Since we installed our fireplace insert this past spring, I have been eagerly awaiting the turn of the weather, aka Winter Is Coming. Finally, this week has seen chill mornings for NTX, and it has been nice to learn to use the insert.
The insert is an older model, think non-freestanding wood burning stove...that fits into your existing fireplace and seals it off. It came with a rather large, and clunky looking blower, to move cold air around the fire box, heating it, and blowing it back into the room. Blessedly, it is VERY quiet, yet puts out a fair bit of air.
Having subscribed to a couple wood burning forums, I did pick up a cool tip on how to keep the insert glass clean. If it gets smoked up/creosoted, you take a damp paper towel, dip it in cold ashes, and wipe the crud off the cold glass. Don't do it to warm/hot glass though. But it works like a charm! And is essentially free. I like free.
Since we split so much of our firewood sized for the old fireplace, which was huge, we need to re-cut a goodly amount of our existing woodpile to fit the insert. Today, as it was only a sunny calm 69degrees out, I decided to break out the chain saw and hydraulic splitter and get some work done.
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| A small pile pulled from the cord and re-cut. |
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| Cut logs, not really worth splitting. |
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| Stacking work for the Monkeys. I'm sure they will be thrilled! NOT! |
After around 2 hours, I had the above cut, and split. It did take awhile for the splitter to start up, but once it caught, it ran fine. I suppose it would be helpful to download an operations manual for the thing, right?
You will appreciate the wood heat once it gets colder! We use our wood stove a lot in the winter months.
ReplyDeleteNice work! My hubs will be so jealous of your splitter... do you have any recommendations as to a good but not overly pricey one?
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