Lot Wood
Is it okay to put lots of wood in a small woodstove in the house?
We have a small woodstove and my father put big chunks of wood inside of it, now it’s letting off alot of heat.
Is it okay to have the small woodstove stuffed with lots of wood?
Thanks!
When I was up in Maine, a wood stove was my only source of heat and I know the temptation to shoving all that wood in there when it’s really cold. I’ve also worked in HVAC and installed many flu pipes to code.
The first thing you’re going to want to do is check for flamables near the flue pipe if it is routed through your attic space like many of them are. This is the most likely place for a fire to start. Make sure the ceiling and roof is protected by at least 10-12 inches of metal flashing and there is no insulation around the pipe. When I first moved into my house in Maine, I found that the original owner installed the stove himself and didn’t take this into consideration. Very dangerous, especially if you’re stuffing that sucker full of wood. That flue pipe can well exceed 500 degrees F.
Using large chunks of wood isn’t a bad idea, so long as it’s only one or two pieces we’re talking about here. It will burn slower and longer, and keeping the main damper closed a little more will help prevent most of the heat loss up through the flue. I often did this before going to bed and still had hot coals burning in the morning.
Whether or not the wood is green or well seasoned can make a difference too. Green wood will not burn as hot and creates a lot more soot, which is another fire hazard. It could also be the reason why your father is throwing so much in there.
