We just installed a woodburning heater this year. Been using it for a couple of months along with 2 humidifiers. I don't know if it has anything to do with it or not but my sinuses are so dry they hurt and I have a slight headache all the time. Anyone else have this problem with wood heat?

I have that problem all winter every year. The wood heat is do dry it kills me. I use humidifiers...I also have two copper tea kettels on my wood stoved filled with water and eucalpitus oil. Makes the house smell good and seems to help with my sinuses.

we had to quit burning wood when my youngest was sick all the time...come to find out he was alergic to mold being brought in on the wood. His was all in the sinuses also

I grew up in a house with only wood heat. That's all my parents still have today. We have found the only way to keep the air moist enough is to keep a pot of water on the stove. Mom just uses an old cast iron pot but there are pretty things available.

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know what percentage the humidity level should be?

We have a pellet stove and have the same problem. But then it was really dry just using gas, too. That's just winter, I guess. We found that keeping a kettle going on the stove did mucn more than using a humidifier. When it gets to dry I get nose bleeds, but as long as I keep the kettle going I don't have that problem.

I know it doesnt sound fun, but I grew up with wood heat. Other than college its all I had until my hubby and I bought new house ALL ELECTRIC! :) I still have trouble. So a q-tip and a dab of vaseline at night and in the morning in each nostril will get you thru the bumpy times.

I am allergic to some of the hard woods and of course, we avoid those. We generally have a pot of water on the stove to give off moisture into the air.

Double post. grr

We have an outdoor furnace with ductwork, and even that I have problems. You wouldn't beleive that would make the air os dry but it does here. I have never used an humidifier but think I'm going to have to.

We have a pellet stove (which I love!) and use a humidifier. A contractor friend of my husband told him that if the humidity is over 60 mold will start to grow in the house. I think our humidistat is not working right though (it is almost 25 years old) because I keep our humidity at 65 or we have problems with our sinuses. I don't have any mold growing in my house.

I have a hydrometer and its showing about 32% which is supposed to be good but ideal is about 45%.....so I put 2 pots of water on top of the stove. I already had 2 humidifiers going.

That's the best thing to do.

Sorry I didnt mean to double post I really really am. It was an accident.

We use wood heat and have an insert in the fireplace. My DD is allergic to most of the wood we burn but the allergist made allergy drops specified to what she was allergic to and it doesn't bother her to be around wood heat anymore. The air does tend to get very dry faster than with other heat. I keep a big cast iron tea pot of water on top of the insert. I open the dishwasher and let the steam out instead of heat dry cycle. Moisture makes the air feel warmer. For anyone that has never used wood heat, do not burn pine logs in a stove or fireplace. Pine is used for kindling only.

We heated one of our past housed with wood and had problems with dry air all winter. I usually don't have a problem here, but this year I'm noticing the air is unusually dry. I'm breaking out the humidifier for my bedroom.

Am very sorry to read of your problem, have had a woodburner for 26 years as when we moved here there was no natural gas and LPG considered to wet/smelly/dangerous.
I have asthma and COPD but have never experienced any problems like you describe; we use well dried wood stored in airy wood sheds and always have ALL doors open throughout the house [except outer doors of course] which causes good air flow.
Are you using dry weathered wood that is not allowed to get wet in storage?

We have heated with L.P. gas and have for years and cooked with it for 45 Yr.s. It is only smelly if it leaks. They put an odorant in it to let you know it is leaking.

We have had a wood buring stove to make living area more comfortable for the last 25 yr.s and we keep a pot of water on top, and I think it helps. Dry wood is a must.