Cold weather is here, looks like time to start a fire

Scuba_Dave · 10-09-2009, 09:56 AM

In '06 we had the heat on by Oct 15th - my son was a baby then
'07 & '08 I didn't record when we turned the heat on
I have a lot of scrap to burn from construction
Plenty of cardboard to use to start fires from all the windows

My son was asking to start a fire yesterday - but it was sunny & warm
He likes the fire
Wife doesn't like that my chair has always been closest to the fire - both houses
So she wants her chair closest to the wood stove in the Great room

sdsester · 10-09-2009, 03:58 PM

Watch out burning the cardboard Dave. Firefighters hate hearing of such things! The resin fumes from the glues probably don't do you any good either.

And be firm! Until she splits and chops the wood or otherwise gathers the scraps, your chair stays closest to the fire! If you give in, she will want things like foot massages while she sits there near you!

Scuba_Dave · 10-09-2009, 06:30 PM

Its almost 74 in the main room,, 75 in the dining room
A temp gauge by the front window reads 70
Supposed to be back up to 65-70 tomorrow & sunny

Scuba_Dave · 10-12-2009, 08:45 PM

Cold weather all week, down to close to freezing last nite
So an early start to the heating season

TJ_in_IL · 10-12-2009, 09:42 PM

Tell me about it!
I have a golden rule in my house.... the heat doesn't go on until October 15th! I will run it once before then with the windows open when the wife isn't home to burn off the dust, but regular heating waits. It went on last Thursday. Record lows this past Saturday (27 deg).
We have been burning in the fireplace since the 1st.
And... I agree.... no cardboard! Great way to start a chimney fire. Been there, done that... see it every year.

Have fun, stay warm.

Scuba_Dave · 10-12-2009, 10:23 PM

Before I was "Married with Children" I never turned the heat over 50 until December
I lived alone & was never really home much
Soapstone Wood stove heated the whole house
I used to keep the 3 bedroom doors shut, rest of the house was all an open floor plan

TJ_in_IL · 10-13-2009, 12:10 AM

Ahh... the Good ol' days....

LeviDIY · 10-13-2009, 11:41 AM

My goal each year is Thanksgiving... live near Washington DC so I'm a bit further south than you guys. Since me and the GF/fiance moved in, she's forced me about first week in November... which I still think is good.. last couple weeks of October around here most of my other friend's heating bills are already heading northward.

47_47 · 10-13-2009, 12:13 PM

I turned mine on September 25 to 65°. We've had a low temperature in the high 30's at night and rain. The gas service charge is a flat rate in my area and is more than the actual fuel used to be comfortable at this time of the year.

I cannot understand why some people have their house at so low of a temperature that it's uncomfortable.

hyunelan2 · 10-13-2009, 12:28 PM

I have a fireplace in my new house that I haven't even lit yet. It's my first fireplace - woodburning with gas start. The house is 7 years old, and I have no idea how much this fireplace was used, or when the chimney was last swept - which is part of the reason I haven't lit it yet.

Scuba_Dave · 10-13-2009, 12:30 PM

Its over 65 in the house today
I'm home alone today & tomorrow - so not bothering with a fire during the day
I'll start one later before I pick my son up from "school"
I can't say as my house has ever been so cold as to be uncormfortable
The wife can be cold when its 74 in the house

TJ_in_IL · 10-13-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 47_47

I cannot understand why some people have their house at so low of a temperature that it's uncomfortable.

I can't say that the house is uncomfortably cold. Only warm when it needs to be. The only time it is uncomfortable is when the inlaws are in (not because they are there, but because they keep their house so warm you can walk around in shorts, and complain my house is too cold).
This morning my wife woke me up at 5AM (she gets up early for work, I don't), just to say "thank you" for our new furnace. She was dreading getting out of bed because of the cold, but the new furnace had kicked in and was actually warm when she got ready for work.

47_47 · 10-13-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ_in_IL

I can't say that the house is uncomfortably cold. Only warm when it needs to be. The only time it is uncomfortable is when the inlaws are in (not because they are there, but because they keep their house so warm you can walk around in shorts, and complain my house is too cold).

I turn mine down when the inlaws come over

Being comfortable is all relative. I don't walk around in shorts in the winter, nor do I have on my coat. My point is that some people I know worry just about the gas bill, not the overall cost.

sdsester · 10-13-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyunelan2

I have a fireplace in my new house that I haven't even lit yet. It's my first fireplace - woodburning with gas start. The house is 7 years old, and I have no idea how much this fireplace was used, or when the chimney was last swept - which is part of the reason I haven't lit it yet.

Or what was burned in it or might be nesting in the chimney? I would definitely have the chimney sweep out before you use it. Money well spent considering dreadful alternatives.

Scuba_Dave · 10-13-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyunelan2

I have a fireplace in my new house that I haven't even lit yet. It's my first fireplace - woodburning with gas start. The house is 7 years old, and I have no idea how much this fireplace was used, or when the chimney was last swept - which is part of the reason I haven't lit it yet.

I put my video camera down the chimney when we bought this house
Let me see the inside of the brick work
Mine has a large cap, comes off with wing nuts
With a powerful flashlight it was easy to see the chimney was in great shape
The top of the chimney was rebuilt before we bought the house