Unbelievable wood consumption.

Marley5 · Apr 1, 2018

Thought I'd share a BIG no no regarding wood placement in our stoves.
Was in Walmart today and the usual, saw an old friend.

I asked him how he liked his OWB and his reply was " it Sucks " and he buys 24 cords of logs per year and for the last 4 years.
I have the exact same stove and heat more sq. Footage on 7 cords per year.

He asked me to come over and take a look at it so i did.
What i find is mind blowing......the guy throws all his wood in the very back of boiler at the chimney.
He said he always did this since scorching his eyebrows, oh boy.
Plus he mentioned his stove pipe stays lit up orange

.

Well i educated him and laughed all the way home.
His wife called mine and said they can already tell a difference.

ChoppyChoppy · Apr 1, 2018

What does it matter if the firebox is sealed and air flow can be dampened?

chucker · Apr 1, 2018

? wonder if he kept the ash auger clean out door closed when not cleaning it out? otherwise, loading the wood burner to the back with nothing in the front and closed down could open a rocket stove affect! straight up and out the flue/chimney heating the flue to a melting point/excessive wood consumption......

Marley5 · Apr 1, 2018

ValleyFirewood said:
What does it matter if the firebox is sealed and air flow can be dampened?

As soon as you add air flow, the heat goes straight up the chimney.
Wood loaded just inside the door heats the water much more efficiently because of surface contact before exiting.

Marley5 · Apr 1, 2018

Just to Add....these are fairly large wood boilers with a baffle, chimney is behind baffle.
You actually have to throw the wood to reach the back, exactly what he was doing.

Cody · Apr 1, 2018

I can regulate my Drolet Myriad much the same. On warmer days like today, I load pieces east/west in the back of the stove away from the door, leave the air open and bypass open. Sure I'm wasting wood to an extent, and yes I have to tend to it more as I usually just add a piece in the back as necessary and keep the coals in the back as well. It allows me to still enjoy a fire, and not have to restart one by letting it go out. I'd say at least half the heat goes out the chimney, but no big deal unless I was short on wood.