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[leolends]

Hello everyone, I am a newbie to the OWB world week 2 with my Heat Master 5000e and would appreciate your feed back on the following:

(a) When stacking wood what do you find to be the best way to get the best burn?
(b) When feeding the fire I always get some thick gray smoke for about 15 minutes after the newly added wood is added, is this common? am I doing something wrong?
(c)  When loading new wood, I crack the door and wait a little with hope to reduce the smoke flash but it seems to keep coming from the door, is this a draft issue which can be resolved by adding add'l stack pipe? I currently have about 3' of pipe.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Leo

[Brad]

I'm also a newbie but here's what I've been doing...  I have a Hardy stove but I would think the main premise is the same or close to it..

A) I cut into 24-30" chunks and just stack in rows that are 15 to 20' long and about 4' high.  I don't split and all the wood is between 6" to 12" round.  A lot it is green and it burns just fine.

B & C) Half the time when I open the door a ton of smoke come out..  I always open the bottom (Ash) door first to avoid a flash.  Then I open the main door and just let it air out for 30seconds or so so I can see what I got cookin' in there..  There is always some real nice coals in there so once the fan kicks on it lights right up.  I never clean out the ash box completely I just smooth it with a garden rake and make sure it's not touching the grates.  I let the ash build up on the sides as well.  I'm no pro I only know what's been working for me since I got the thing 4 weeks ago.  Last night we got down to 0F and I was very happy with the little wood I burned thru.  Living in Northern MN I'm sure by the end of this winter I will have a much better idea with what works and what doesn't.

[muffin]

Hello everyone, I am a newbie to the OWB world week 2 with my Heat Master 5000e and would appreciate your feed back on the following:

(a) When stacking wood what do you find to be the best way to get the best burn?
(b) When feeding the fire I always get some thick gray smoke for about 15 minutes after the newly added wood is added, is this common? am I doing something wrong?
(c)  When loading new wood, I crack the door and wait a little with hope to reduce the smoke flash but it seems to keep coming from the door, is this a draft issue which can be resolved by adding add'l stack pipe? I currently have about 3' of pipe.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Leo

I am not an expert, bu have seen a few posts on here.  Most stack the logs such that you are looking at the ends.  Otherwise you risk one rolling out.  Some have said they stack them the other way on warms days, but for cold, and most wood, ends facing the door.

Smoke when you add wood is normal.  Especially if it is green.  Mine smokes a bit until the water is dried out.  I would imagine bark also produces a bit of smoke.  Once it gets things going though, it should clear up.

I always crack the door a bit too, this is normal.  Nothing wrong with your draft.

[yoderheating]

 It doesn't matter how you stack the wood other than I would recommend you try and leave some air gaps between a few logs. This will allow air to get into the fire and will result in a cleaner burn.  Its is normal to have the furnace smoke a little more when you first load it. A lot of it is simply any moisture that may be in the wood.  I would not recommend additional stack on your e model furnace.  Additional stacks will put you at risk of having the furnace smolder while shut down resulting in more creosote build up in the top bypass. As Brad said just crack the ashpan door and allow the furnace to start to burn. Also open the main door just a crack as the door latch is designed to do. Once the fire is burning you are ready to load. Good luck!

[Pit Crew]

New owner here also, have been asked if I put any antifreeze in the water. Answer is no. Dont see much point unless I was shutting it down in the winter months, and why would I do that

[victor6deep]

I am still trying to figure the best and most efficient temp setting.