How do you get used to burning wood?

[mikec4193]

Hi everybody

Not sure if I can handle the whole wood burning thing...I know it is renewable energy and it is supposedly cheaper than fossil fuels but darn...I don't even like the smell of burning wood..
I was involved in a structure fire back in the early 1990's and ever since that fire...I don't even like sitting around a camp fire...
I was outside the other night moving snow around and someone was burning something in their stove and it about gagged me. I enjoy the safe heat from my hot air furnace duct more than I do the smell of wood burning in my wood furnace...I never feel safe around a fire...especially one inside my house...

How do you folks handle the wood burning end of homesteading???

Any insight would be awesome...

MikeC

[simi-steading]

I burned my apartment back in the mid 80's... Took a long time to get over that... I have no problems with the smell...

It is taking me a lot of work to get past stuffing my stove full before I leave the house so it's still burning when I get home... And then there's the fact I've got open flame gas ventless heaters too...

I can't help you with the smell part, but all I can say about the worry is.. Worrying won' prevent it.. Being safe will..

[BlackFeather]

You get used to it like any other smell, I was brought up with it, and don't smell it, but people think I smoke because they smell a faint trace of smoke on my cloths, yet wood smoke smells nothing like cigarette smoke.

[BlueRose]

1992 almost didnt make out of the house. people was blaming the wood stove. investigators found that it was a short in the microwave cord that caused it

Just take precautions. I can handle the wood smell I can not handle the smell of anything else burning.

[dizzy]

Different types of wood have different smells to them and there are some that I don't like. I try not to burn stuff that I don't like the smell of, but cannot control what the neighbors burn.

As for the other, I can't help you, but can appreciate it. Someone set my neighbors' house on fire when I was a young adult. They didn't make it out, and they never found out who did it. I had a choice, I could dwell on that fire and let upset me, or I could move beyond the fear and the memory.

[highlands]

Originally Posted by mikec4193

I was involved in a structure fire back in the early 1990's and ever since that fire...I don't even like sitting around a camp fire...
I was outside the other night moving snow around and someone was burning something in their stove and it about gagged me. I enjoy the safe heat from my hot air furnace duct more than I do the smell of wood burning in my wood furnace...I never feel safe around a fire...especially one inside my house..

I've burned wood all my life so I'm used to burning wood. I built my house of stone because I don't like having a house made out of fuel.

-Walter

[karenp]

Have you considered an outside wood furnace. It wouldn't do anything about the smell, but it might give you peace of mind not having the fire inside the house. I love the smell of wood smoke personally, but I don't have your history.

[Use Less]

Someone not too far off seems to be burning coal. I remember the acrid smell from my childhood, when we still had a coal furnace. You don't need to go to wood as your fuel to be "correct" in a homesteader way. There are definitely areas where pellet stoves are a better choice, or where gas or oil are less costly. Careful use of whatever fuel you choose, upgrading your windows & insulation, wearing sweaters and socks inside all the time, etc., are all appropriate.

[V-NH]

I don't have a problem with it at this point. We started burning wood this year and it has really been great. It doesn't seem very unsafe to me. Most fires started by wood stoves are due to negligence, not defect.

[AmericanStand]

Get a outdoor GASIFIER type stove very little of the wood smoke and wood smell escape.....then put it as far down wind as you can.

[MichaelZ]

Basically, here is the flow chart for us:
1. Do you have $2500 for fuel?
_ A) Yes - > Don't burn wood and turn up the heat
_ B) If No, then
___I) Don't burn wood and freeze
___II) Burn wood and don't freeze

Frankly, I love the smell. If you are getting smoke in your house, then you are not lighting or dampening the stove properly. When putting more wood in, open the door just a crack to let the fire start drafting better and then put in your wood.

[1shotwade]

I've used wood all my life! it's more to do with cost and quality of heat. I'm an "old timer" now but I have always heard the "old timers" around here classify heat in 3 categories.

Anything that is forced air is referred to as"Cold heat"! Anything that is baseboard type ( Elect.,hot water,steam) was considered "warm Heat"! Wood or coal was just "heat"'!

I guess that's the only way they could express the difference in the comfort levels of different heat sources.

You might consider looking into "Hard coal" known as Antracite. It's much different that the old "soft coal" Bituminous,we all remember from our youth!

Wade

[FarmboyBill]

I was born in a house heated partially with wood. Ive burnt wood for 45yrs. When I get moved, I hope to never burn wood again. The smokes a pain. You cant always see it, but IF you lift the wood on my stove and pour a dash of diesel onto a smoldering fire, Youll have all kinds of smoke before you can put the can down and strike a match to light it.

[Rustaholic]

If burning wood puts smoke in your house you are not doing it right.
What MichaelZ said,,,
To add wood in a stove that has a fire in it open the door just a little bit.
The additional air will wake up a sleepy fire and get the draft pulling better.
Then you can add your wood without the smoke rolling out.
Any decent wood stove managed properly will NOT put smoke in the house.

[FarmboyBill]

This stove is ancient. I don't want to buy a new one as I know at 67 im not going to be cutting wood forever.

Its a top loading stove. You have to open it all the way open to do anything with it , in it.

[Ramblin Wreck]

Originally Posted by Rustaholic

Any decent wood stove managed properly will NOT put smoke in the house.

That's been my experience, but so many ask me about smoke from the wood stove that a lot of people out there must not use them correctly.

[Spotted Owl]

It's easy to handle when that's all you've got. Wood for 10 bucks a cord and some time spent processing it. A new furnace is 10,000+ for an installation here any not even close to top of the line equipment. Smoke should be outside, check you pipe. If it's inside something is wrong. Dry wood, no smoldering fires and you should be good to go. If it bothers you, do like I do, no one home, no fire burning. Load up a while before bed so it well under control and working it's way down before you turn in.

Time and good practice with good results, is all you can do to feel better about it. It's easier when wood heat is all you know and have ever used. It's also a ton cheaper than the alternatives, so long as you don't mind spending some time getting ready. The old saying, wood will heat ya twice. No joke about that.



Owl

[maddy]

The smell of a wood-burning fire was like the North Star during all those years in the city. It reminded me of what I always wanted, and of where I needed to be. It's the nicest smell I know.

[michael ark]

If you dont like the smell look at a wood fired boiler . The fire is outside and your house is heated with metal coils and fans or radiant heat.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by Rustaholic

If burning wood puts smoke in your house you are not doing it right.
What MichaelZ said,,,
To add wood in a stove that has a fire in it open the door just a little bit.
The additional air will wake up a sleepy fire and get the draft pulling better.
Then you can add your wood without the smoke rolling out.
Any decent wood stove managed properly will NOT put smoke in the house.

I just open the damper. The only smoke I have ever experienced was with a closed damper and open firebox door. I keep a lid on my ash can because I do get live coals from my current stove. They will smoke the place up. If you have a stove with a grate and ash pan you probably will not have live coals.

I have never figured out why the smoke in the house stinks so much, when the same smoke outside smells great. Love driving in the country where there are lots of wood burners.