Jotul baffle blanket

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mossycup

Member
Dec 4, 2010
73
Northern Illinois
Our F500 vermiculite baffle developed a crack down the center, front to back last winter and I finally got around to ordering a new one. When we picked up the replacement I mentioned to the dealer my concerns with the mineral wool blanket. In case I should booger up the old blanket and cannot reuse it, how long would it take to get a new one?

He told me that it is not critical to try to reuse the old one and that it is there for Jotuls efficiency qualification. If it was not reinstalled, efficiency is minimally impacted and I could expect better draft.
He made it sound like it is just a moot detail in the stove's function and it is really not needed.

They can easily aquire one for me, so availability is not an issue...but should I even bother with trying to reuse the old one?
 
If the manufacturer got a better efficiency rating with it in place due to a hotter fire below, why wouldn't one want to continue getting the maximum efficiency benefit? Perhaps you could perhaps upgrade the vermiculite board to one you custom cut with a higher insulation rating if you are finding the blanket to be a bother.
 
I was just dumbfounded by the dealer's comment. I have a habit of always having a back up plan just in case the worms get free, this is why I checked the availability if I do something dumb...it seems like a fragile material. I can't imagine I am going to ruin it, and plan on reusing it...if not I will aquire another.

I just wanted to share this tidbit in case anyone has heard the same.
 
On Jotul stoves with vermiculite baffles is the baffle blanket absolutely necessary? The reason I am asking is because when the fire is burning slow, I get some back draft into the room when I open the door but when the fire is burning vigorously, the flames and smoke circle around the front and go up. I had often wondered why they used it because I have had experience with other stoves that don't require baffle blankets and their efficiency ratings are among the highest in the industry? Comments ......... anyone!
 
I would use the stove as designed and tested. The blanket "may" not be "absolutely" necessary, but it does help the fire burn hotter which equates to a cleaner, more efficient burn. That means more heat in the room instead of up the flue.
 
Have any changes been made to newer models of the Oslo and the 600? I think the blanket retards the smoke from following up the smoke chamber into the chimney causing it to roll backward and out the door when the fire is burning low to medium. Even when opening the front door slowly as not to cause a vacuum I find the smoke occasionally rolls out. It's not a giant problem to irritable.
 
Could be with that big front door. The stove is designed as a side loader mostly.

Maybe the draft is a bit weak? How is the stove vented from stove to chimney cap?
 
When it was new, I didn't experience any problems at all. After the baffle broke, I took the stove apart (top only) and replaced the baffle and blanket. Not a hard fix. I also replaced the gaskets etc. I noticed when the fire is burning low, the smoke sometimes comes out. If you open the front door fast it creates a vacuum that also draws smoke into the room. But when the fire is burning vigorously, the heat takes everything up and over into the chimney. I check the whole installation and everything is in order. The draft is always good because of the wind here. The smoke, when there is smoke, can be seen streaming out of the chimney except for when I have solid dry wood with a hot, hot fire. Then there is little to no smoke. I also use the side door but the front door is more convenient.
 
I'm still curious about the chimney system on the stove. Is it top or rear vented? Any 90's or straight up? How tall?
 
It's a standard 6" chimney pipe going straight up. Never had any problem with the chimney. Very little creosote buildup during a burn season.
 
That's good. How tall?
 
33'. The dealer who helped me install it is a friend of mine and he didn't see any problem. In his words, he said the taller, the better. It rises through the center of the house. There is 3' exposed above the top of the chimney.
 
Yes, that thing should draft like a freight train. If it was the opposite I could see an issue. The Oslo and Castine like a strong draft. What I am trying to understand is why this problem copped up after the baffle repair. Are you sure the blanket is laying flat and not bunching up toward the back of the stove.
 
When I put the top back on all parts were in place properly. I stretched out the blanket evenly over the baffle and there appeared to be enough space all around. I had help and we were careful before doing the final touches and screwing the top back to the stove; two screws in the front and one in the back.
 
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