using soft wood for heat?

[vwboomer]

Safe?
So far I've mostly been using my wood burner for heat. There is no blower on the unit, rather it's in an enclosure that picks up radiated heat and draws it through 2 fans in the ducts. 1 fan feeds the kitchen, the other fan feeds the rest of the house - which means nothing really comes out of those vents. I go through about 15-20 pieces of wood per day, and the house stays between 65-72.

I've done some reading on wood burners and how to maximize effectiveness. Apparently it's bad to try to tune it down, better to let it run full bore as it's more efficient with less waste - let the bricks hold the heat and radiate it later. But the site said it's ok to use softwood when you don't want much heat during mild weather. This goes against pretty much everything I've ever heard. As kindling it might be ok, but to burn full pieces of it, anyone have experience? There is no chimney liner, though it's generally in pretty good shape - a couple cracked tiles near the top of the chimney but for 1 piece that fell out at some point it's solid. I swept it friday...not as much fun as you  might think!

I can sweep the chimney but not the pipe that goes thru the heat exchanger (or whatever) to the chimney which is what I'm more worried about - though since it's very hot there I would assume less creosote buildup. Last thing I need is a chimney fire while I'm trying to save money - I can get a cord of oak/elm/ash cut/split/delivered for 125. I don't know how long a cord lasts. if it's two months I figure I'm saving money vs using the furnace (which is a Carrier Infinity high eff).

I love the idea of using wood vs gas as long as it's saving me money and is safe. I reckon the burner is in for an overhaul within a year or two - the hole that feeds the heat exchange box is pretty rusted and I'll have to keep an eye for leaks. It probly hasn't been used since 1996 when the furnace was installed.

[the_Journeyman]

Soft wood = Pine?  I've always been told:  Use it very very sparingly, as in only for kindling because of the sap.  Despite running a hot fire all the time, I still have a decent amount of creosote buildup when I go to clean.  Some is even turned into a glass-like material on the brick right above the stove.  The softest I burn is Poplar.  15-20 pieces is a lot, depending ou ho large your house.  I run my woodstove full bore (vents completely open) unless it gets above 75 at the hallway thermostat and use 8-10 pieces per 24 hours with a temp around 72 most of the time.  My house a simple 3-bed ranch with a standard layout.  The bedrooms are a little cooler (65-70) but a good comforter makes that irrelevant ~

JM

[vwboomer]

How often do you clean the chimney?
I think I'll actually use less wood now. I think if I just feed it 3x per 24 hours that should be good and keep it at a comfortable level. I'm burning wood that I took from downed trees right now so the pieces are irregular splits - some have  apretty narrow cross section. When I start using the wood I bought, I'll keep a tally on how much I use, and how long it lasts.

I would love to have a newer forced draft burner with a real live blower and upstairs thermostat, but kinda pricey if I'm actually buying the wood too. Hopefully my two squirrel cage fans in the ducts aren't costing me a fortune to run.

[TiNi]

hard wood is better imo 

[the_Journeyman]

I clean it ever fall before I start using the stove.  I can't really describe the side wood pieces I use, it's just the size you normally see in the back of trucks with "wood  for sale" though.  I also keep some locust around.  It WILL run you out of the room with heat ~

JM

[the_Journeyman]

hard wood is better imo 

My fiancée tells me the same thing 

JM

[KnightofNi]

hard wood is better imo 

*giggle*

[TiNi]

i'm sorry for my immaturity 
carry on

[DesmoDiva]

no reason to be sorry.   

It is refressing on a slow monday afternoon.

[vwboomer]

hell that's about the first train of thought I'd have if it wasn't my thread