No way to monitor flue temps, is it necessary?

[Alexander L]

Some DVL double-wall connectors arrived, and I want to get this stove buttoned up and inspected.

I have a question about monitoring flue temps in double-wall connector pipe. I was looking at the Condar FlueGard probe thermometer, but my connection out the rear of the stove is too short of a distance to effectively use the FlueGard probe. Install details: Jotul F100 close to the wall, exiting out the rear flue. 8-3/8 inches from the tile on wall to heat shield on back of stove.

I confirmed with Condar that the FlueGard is not recommended, as the thermometer would be too close to the stove to accurately gauge target flue temps. Darn.

So... Is it a bad thing to not be able to monitor flue temps? I will be learning the stove, so any device that aids my learning process would be great.

Suppose I am limited to using something like a Condor Inferno stove to thermometer. Any tips?

Here is a pic of my Thimble connector... this part and the DVL stove collar adapter put me at 9.3 inches to combustibles. A pretty close to the wall install, but approved by manual and given the okay by jotul tech support. Just not enough flue pipe to use any sort of probe thermometer.

 

[Squisher]

Myself I would still use a probe thermometer in conjunction with a stovetop thermometer. It'll read hot obviously but you'd learn the 'zones' you're looking for. But no you don't need a thermometer, many people burn successful without one. You learn to read your fire, and check outside for smoke out the cap, monitor chimney accumulations, etc.

 

[Alexander L]

Thanks, Squisher. I might just use the probe and learn my target temps. Suppose it couldn't hurt.

 

[Squisher]

Many people are resistant t thermometers but myself I find them invaluable. I run an auberin at210 with a ring thermocouple affixed to single wall connecting pipe on my downstairs stove as well as various magnetic thermometers for stovetop and a IR gun too for checking/confirming things. With double wall pipe you are limited to a probe and myself I'd be getting a probe of some type in that section to monitor exhaust gases. If the proximity of the probe to the stove is considered to close because of the faces of the probe thermometers I'd look to using a probe thermocouple on a auberin unit or something similar were the 'readout' could be a safe distance away from overheating.

A lot of people don't/wouldn't like the look of the digital auberin readout, my wife doesn't. But for me this is a basement stove and another benefit is it wirelessly will transmit to a remote readout upstairs. Extremely convenient to keep an eye on things on another floor. But I had to fight like crazy to get 'permission' for the readout upstairs which is where we are for the most part.

 

[begreen]

The first instrument to use is your eyes. Use the gauges for verification. If I had to have only one thermometer it would be the flue probe thermometer. The stove top temp is good to avoid overfire, but can be misleading if used for judging when to turn down the air. There are too many variables between each fire to have a specific rule based on stove top temperature. Some days you may be turning down the air (guided by eyes and flue temp) at a 500F stove top and the next day with a different load of wood and say a drop in outdoor temps you might be needing to turn down the air with a 250F stove top.

 

[Dobish]

Extremely convenient to keep an eye on things on another floor. But I had to fight like crazy to get 'permission' for the readout upstairs which is where we are for the most part.
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that is why I went with teh AT100, and don't have the remote unit.... I only use mine to measure cat temps, but I want one for a flue alarm

 

[Squisher]

Like Begreen says. See and even hear and feel how your stove is running will become second nature, I've been heating with wood my whole life and I have for decades ran without thermometers but with a modern appliance and with the price of thermometers in relation tomstoves, chimneys, and personal safety. I would never go without some way of being able to monitor temps. All those thermometers are doing is confirming what I'm already seeing. But for me the interest in knowing the temps and the peace of mind of this confirmation is priceless. Where I really like thermometers for is formthe odd time there's an oops. Oops I left the air open to long and it got hot. Well how hot? Or I've let my fire burn down to low on the coals. What sort of heat is left in my stove/chimney? I know it's low but how low? And seeing the actual numbers I've found will help me decide how to proceed, if I can just reload or might be better off splitting a few pieces down and throwing a bit of firestarter in.

