Speaking of burning pine, does pine creosote/ash have a stronger more acrid smell, here I mean in the house hours afer the fire is out will an old pine fire smell stronger/worse that a mixed hardwood fire? I have burned a bit of pine this year, maybe 30%, and we are having trouble with a bad odor when the fire has been out for a while (hours/days). I had used the fireplace and a stove in the basement over the past 20 years and it is only recently that the smell has become troublesome. Yes, I have had the chimney swept, about once per 2 cords, that may be two years total lapsed time. In the past I burned little or no pine. I have a lot of pine trees, but just composted the wood that came down, until this year.

Yes it can be done, and generally works quite well. The basic vigilant design has been around for many years and is a good stove, the benefit to having one designed for coal burning is that, depending on which year it is (they changed the design slightly over the years) you will have the convienience of an ash pan and shaker grates which are nice to have no matter what you are burning. The reason Vermont castings cannot reccomend burning wood in it is simply because the USEPA since '88 requires wood stoves to obtain a certain level of emissions output and must be tested for this; vermont castings did not do this because it is not required of coal stoves and thus cannot make statements that might be in contrary of what is required of the company by law. So, as you see the reason burning wood is not mentioned is purely a regulatory technicality and not anthing that would negatively impact your woodburning experience. Now, having said that, if possible if it were me i would burn coal, it is a far superior fuel if it is available in your area, and if you don't cut your wood, is generally on a per btu basis less expensive than buying cordwood.

Replace it or risk starting a fire in house. You will need to change flue pipe as well.

I have a super awesome wood burning stove in my home, that we’re currently updating. Drywall is up - yay. I was wondering how I could update the stove, I was thinking of painting the brick or even switching out the stove for a new one but would also need to update the flute and im not sure how easy a task that is? im also wondering how i can design an entertainment center or tv on this blank wall. the opposite wall is a sliding door and to the right of the fire place is a large opening into the dining/formal living room. Any fire place update/room designs would be great!