How do you get used to burning wood?

I get a little smoke from mine when i open the door. Only when the fire is low and smoldering. I was cleaning out all the food sources for mice in the house and found some onion sets from planting the garden. Threw them in the stove. Big mistake. The whole house smelled like roasted onions and made me hungry.

I have fuel oil for back up. I try to keep the fire going to keep the furnace from coming on. The only thing i worry about leaving the wood stove unattended is the chimney backdrafts when there is a strong south wind. I check the forcasts in the morning for wind direction.

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So is the one I have.... I found that it's easier to load than some of the side-door stoves.

Although the only time I smell smoke in the house, which is not to often, I've figured that I've done something wrong or that the flue needs cleaning.

Smoke in the house isn't always a operator fault, I rented a house with a solid fuel stove, we burnt coal in it as wood burnt out in 15 mins even with all vents shut. even with a huge fire going smoke came out of that thing. chimney was swept several times, people came to look at it, general opinion was bad instalation poor draw and nothing that could be done about it. my "new" (it's probably about 20 years old) wood fired stove doesn't even smoke on lighting I was very impressed. My grans fire (open) is lovely 90% of the time it doesn't smoke, the other 10% it does, it depends on the wind direction, she had to have the chimney shortened after it fell on the house during a storm, and since then it's smoked on a easterly wind.
I do like the smell of woodsmoke, coal stinks! and leaves black soot everywhere

Just was thinking about this. Although we get virtually no smoke in our home, when starting a fire with birch bark I will intentionally allow smoke to pour out - love that smell!
Perhaps my love of wood fires goes back to when I was a toddler and my sister and I would stand behind our big wood burner in the living room to warm up on a cold morning.

With respect to a proper drafting chimney, if is a stainless double wall chimney that runs outside, you can make it draft better by enclosing it. We had to do this. Weather is also a factor - if the temps are above 30F and the wind is not such that there is a good draft, often my fire will go out or hardly draft so then I will just save my wood and turn on the oil furnace. But, up here, that is rarely the case - typically it is near zero or below much of the winter.

We have both a wood stove and a propane hot water boiler. Knowing that as long as there is wood covered outside and some warmed up inside, I can relax. No confusing technology to baffle me.

Where the propane can stop on a moments notice (or lack there of) the wood stove's heating dwindles a lot slower. If I have not set it up right for the night I get a whiff of a different smell of smoke. It usually happens between 2 and 5 am. This is coming from the chimney outside. Then I think about what the outside temperature is and either get up and feed it or let it go until normal wake up time. I would not live in WI or probably anywhere else without this sense of security.

I don't like the idea of using a fuel to make my fuel burn- just about anything except a wood stove will require some kind of electric to circulate the heat. I'm happiest with just my wood, which makes me warm no matter if the power is on or not!

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They shall all sit under their own vines and their own fig trees, and they shall live in peace and unafraid. Mica 4:4

Yes Michael, I totally agree. I like a top loader much more than a side loader. Ive had both.

Good, well dried wood helps to reduce smoke. Getting a fire going fast and consistently will help. It's the first few minutes of low combusion that will bellow out smoke. Or forgetting to open the damper for a few seconds first before opening the door to add wood.
On the other hand, my neighbor who keeps her wood exposed to the wet and burns it without curing, make enough smoke for the whole neighborhood.

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I don't understand the not curing thing but she could build a cheap hoop house with 2 cattle panels and a tarp and at least have it dry. If she faced it south it would warm up in the afternoon on a sunny day. Does here in zone 4.

Wet is a little more persistent here but she could tarp it. That is what I do.

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For we used to ask when we were little, thinking that the old men knew all things which are on earth: yet forsooth they did not know; but we do not contradict them, for neither do we know.

I can't imagine not having wood stoves. We have one big heating stove and one in the kitchen for cooking. I freeze when I go to anyone's house that does not use wood stoves for heat. I like the constant heat. Maybe it is just a preference. Some people will like it and love the smell of wood smoke and some won't. Since you had a traumatic experience with a fire, I can understand why you might not like it now. If you feel so strongly about it though, I wouldn't force myself to live with it. A homesteading life should be pleasant.

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Reflections of katlupe

I love the smell of a fire. So romantic. Brings back enjoyable memories. Very comforting.

I imagine being involved in a structure fire that would make the smell of smoke unenjoyable.

