds and sinus pain. So we need the moisture in the air.

Ravenlost · #16 09/26/12, 06:14 PM

My mom has always kept a big (half gallon I think) cast iron kettle on the back of her wood cookstove.

haypoint · #17 09/26/12, 08:19 PM

Any metal container that you never want to use for anything else. minerals in the water will collect making it difficult to remove. Different areas havs different minerals. around most of Michigan, there is lime in the water and it collects lick coral in the bottoms and sides of kettls and pans.

Common Tator · #18 09/26/12, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvercreek Farmer

I use a large steel stock pot that probably holds 2.5 gallons so I don't have to fill it every day.

I use a pot about the same size, but I use the hot water for washing dishes in the sink. hat keeps the water from getting nasty and stinky, because it is recycled often.

KIT.S · #19 09/27/12, 12:18 AM

I have one of those steaming dragons - it was a gift several decades ago! Also, we put big pots of potatoes on the top of the wood stove in the winter to cook for the pigs. It's free food, free heat, and they don't like raw potatoes.
Kit

ceresone · #20 09/27/12, 07:34 AM

I've found a lil vinegar keeps the deposits from the water to a minimum