Hi. I'm new to this forum. I have a question that I am rather puzzled about. I have a Summers Heat 50snc-30 stove.The stove burns great,puts out good heat,but the problem is that the coals will not burn down to ash.I have to take coals out every other day just to be able to put more wood in. I am using two year old ash and hard maple at ten percent moisture.Why will the coals not burn down to ash?
Summers Heat 50snc-30 .Too many coals
- Thread starter youngs
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
myzamboni
Minister of Fire
corey21
Minister of Fire
Assuming the coals you are talking about are in the back of the stove after a long burn. If you have the primary air turned down really low for a long burn then most of the air you are pulling into the stove is through the secondary air tubes. After the wood burns down to where the only part left is in the very back of that very deep firebox that secondary air is being drawn out and up the chimney instead of down toward the coals in the back. What little that is coming out of the little inlet in the front center of the stove isn't strong enough to make the trip all the way to the back to burn the coals down. Draft is decreasing as the stove and chimney temp decrease.
Drag the coals up across the front and open the primary air all the way to burn them down. On future burns don't close the primary air control all the way for long burns. Leave it open an inch or two.
Drag the coals up across the front and open the primary air all the way to burn them down. On future burns don't close the primary air control all the way for long burns. Leave it open an inch or two.
Do like BB said and drag them to the front and set one small split E/W across the coals. Leave air wide open. This will give you good heat, while burning the coals down.
You would be surprised by the heat and time you get out of doing this. Dont have to have a raging fire to.produce good heat.
What temp are reloading at? (Stove top temp?) Are you burning in cycles? Or are you throwing in a piece here and there as it will fit?
You would be surprised by the heat and time you get out of doing this. Dont have to have a raging fire to.produce good heat.
What temp are reloading at? (Stove top temp?) Are you burning in cycles? Or are you throwing in a piece here and there as it will fit?
Because of my work schedule I tend to fill the stove for long burns.So I dont necessarily wait until the stove drops to a certain temperature. When I burn like this the coals are evenly distrubuted front to back.
Coaling in EPA stoves is both a blessing and a curse. Trying use one 24/7 when you are gone 1/2 the day only complicates issues. I can identify with not having the time to stand around and baby sit the stove. I had the same issues and questions with my first EPA stove. With time you will learn how to better deal with the coaling and make it work for your schedule.
youngs said:
Mine too. I take my rake and push all the ashes and coals about 1/4 of the way back into the stove, then pull just the coals forward to fill the void in the front of the stove.
Also, it may seem silly but try putting a bit less wood in. I've found that loading the thing to the gills doesn't necessarily gain me much over a 3/4 loaded stove.
Do you use the blower? If so, perhaps try turning the blower up a bit and leaving the air control more open (as others have suggested). The blower will help keep stove top temps down while you are supplying the extra air.
BTW, do you have any thermometers on the unit? If so, what sort of temps are you seeing on your stove top when burning as you normally do when getting excessive coaling? (If the blower is going, a surface thermometer won't give you true readings)
pen
- Status
Similar threads
