Thank-You Smokey!

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Well folks...burning season has officially ended for my family and our Hardy H2. Today I let the last of the coals burn down to the grates then I went down into the basement and flipped the main power switch...thus putting the final touches on a successful year with the Hardy. Running your OWB in the spring and fall brings many challenges as you find yourself messing with the fire, trying to keep it from going out. This spring NE Ohio has had some 80 degree days and my Hardy would go over 24 hours without needing to stoke the firebox. If the OWB sets that long without stoking the firebox the coals will peter out forcing you to shove in the newspaper and try to fire it back up.
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So I usually keep my OWB's temperature up until around Easter and then I pick a good day to shut it down. Today seemed like that day. The weather still gets chilly at night but now I will switch over to propane for heat until the temperatures finally raise. I decided to keep my propane tank at my house as a backup plan in case I run out of wood or the Hardy fails on me. The propane company requires me to burn at least $300 worth of gas a year or they will charge me $300 in "tank rent." So...if I want to keep my back up plan in tact I have to pay the "Man" his hush money.
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When I first installed the Hardy H2 in 2006 my daughters named our silver friend,"Smokey," because...Duh...it tends to emit smoke. Anyhow the name has stuck and any reference to the Hardy H2 is simply by its given name. So today we all said a big "Thank-you Smokey" to our trusted friend who keeps our house warm without complaint. Now that Smokey gets to take the summer off, I have to get busy with the wood game, and making sure there is enough wood to get us through next burning season. For me, this is when the fun begins. Thanks Smokey!
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OWB