Heating With Fireplace Insert?

Ozarks Tom · #21 11/13/14, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

We bought as Regency "Hearth Heater" model several years ago.....best move we ever made. It combines the qualities of an insert with the radiant heating of a free standing model. It uses the 're-burn, gassifer' technology, and cut our wood use in half. Has a two speed fan. Also, you can cook on the top of it.

I'd HIGHLY recommend them. The only downside to them is the firebox is small.....it will not hold a fire with the air control rod out on 'high' the entire night. On really cold nights, I do get up around 2-3am and re-stock it.

When we bought ours, they made two sizes and I got the smaller of the two. Now, they only make this size (last time I checked). Unlike older stoves, which you didn't want to oversize (because wide open, they would run you out of the house, and air choked down, they would generate tons of creosote), with the new gassifier stoves, BUY THE BIGGEST firebox you can get....you can throttle them down and not produce much creosote the way the tube system re-burns the smoke/vapor products driven off the wood which is what produces the creosote.

Heating With Fireplace Insert? - Homesteading Questions

Heating With Fireplace Insert? - Homesteading Questions

We've got the exact same unit, and right now it's 28 degrees outside and 68 degrees here in the office. We usually just put 2 logs at a time, set the draft at half, turn on the central furnace fan, and stay comfortable throughout the house. I do get up about 2-3 am and restock, but never have a problem getting it going again.

My dad wasn't the kind of man who could lay in bed and watch my mother get up in a cold house to start the stove, so he slept with his face to the wall.

Jolly · #22 11/13/14, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Yes the house is 1800 sq. ft.

big rockpile

Yep, you've got too much heater.

Build 3 stick fires or...cut your wood a good bit shorter. My stove will hold a maximum 22" stick of wood. I used to cut about 18". As the wife and I have gotten older, I cut about 15".

It still puts out enough heat for what I need, it's easier to handle and I can use a few more sticks in the firebox if I want.

Ozarks Tom · #23 11/13/14, 05:59 PM

duplicate post.

Fire-Man · #24 11/13/14, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Ok ours will hold 36 inch stick of wood, able to heat 3500 sq. ft.. We came home from Church had some coals I filled it, got it going. Shut it down, got 120 degrees fast, my wife open windows. 28 degrees outside.

Done decided just not fill it, most put 3 sticks wood in it.

big rockpile

A Fire will not burn without air---you need to find out where its getting all the air its using to burn that hot.

I know they do not make heaters now that cuts 100% of the intake air off, but I had one in my shop and I could get a roaring fire in it and close the draft and the fire would go completely out.

Slow your air down and mix some fresh cut wood with the wood you got.

crazyfarm · #25 11/14/14, 10:47 AM

I'm loving this post!!!!!!!!

big rockpile · #26 11/14/14, 12:26 PM

Ok last night started 3 sticks of wood. Got up 1AM put 2 more sticks in. My wife got up 6:30AM put couple more in. I get up, put couple more in open it up. Temperature was good all night.

I have some Green wood but not much cut because my Son has the Saw.

big rockpile

Jolly · #27 11/14/14, 05:35 PM

Funny thing about woodstoves...They're all different and each one has to be fired the way it likes to be run.

Few more days of cold weather and you'll have running this one down to a science...

DJ in WA · #28 11/15/14, 11:23 AM

It is good to have an oversized stove and not burn it so hot. I have tried getting too much heat out of mine and have caused damage I've had to repair.

I don't think burning greener/wetter wood is ever a good idea, as you will get more smoke, which fouls chimneys and causes pollution. Same with restricting air too much. Just build smaller fires and burn clean, and maybe stoke it more often.

I set a timer for at least every hour and throw a few sticks in. Otherwise I sit around too much. I don't get up in the night - hard for me to get back to sleep. Just stoke it at bedtime. With your higher capacity stove, shouldn't take long to take the chill off in the morning, then reduce the fire.

Of course, house temperature fluctuates less with good insulation and windows, which we have. That is actually a better investment than heaters.