Leaving a fire going isn't normally a big problem. After all, it works fine when you're there, right? Your biggest concern with burning wood is clean burning. If creosote builds up it can start a chimney fire and if you're not there, would probably spread to the building. Also, of course woods that aren't dry, full of sap and the like will "spit" embers if it's exposed and could set the floors on fire.

This is just a start. I'd highly recommend doing some research on various sources to get the best recommendations for fire safety applicable to your circumstances. They type of wood you use, type of stove, and more variables will make a difference in the concerns you would have.

Don't be afraid of fire. Fire=good. Out of control fire=bad. Common sense and respect for fire=priceless.

I don't know the answer to this either but we use our fireplace all the time when it is this cold.....and I leave it burning when I leave the house....It has the glass window on it so logs can't roll out etc.....Stacy

Cynic, is it true that old wood (even old, somewhat wet wood) is relatively free of creosote? That describes the wood I'm using now. It was cut years ago, but some of it has been exposed to the elements and feels heavy. Those pieces don't burn particularly well, so I've been adding the occasional piece of very old, very dry wood.

I had the chimney inspected two years ago, but didn't start up the stove until this winter. I'll have it inspected again in spring.

One of my best friends' log cabin burned down this past weekend while the occupants were out for a while. My friend wasn't there at the time, and I don't know the cause. Two dogs died in the fire.

Just a note that IF a home burns down, it's better happening when no one is home then when the family is home and sleeping.

Funny, we burned wood in stoves in two rooms and had an oil burner in a third room, when I was growing up and they went 24x7. We wouldn't have had any heat otherwise.

Still, even growing up with that sort of heating, I'm still very cautious. I've had a home burn (not from a wood stove - from a propane water heater) and I've had a chimney fire. Neither was pleasant.

I meant to mention that I've experienced a dryer fire and a dishwasher fire. (Proof that no one should go to bed with either of these running.)

We use our all winter here in MA when we're not home. DH does clean the chimney in the spring and fall. We only burn dry wood and not pine.

We had a firebox around the base of the wood stove.
Night we would "bank" the ashes on the fire, and next day remove the ashes add more wood and coal and bingo!

Because we "banked" at night the stove would keep the room nice and cozy all day long while we worked.

Someone asked that questio, maybe it was you, not too long ago, and that is what I basically said before.

We burned coal and wood in ours.

cant tell you saftey parameters per say. ive lived in houses with woodstoves my whole life. most saftey issues are from how a woodstove is installed and the operater! we had to learn i guess around age 8 what to do and what not to do. lol can ya tell im from a woodstove heat only family? or saftey my dad DRILLED it into our heads that you always check the chimmney because creasote builds up incredibly fast depending on how hot or slow youre burning the stove. when i got my first home and had a wood stove he said to take the poker hit the sides lightly and if you hear stuff falling clean it asap! thats build up. also we has masonite behind the stove so the wall wouldnt get hot and a masonite platform with a sort of tin like covering underneath the stove. yes wood spats especially if green or sappy, but it can also spat if its really seasoned to..and yes ive had holes burnt in carpet but ive always kept water by the stove for that reason alone. so i guess to answer youre question yes the woodstove was always burning whether we were there or not. my parents have an outdoor one now, best investment they ever made. wood heat i wouldnt trade for anything in the world..and its always there if your electric goes out and you can cook on it. i guess its all according to how you use them, like anything else..safely. my nana would burn hers so hot the pipe would be cherry red ( i wouldnt recommend that though) but 70 years in the same house and she never had a chimmney fire. as for the wood thats old but wet and heavy.sounds like it was dead and its waterlogged. also just a tidbit i learned not to long ago...elm in a fire or woodstove is best using maybe 1 or 2 tiny pieces because its like throwing gasoline on a fire..never knew that. hope this helps a little..commen sense basically, but hey its great to ask questions means youre being safe.

We just installed a Jotul freestanding wood stove in the area that had a fireplace. Heck of a mess tearing out the old fireplace, but the masonry behind it is incredible!! Put up slate tiles and now DH is happy in his "den". He loves wood burning stoves. I don't like leaving a stove burning, but I doubt that this one will cause any harm unless someone leaves the door open. Our mostly bitter cold weather is behind us. This stove helps heat up the whole house and takes the chill off the basement and makes it a place we can spend time in the evenings.

always let it burn 24/7

Big difference between electrical fires and wood stoves/furnaces

Hi susan,

We heated with wood when we lived in CT. Yes, we left the stove going while we were out. If your stove was installed correctly, is in safe working order and you keep all combustables a safe distance away, you should be fine. Creosote forms on the inner liner of the chimney when you burn wet or soft wood, like pine or, if you burn a slow, cooler fire. You said your chimney was inspected two years ago but you did not use it until this winter, sounds like you started with a clean chimney, you should be fine. By combustables I mean kindling, paper and any supply of wood you may keep inside. Keep the area clean, never use anything but a metal ash can. Before you leave the house or go to bed, close down the dampers, restricting air to the fire, slowing down the burn rate. The trick is to keep the dampers open enough so the fire does not go out. Have your chimney cleaned once a year, burn only hard wood that is seasoned at least a year, use a metal ash can, keep your stove area clean.

Now that we live in MA we have no wood stove. I sure miss it coz it's cold, cold, cold here today. Enjoy!

sooey

Ours burns round the clock. If it didn't, our heating bill would be astromonical. DH checks the chimney if we get too much smoke. The dog's favorite napping spot is right beside the stove.

Lot of good pointers. One other thing ABC fire extinguishers all over. But you should have that in any house actually.

Cynic, is it true that old wood (even old, somewhat wet wood) is relatively free of creosote? That describes the wood I'm using now. It was cut years ago, but some of it has been exposed to the elements and feels heavy. Those pieces don't burn particularly well, so I've been adding the occasional piece of very old, very dry wood.

As said creosote comes out of all wood, it's the conditions that cause it to build up. Hotter fires and a hot chimney lessen the buildup. A hot fire maintained continually is better than a fire that smolders out, plus you have heat loss issues with fires going out. It's complicated since there's so many variables. I hope I'm making some sense.

Dry wood by it's nature, should burn. Being heavy tells me one of 3 things: a) It's hardwood; b) It's wet; or 3) A combination of a & b. It could be it's hard to get it started to burn but once going it'll burn. If it's still wet or damp, it should not be burned, at least not much of it because it's wet wood. How was it stored? Was there sufficient ventilation to dry it?

Here is a link that might be useful: Some good creosote info