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you don't give up on your oven just because it will freeze the bits off a brass monkey .
Here are a few tips from the ''Valley '' where it's a balmy -13c ..nothing compared to the -30c we will get in january.
First, if you have not fired up for a week it is going to be cold in the oven . To avoid thermal shock on the ceramic refractories you need a warm up fire .
I build a small fire [ 3 pc.s of wood ] and let it burn for 45 mins or until the inside row2 bricks feel warmish.
A thing to note is that when air gets cold it compresses , this means that the air entering your oven has a higher percentage of oxygen than in warm weather . You now have a balancing act , the fire will burn hotter , but at the same time you have more cold air lowering your temperature gain.
In cold weather I will place one brick against either side of the door reducing the opening . You don't need as much combustion air as it is ''richer'' .
In really cold weather I will stand a brick on the entry floor directly in front of the door but leaving a 4-5 inch space . As this brick warms up [and will it ever ] the incoming air hitting it will be ameliorated and baffled down a bit. I will also drag hot coals to the front of the oven to warm up the incoming air entering low in the oven .
I draw the line at about -25c .. too hard on the cook .. freezing in back and roasting in front ..
Hey in one month the days start getting longer!
Here are a few tips from the ''Valley '' where it's a balmy -13c ..nothing compared to the -30c we will get in january.
First, if you have not fired up for a week it is going to be cold in the oven . To avoid thermal shock on the ceramic refractories you need a warm up fire .
I build a small fire [ 3 pc.s of wood ] and let it burn for 45 mins or until the inside row2 bricks feel warmish.
A thing to note is that when air gets cold it compresses , this means that the air entering your oven has a higher percentage of oxygen than in warm weather . You now have a balancing act , the fire will burn hotter , but at the same time you have more cold air lowering your temperature gain.
In cold weather I will place one brick against either side of the door reducing the opening . You don't need as much combustion air as it is ''richer'' .
In really cold weather I will stand a brick on the entry floor directly in front of the door but leaving a 4-5 inch space . As this brick warms up [and will it ever ] the incoming air hitting it will be ameliorated and baffled down a bit. I will also drag hot coals to the front of the oven to warm up the incoming air entering low in the oven .
I draw the line at about -25c .. too hard on the cook .. freezing in back and roasting in front ..
Hey in one month the days start getting longer!
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