Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: automan77 on December 13, 2013, 05:44:18 AM

Title: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 13, 2013, 05:44:18 AM
Sure am happy with my  Ridgewood 6000 so far how about everyone else that has one.   My house has never been so warm . And my wife is very happy.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: chillyhiker on December 13, 2013, 07:12:39 AM
I second that...I love mine but still learning.. fire has never went out...only concern ive had is the ash builds up a lot faster than I thought it would and its kinda chunky so it might be me overloading it and not letting it burn down enough???  not sure. but its keeping my 100 yr old home at 74 and my 24x30 two story uninsulated pole barn at 50....which was really nice when it was 8 degrees out yesterday and I jump in the truck to go to work.and i forgot to mention the unlimited very hot water....wife love that. Only down side ive found is i need to get a humidifer inside the house lots of static electricity if you know what I mean. :o
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 13, 2013, 08:31:29 AM
Oh ya I have a humidifer running every winter. 
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 13, 2013, 08:35:19 AM
I pull all the coals to the front when I get home from work and let them  burn down a while before I load it again.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: chillyhiker on December 13, 2013, 08:53:40 AM
hmmm...Ill try that I pull them forward and then throw the wood on top..
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: Scott7m on December 13, 2013, 02:31:40 PM
Stir stir stir

wood type can make huge differences in the type of ash and amount produce
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: Chas on December 15, 2013, 06:06:40 PM
Hey automan.... been awhile.  Mine is also working great. The house and shop are warm and the dhw is hot. Through word of mouth I have gotten Craig two more sales, and they are both happy with theirs.  I started cutting next years wood last weekend.... i've got dying ash trees everywhere.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 15, 2013, 06:42:41 PM
Ya I'm glad I made the investment.  Nice having even heat thru out my house. Beats the hell out of my free standing wood stove.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: merrellroofing on December 15, 2013, 07:37:48 PM
How many sq.ft. Are you guys heating with the 6000? And what part of the country?
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 16, 2013, 02:30:00 AM
I'm in Southeast Mi  and I'm heating a 1,680 sf Ranch with a unfinished basement.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: Chas on December 16, 2013, 11:28:22 AM
I'm heating 1500 sq ft ranch and finished basement, and 24'x24' shop. Central Michigan.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 16, 2013, 11:58:39 AM
I'm gonna hook up my 24x24 pole barn next summer. its only 30 feet from my stove so it should be no problem. 
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: free heat on December 16, 2013, 02:56:07 PM
Also very satisfied with mine 2800 sq ft central Wisconsin. Only little problem I have is my stove door drips moisture in the bottom left corner of the loading door on occasion. And my wood is 3 years seasoned. Anybody that doesn't consider this stove when purchasing is crazy. It's a workhorse and the burn times are great 12-14 hours even with below zero temps.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: Speed on December 16, 2013, 08:31:08 PM
Chillyhiker, stir those coals like the others said. Burn 'em down, pull 'em forward, then load. That should help immensely.

Free heat, there's got to be some moisture in that wood some where. I notice I get that drip (mines out the draft door) when burning fresh cut dead ash. The dead ash that had been piled since July has no drip. That's the only thing I can point to, gotta be some moisture somewhere in it.

As for my 6000, 1600sq.ft. two story farm house ( kinda drafty)at 74°, 24x30 garage at 50°, 70° when I'm in it, and dhw(5 people). I think I'm getting it perfected. My wood is cut @ 22" this year vs. 18" last year. Getting 24 hrs on a load of white ash at single digits night time, teens to twenty day time lately. Scott, you're right down the road, you know what we've had lately. Sitting here right now at 0° being nice and toasty. My only regret is that I didn't buy one years ago instead of screwing around with a corn burner for 7yrs.
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: automan77 on December 17, 2013, 05:46:43 AM
Ya its been down right cold and my house is perfect inside. ya I'm getting better results stirring the coals up and pulling all foward and burning them down before I load. been getting 16 to 17 hours between loads. 
Title: Re: Ridgewood Stoves
Post by: chillyhiker on December 17, 2013, 08:02:35 AM
Well this weekend i let it burn down to just some coals and shoveled it out ..most of it anyway...and will try the advice given here. My burn times have been good 12 hrs no problen it was the ash/chunks build up that bothered me. burning mostly seasoned maple and white oak occassional tire or two.... :o just kidding...chilly