Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: brohnson on August 02, 2012, 07:19:15 PM

Title: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: brohnson on August 02, 2012, 07:19:15 PM
How big of wood do you throw in your boiler, if the fire door is 20x20 does that mean I can throw in a piece just that big or is it hard to burn those big pieces? Do you prefer big pieces or smaller diameter wood? Also if its zero degrees out and you fill your boiler how long will it last in hours before you need to fill it up again?
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: jerkash on August 03, 2012, 04:21:26 AM
I usually split my large pieces just a little.  It seems to burn a little better but they are still large pieces.  As far as burn time, there are numerous factors to this and everybodys situtation is different.
size of heater
size of house
outside temperature
kind of wood
how good house insulated
thermostat setting for house
using for hot water
and a million more factors
But you are on a good site for getting info
Good Luck!!
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: Bull on August 03, 2012, 04:37:00 AM
I split everything over 8 or so inches and I get a 12 hour burn but some on here get 24 hours. Like jerkash said it depends on different things.
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: tulenutn2o on August 03, 2012, 08:38:27 AM
Splits burn better, but I usually throw a big round in on top of splits to make sure fire keeps going when I am working long hours and can't get home.
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: AirForcePOL on August 03, 2012, 08:43:50 AM
Splits burn better, but I usually throw a big round in on top of splits to make sure fire keeps going when I am working long hours and can't get home.

Yeah the big logs will help a lot of it will be longer than normal until you can fill it. 

If I cut up a tree that is say about 2 feet in diameter I will usually split it up into about 6-8" diameter logs.  You don't want them too small because it will burn way too fast.  But on the other hand I like to keep plenty of 12" diameter logs handy to throw in there whole to get increased burn times.  You will get the hang of it after a while. 
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: johnybcold on August 03, 2012, 09:49:51 AM
Same here I split above 6-7" I think it dries and burns better plus there is no reason to break my back filling it, I usually have to fill/ top it off in the morning before work and one before bed But I am still a noob and probably play with the fire too much
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: AirForcePOL on August 03, 2012, 09:54:11 AM
Same here I split above 6-7" I think it dries and burns better plus there is no reason to break my back filling it, I usually have to fill/ top it off in the morning before work and one before bed But I am still a noob and probably play with the fire too much

Yeah same here last winter was my first.  I find myself going outside just to "check" on the fire and my old lady comes out 2 hours later to see what the hell I'm doing LOL
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: Bull on August 04, 2012, 07:01:02 AM
LOL @ Airforce
Title: Re: Size of Wood and burn time?
Post by: MattyNH on August 04, 2012, 09:03:19 AM
 My firewood is 24 inches long..Far as splitting it.. 12 inches  and larger I def split..sometimes I split some 6 or 8 just to have some smaller pieces..Kinda mix it up..