I know how to clean Blaze King glass

[johnstra]

But I don't recommend it...

I reloaded my BKK Ultra full today and dialed the t-stat back to just under 1. Everything looked perfect: no flames, cat glowing, a bit of glow to the cooking wood. I kept tabs on it and it ran this way for about an hour. The stove is still new to me, so I'm paying attention to each load. Well, I had to run some errands so I left for a couple of hours. When I got back, the house was 90* and a great deal of that huge load of wood had burned. The center of fire was a bright, hot bed of coals. I turned the t-stat almost all the way counter-clockwise and the coal bed cooled quickly. Within a few minutes the fire looked like it should with just a bit of glow to the coals. Oh, and my dirty glass had nothing but a bit of fine white ash on it.

There was no obvious damage to the stove or chimney. I can't see any evidence of warped metal and everything appears tightly sealed and operational. I still have the same load slowly cooking 5 hours later. But instead of lasting 24+ hours it will end up going maybe 12.

My theory is hyper-draft caused by high winds. We had strong northerly winds all day, gusting into the mid-30 MPH range. I've never experienced runaway draft like this before, but this is a new stove and a new 8" chimney in a new to me house. I did a quick dollar-bill test to check for obvious leaks and it seems fine - a bit loose just above the lower hinge but not bad.

So what do you guys think? The stove appears to function exactly as advertised with the exception of this event. Was it the wind? Do the high-wind caps really help?

Thanks,
-john

 

[jeff_t]

Mine pulls a little harder in high winds, but it isn't uncontrollable. Every setup is different. You learn as you go.

Did the wind pick up while you were gone?

At 1, the thermostat my stove is completely closed. Turning it more doesn't do anything. Maybe take the cover off and watch it as you turn the dial. The flapper does hit the cover when opened all the way, but I've never had it stick like some princess owners have.

 

[johnstra]

I took the cover off. On mine, the flapper is not closed at 1... it has to go to about where a .5 would be on the dial.

 

[rdust]

I took the cover off. On mine, the flapper is not closed at 1... it has to go to about where a .5 would be on the dial.

Is that a stone cold stove or a hot stove?

A few stoves in the past have had the T-stat wound backwards, did you check yours? When the stove is stone cold you should hear/see(if the cover is off) the flapper close at say "1" as the stove warms up that flapper will close at a higher setting say 1 3/4. If the opposite happens it's wound backwards.

Thread can be found here. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/blaze-king-thermostat-faulty.48603/

 

[johnstra]

Hot.

Thanks for the link. I'll test to see if mine is reverse wound.

 

[rdust]

Hot.

Thanks for the link. I'll test to see if mine is reverse wound.

Where does it close cold?

 

[johnstra]

yep... my thermostat is wound backwards. When the stove is cold, the flapper closes at 1 on the dial. When hot, the dial has to be turned way below 1 before it closes.

is replacing the entire thermostat unit the only fix or has anyone tried re-winding the coil?

 

[rdust]

yep... my thermostat is wound backwards. When the stove is cold, the flapper closes at 1 on the dial. When hot, the dial has to be turned way below 1 before it closes.

is replacing the entire thermostat unit the only fix or has anyone tried re-winding the coil?

Haven't read about anyone rewinding it. Seems easier just to have them send you out a new one. Just think how good it'll work once it's got the right T-stat in it.

 

[Highbeam]

I can't believe that this is still happening. By now I would have expected that the guy winding these things backwards would have had his bell rung. Perhaps they should refine the coil design to make it more obvious which way to install it since this is a recurring issue with a long and now embarrassing history.

 

[johnstra]

The stove I bought was a floor model and even though it's never been used it was built in 2008. I talked to Chris from Blaze King. I pulled the t-stat and hit the coil with a propane torch while he was on the phone and reported to him that the flapper opens when the coil is heated. He acted surprised (I don't think he realized my stove was 2008 vintage) and he's shipping me a new t-stat. Hopefully their current product line has this sorted out.

 

[Highbeam]

The stove I bought was a floor model and even though it's never been used it was built in 2008. I talked to Chris from Blaze King. I pulled the t-stat and hit the coil with a propane torch while he was on the phone and reported to him that the flapper opens when the coil is heated. He acted surprised (I don't think he realized my stove was 2008 vintage) and he's shipping me a new t-stat. Hopefully their current product line has this sorted out.

Phew. Your 6 year old stove has a 6 year old problem and not a mistake being repeated for 6 years. Good news that you talked to the man to get the problem verified and remedied pronto. Chris should not be nearly as surprised if he knew that the stove was of that vintage.

 

[Sprinter]

What a dangerous mistake. Was there a general recall?

 

[BKVP]

What did surprise me was any dealer had a 6 year old new stove. Once I learned it was 6 years old it was possible as we had 5 other units in that time frame with the same issue.

To be VERY clear, this is not a safety issue as ALL our units are tested during the safety test with the thermostat over ridden.

Thank you all for encouraging the consumer to contact us immediately.

Chris

Phew. Your 6 year old stove has a 6 year old problem and not a mistake being repeated for 6 years. Good news that you talked to the man to get the problem verified and remedied pronto. Chris should not be nearly as surprised if he knew that the stove was of that vintage.

 

[Oldhippie]

What's really cool is someone can come on this forum and get an immediate answer to such an obscure and difficult to identify issue if one had to figure this out on their own!

 

[johnstra]

Absolutely right, Oldhippie! This site is fantastic. Thanks to everyone who responded.

I don't know if there was ever a recall - I've never heard of one. Chris from BK called me back later yesterday to tell me he realized (based on the serial number) that my stove was built in 2008. He explained that the bi-metallic material they use in their coils (which comes in very long strips) is now stamped/marked on one side so it is clear which way to wind the material.

My replacement t-stat is supposed to arrive today. I'm very pleased with the level of service I got from Chris and BK.

 

[jeff_t]

It's good to have Chris here. He has been quite helpful. I have to believe hearth.com is good for sales

Didn't realize you had an older stove. I bought mine the same way, five years old out of the showroom. Mine must work okay though, as my wife built a fire Monday afternoon, and it is finally about out. It was pushing 80° in here last night. If you liked it before, you're gonna be amazed.