short burn times

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Jason Schatz

New Member
Dec 30, 2012
7
SE PA
hello,

I am trying to get used to my new Harmon TL300. I have found and read through many of the extensive threads on here to try and get a better idea of the stove, and the help has been great.
However, I feel like I am getting very short burn times compared to what I was expecting, and I don't know why --- maybe someone can help me figure out if it is what I am doing or just my expectations


I am burning seasoned oak - moisture content around 15%. I start by building a good fire and getting my temps up to 450 - 500 (I have a thermometer at the base of my flue). Once I have a good hot stove and a good bed of coals, I reload and close down my damper. When I go to bed (around 11pm) I reload the stove with wood and make sure the secondary burn is working and close down the air. When I wake up at 6am, there is nothing but some hot coals left. the temp on my thermometer is down below 300.

is this typicall? if not what I can I try to extend my times? I thought I've read/seen people getting 10-12 hours burn times on this stove.

thanks!
 
What happens to the temps when you close down and what do the secondaries look like?
 
Let me be clear first exactly where my thermo is -- I bought a magnetic one, but I have a stainless steel liner, so I couldn't attach to that. I have it attached to the collar that the liner attaches to the stove at -- it is the highest magnetic point up.

Ok, so I tend to kick in the after burn when my temp on that gauge is between 400 - 500. When after burn is on, I start to hear the pinging on the back of the stove (heating up), and my temp typically goes up closer to 600. I know when I tried secondary burn too soon, my temp drops below 400 and I try again. anyway, when I go to bed and throttle down the air, my temps are always at least 450, sometimes like I said closer to 600.

I don't know exactly how soon into the night my wood disappears, but like I said, I know that as little as 6-7 hours later, I come down to (at best) a pile of glowing ash and temps at most at 350
 
Jason Schatz said:
hello,

I am trying to get used to my new Harmon TL300. I have found and read through many of the extensive threads on here to try and get a better idea of the stove, and the help has been great.
However, I feel like I am getting very short burn times compared to what I was expecting, and I don't know why --- maybe someone can help me figure out if it is what I am doing or just my expectations


I am burning seasoned oak - moisture content around 15%. I start by building a good fire and getting my temps up to 450 - 500 (I have a thermometer at the base of my flue). Once I have a good hot stove and a good bed of coals, I reload and close down my damper. When I go to bed (around 11pm) I reload the stove with wood and make sure the secondary burn is working and close down the air. When I wake up at 6am, there is nothing but some hot coals left. the temp on my thermometer is down below 300.

is this typicall? if not what I can I try to extend my times? I thought I've read/seen people getting 10-12 hours burn times on this stove.

thanks!
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound too bad. You might try larger splits for a longer burn and loading a little later.
 
The lever that is used to open the top also opens a bypass damper; have you verified that the bypass is closing completely when that is pushed all the way to the back? If you have a full load of wood, the bypass damper is fully closing and the air control is fully closed to the left then air leaks or excessive draft would be areas I would be looking. Have you tried the dollar test on top and front doors?
 
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i hear/feel it close - how else can i verify it is closing completely?

could you please explain the dollar bill test? the stove is a month old, I would hope there isn't something wrong with it

am i expecting too much with the burn times i am getting?
 
Don't know if you can see it from the inside, I looked at one of these with a friend a few years ago and remembered the bypass lever from that. Put a dollar in the opening and close the door, if the gasket is tight it will lock the bill in place so you can't pull it out; try this in several place around the opening. If I remember right my buddy was saying that he thought 14-15hr burns wouldn't be a problem, I personally don't know but it would seem you should have decent bed of coals at more than 6hrs. Hopefully someone on the site that has one will comment.
 
thanks for the advice... looks like my gasket isn't doing anything --- my dollar bill slides right out all around the door -- no resistance whatsoever. I do think this stove sat un-sold for awhile, maybe the gasket was just compressed/closed for so long it lost its volume?

Would this make that much of a difference? I guess it is letting extra air in around the door leading to a faster fire, eh? I will replace and hope this makes the difference I am looking for!
 
Check your latch, it may not be pulling the door in all the way. It is new so run it by your dealer and see what they can do for you.
 
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