I will not use a stove pipe damper.
I used to need one but after I put a new gasket around the door it seals up very well and turning in both drafts tight I can put the fire out even if the wind is howling outside.
NO, This is not a newer EPA rated stove.
This is a mid 1980s air tight wood stove.
I paid $100 used for it in 1989
I had looked at the same model in 1985 but at $1100 plus I couldn't afford it.

We heat with wood. No problems here.

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No matter what you heat with, it can cause a problem. For instance, if you have electric heat, you could have mice chewing on wires and causing a short, then a fire. If you have propane or natural gas, you could have a leak and get a fire. It's all a matter of what you're most comfortable with. There is no one size fits all.

''A new furnace is 10,000+ for an installation here any not even close to top of the line equipment''

We just installed a new heating and air system. For under $10,000 we got a full 16 SEER (just because a unit says 16 SEER most are not a full 16) 5 ton dual fuel heating and air system. The price included an additional cold air return, new vents including a new main vent. They also added 3 new registered in the addition. We had considered wood but we are not getting any younger.

I have been around wood or coal heat all my life. We heat our house with a Bryant forced air wood burner, no smell inside. No matter what you choose to heat with you will have a chance of a fire,electric = wiring, gas you still have a fire, wood you need to maintain a chiminy

Never had much of smokie smell problem some times if the wind is blowing hard might get some backdraft. There are many other thing to consider when burn wood.Some of them include cost of wood vs other fuels.If you have woods on site than you are pretty good shape .If you have a chainsaw that is good to ,also a truck helps trailers are good too .Tractor and skid steers make the job a lot faster .Than a splitting maul or gas log spliter to make bigger rounds in useable pieces .Ok now you have the equipment to cut ,split and move wood. You can also buy wood but the cost of wood vs other fuel seems to might not make since depending on your area ,also finding a dependable wood guy can be hard ,never pay up front (I have been waiting on a half a cord of wood for 10months that is paid for.
Now that you have your cut and split. You need storage for your wood . To get the best burn have your wood under a roof for 1 year .Tarps can work but a shed with open ends is the best . I use about 10 cords a year .A cord is 4x4x8 or 128cubic ft. So I need 1280 cubic ft of storage.I have enough for 6 or 7 cords so tarp some and move it in shed as season goes on.
Now I figure it takes 2x 40 hour week to fell,cut ,split ,haul and stack this much wood .This is just a guess but I figure a cord a day would be average in my hillside. I sure this could be done faster but I usually work alone and on a hillside . My home came with firewood shed that is a couple hundred feet from the house .So I spend a hour or 2 week bring wood up to the porch . Than I load the stove from there which has to be done every 3 to 6 hours .I also fill the water pan and adjust vents if needed. So if you put prices on your time than remember these things.

I almost believe it is something have grow up with .Both my dad and grandpa have burned wood as long as I remember .So I am 3rd generation grandpa is in his mid 80s so I might be carry on a very long tradition of wood burning. I think if you are just buying and burning wood you should at least know the difference between hardwoods and pine. It is helpful to know what trees burn good that grow in your area. Also know what seasoned wood looks or own a moister meter.One thing that most people don't know is all dry wood has the same btus per pound. I have never burned lots of it but have never had problems burning pine .One thing ask somebody if I am answering ad for wood is what size truck they hauling the wood if it is a normal half ton pickup than I don't brother asking any more questions.I sure you can haul a cord on half ton but most can not handle the weight . 3/4 ton can do it but remember 4x4x8 or 128 cubic ft.

I live in dense forest and I have 150 acres of woodlot. I could easily produce enough wood for a dozen families. But I dont. It is mostly wildlife habitat.

We buy our firewood.

There are people here who sell firewood as their only source of income. They have machines to cut trees and process them into firewood. They have trucks that haul 3 to 5 cords of firewood at a time. When someone can produce and deliver 5 cords every day, that economy of scale changes things for every one else.

We buy our firewood and it is the cheapest way for us to heat our home.



Our woodstove does not get hurt by creosote fires. We have them once or twice every year. Our house and stove are up to code, which makes a HUGE difference.

The difference between green wood and seasoned wood is tiny. The primary difference is the difficulty in getting it to burn. We burn both. If you want to expend the energy and time to dry your wood, go for it, have a ball. Otherwise, ehh. Whatever makes you happy.

Building a house that is up to code, is a huge difference. Never allow any combustible material within 3 foot of the hot components. Houses burn every year because some fool violated the code. Never allow a carpenter to put wood framing or struts, within 3 foot of the stovepipe or chimney.

Comply with building and fire codes, do what is legal and you will be fine.

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