I'm a worrying nitpicky type of person though. So I revel in the details of the actual numbers/data. Others don't care or worry about it and may enjoy their fires more than me for all i know? Lol.

 

[Alexander L]

Flue probe and stove-top thermometer ordered. I nitpick, and overthink these things... that is why my install is taking so long! Just looking to keep things on the safe side. Appreciate all of the tips/advice!

 

[begreen]

I'm a worrying nitpicky type of person though. So I revel in the details of the actual numbers/data. Others don't care or worry about it and may enjoy their fires more than me for all i know? Lol.

I no longer worry about the fire, but I do like the data. It's educational.

 

[Dobish]

i like it more so when someone else is running the stove, they know what to look for. We have a few people that load our stove (inlaws, neighbors, nanny) so it is nice to have something for them to know what is going on.

 

[begreen]

i like it more so when someone else is running the stove, they know what to look for. We have a few people that load our stove (inlaws, neighbors, nanny) so it is nice to have something for them to know what is going on.

Good point. My son is less confident and watches the flue temp closely. My wife will only load a few splits at a time on a reload, so not an issue there.

 

[Dobish]

if i had another alarm on the flue, it would probably be going off every time my brother in law comes over... now i know that i just have to load the stove before he comes over

 

[Tegbert]

What would one use if they wanted to monitor flue temps on an insert with no easily removable shroud? Most digital probes I see say for single wall or double wall pipes but those are smooth and my liner is not.


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

 

[maple1]

I'm finding it kind of odd that anyone who is in the business of making and/or selling wood burning stuff, would recommend against a flue temp thermometer. Even if it is closer to the stove than they think is optimal.

 

[begreen]

What would one use if they wanted to monitor flue temps on an insert with no easily removable shroud? Most digital probes I see say for single wall or double wall pipes but those are smooth and my liner is not.


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

Good question and a bit of a dilemma that some have solved with digital surface reading probes.

 

[begreen]

I'm finding it kind of odd that anyone who is in the business of making and/or selling wood burning stuff, would recommend against a flue temp thermometer. Even if it is closer to the stove than they think is optimal.

What company does that?

 

[Tegbert]

Good question and a bit of a dilemma that some have solved with digital surface reading probes.

Would surface reading on a liner be just like single wall pipe that you would effectively double the stated temperature to get somewhat close to internal temps?


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

 

[Squisher]

What company does that?

I believe he's referring to condar and how in the original post they advised against using their flue probe thermometer so close to the stove.

 

[maple1]

I believe he's referring to condar and how in the original post they advised against using their flue probe thermometer so close to the stove.

Yes.

 

[begreen]

Would surface reading on a liner be just like single wall pipe that you would effectively double the stated temperature to get somewhat close to internal temps?

Yes, that would be a conservative method.

 

[HomeinPA]

What would one use if they wanted to monitor flue temps on an insert with no easily removable shroud? Most digital probes I see say for single wall or double wall pipes but those are smooth and my liner is not.


Lopi Rockport
Blaze King Ashford 25

I threw out the idea of a remote BBQ grill monitor that you can run the wire behind the surround to remote readout. I don't have one and have never seen this setup but it seems like it would work. Doesn't it??

 

[begreen]

It might, depends on its upper temperature limit.

 

[Alexander L]

Well, Condar said that I could use the flue probe thermometer to monitor temps, but that the marked zones for burn indication would be off... seeing as the probe was so close to the flue outlet. For that reason, he recommended against using it in my situation.

But yes, it would still give me an idea of the temps in the flue, which I could monitor and learn my target temps, as Squisher pointed out.

 

[HomeinPA]

I know hindsight is 20/20 but why did you put your thimble so low? Even with a rear exhaust stove you could have elbowed up and out. Now you're kinda stuck if you ever change stoves for some reason.

 

[BKVP]

These guys will have what you need! Call them. No, I'm not a share holder!

https://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=17