VC Encore Maintenance

nctacoma · May 8, 2012

Hello,

A few months ago we purchased a house in Vermont and the house came with a Vermont Castings Encore woodstove. We used up the remaining firewood that the previous owner left us. I had split some wood as soon as we moved in and about once or twice a week we have been using the stove to take the chill out of the house at night.

I know that our wood that we are now using is extremely wet. I have been trying to get the fire going with framing lumber scraps from work and then adding the newly split(about 2 months ago at this point) wood. The fire never really seems to get going anymore and I am assuming it is just because the wood is not dry enough. This is with the catalytic lever not engaged and with the air valve all the way open. The only way that I can get it going is if I crack the door to the ash pan open as well and this seems to let enough air in to get the stove firing.

So my question is, before this stove goes into full time use next winter, could there be something wrong with this stove that needs to be addressed or are there common maintenance items that I should perform that might have not been done before and will help the performance of this stove?

Thanks

Iembalm4aLiving · May 8, 2012

I think you correctly figured out that the wet wood is the problem. Most woods need a year or so after being split and stacked to be dry enough to burn well.

BrowningBAR · May 8, 2012

nctacoma said:
The fire never really seems to get going anymore and I am assuming it is just because the wood is not dry enough. This is with the catalytic lever not engaged and with the air valve all the way open. The only way that I can get it going is if I crack the door to the ash pan open as well and this seems to let enough air in to get the stove firing.

This is a fuel issue. Your wood is very wet. Also, do not use the ash pan door as a source of added air. You will warp and crack the ash grate and potentially other parts of the firebox, like the fireback.

So my question is, before this stove goes into full time use next winter, could there be something wrong with this stove that needs to be addressed or are there common maintenance items that I should perform that might have not been done before and will help the performance of this stove?

At this point, you might also have a clogged chimney due to the poor fuel. Get your chimney swept and your wood situation sorted out now (and I mean right now) so you will have dry wood this coming winter.

TIM RUTMAN · May 8, 2012

When I start a fire I crack open the ash pan. Just to get it going. I think that is safe to do. Leaving the ash pan open may cause over firing and damage the stove but not damping it off at times can do the same.
I agree with cleaning your chimney and just hold off on burning any wood that is not seasoned well.

jimbom · May 8, 2012

I have one winter burning that stove. I think you will love your Encore. Two part answer:
- Dry wood is a necessity. Moisture meters are excellent and the inexpensive ones work fine for firewood.
- Maintenance. Clean your flue and the cap. Make sure the oval to round connector is well mated and sealed to the stove collar. Make sure your draft is strong.
- Get the cat out and clean it up. While you are there, stick your phone in the refractory openings and take a few pictures to see how clean things are. Try not to touch the refractory if possible. If you do have to remove it, be super careful.

I got my stove used also. I believe the original owners never really got it working for lack of good draft. The stove pipe was poorly assembled without stove cement greatly reducing draft. Their chimney exit was too close to meet the 10' - 2' rule and was poorly located for the prevailing wind. Since you did not do the original install, it may not meet the requirements of the manual. If you don't have your manual, it is available on line.

Search this site for Browning BAR. He has a lot of good information about these stoves in his posts. Edit - he beat me to it.

BrowningBAR · May 8, 2012

TIM RUTMAN said:
When I start a fire I crack open the ash pan. Just to get it going. I think that is safe to do. Leaving the ash pan open may cause over firing and damage the stove but not damping it off at times can do the same.
I agree with cleaning your chimney and just hold off on burning any wood that is not seasoned well.

In my searching for used VC stoves, and I have looked at dozens, there are many, many Encores with warped ash pan grates and firebacks due to the owners using the ash pan door to boost the fire. I'm not saying you should stop, as we all have our comfort zones, but I have seen enough to know it is not worth the hassle when it comes to dealing with VC replacement parts..

TIM RUTMAN · May 8, 2012

Do you think I can damage my stove if I just open the pan to get a new fire started as long as the temp doesn't go like above 700? I bought my stove new and I would rather not damage it.

Armoured · May 8, 2012

Since you bought the house, have you had the chimney/flue swept or inspected? Even if the seller told you it was done 'recently', worth doing again - you may not know what his/her recently was.

BrowningBAR · May 8, 2012

TIM RUTMAN said:
Do you think I can damage my stove if I just open the pan to get a new fire started as long as the temp doesn't go like above 700? I bought my stove new and I would rather not damage it.

You can damage your stove this way. It has little to do with surface temps and more to do with how hot you are making the firebox. Cracking the ash pan door acts like a blast furnace. It gets small areas of the firebox super hot, very quickly. Is it a guarantee you will damage the stove? No. But, I've seen enough damage and priced out enough parts to decide it is not worth it to operate the stove in this manner. I crack the right side door open on the Encore and Defiant when I start up the stoves. This works well for me and I have never needed an additional boost to get the fire going.

BrowningBAR · May 8, 2012

Armoured said:
Since you bought the house, have you had the chimney/flue swept or inspected? Even if the seller told you it was done 'recently', worth doing again - you may not know what his/her recently was.

That is another important item with the Encore, it runs a LOT better with a liner. Most EPA stoves run better with a liner, but the VC stoves seem to have a greater tendency to back-puff when a liner isn't in place.

TIM RUTMAN · May 9, 2012

BrowningBAR said:
You can damage your stove this way. It has little to do with surface temps and more to do with how hot you are making the firebox. Cracking the ash pan door acts like a blast furnace. It gets small areas of the firebox super hot, very quickly. Is it a guarantee you will damage the stove? No. But, I've seen enough damage and priced out enough parts to decide it is not worth it to operate the stove in this manner. I crack the right side door open on the Encore and Defiant when I start up the stoves. This works well for me and I have never needed an additional boost to get the fire going.

Well that is good to know. I am going to stop my ash pan practice. Thanks for saving me a possible headache.

begreen · May 9, 2012

This advice pertains to all wood stoves that have an ashpan door. We've seen several Jotuls messed up by owners that ignored the manual's warning not to crack the ashpan door open to start a fire.

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