Hearthstone shelburne ash pan grates. Open while burning?

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Brian

Brian

New Member
Aug 31, 2012
60
Long Island,NY
Last year I installed the stove and kept the grates( bottom center of stove) closed all the time and didn't use the pan. I was talking to soneone about having trouble with my draft sometimes and he said running with those open would help with that . I am in a basement,I know that's not ideal, I have a 90 going out then a 90 up, again,not ideal and I have plenty of clearance and height on the chimney...I was getting light smioke rolling out when loading in the cold weather. Fall and early winter was fine. Thoughts on the grates please.Thanks!
 
I'm not following what is meant by running the stove with the grates open. Are you referring to using the ash pan door as an additional source of air for the fire? If so, that is a bad idea. It will have no effect on smoke roll out during periods of mild weather, but can damage the grates and base of the stove.

If this is mostly just at startup, try top down starting of the fire. That will help warm up the chimney quicker to establish draft. Or get some supercedars and let them get the fire going easily and quickly.
 
Yes, the owner's manual specifically states that should never be done. It'll void your warranty and create a blast furnace, overfiring the interior.
 
begreen said:
I'm not following what is meant by running the stove with the grates open. Are you referring to using the ash pan door as an additional source of air for the fire? If so, that is a bad idea. It will have no effect on smoke roll out during periods of mild weather, but can damage the grates and base of the stove.

If this is mostly just at startup, try top down starting of the fire. That will help warm up the chimney quicker to establish draft. Or get some supercedars and let them get the fire going easily and quickly.
Click to expand...
No i mean leaving the grates open ,not the door, while running the stove.He was telling me the little bit more of air flowing throught the stove would help??? I see it as having hot coals falling into the ash pan and is that really a good thing? I don't think so!!!But that's why I'm asking! Thanks Begreen
 
The owner's manual says never to run the stove with the grates open, or the front door of the stove. There's no airtight seal on the ashpan or its door, so you get way too much air sucked in, and it's uncontrolled.
 
I've found at least five separate mentions in the owner's manual warning against operating with the ash grate open, the ash pan not inserted, or the ash door open. One is in reference to overfiring and voiding the warranty.

I've attached a PDF file if you don't have a copy of the manual.
 

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  • Hearthstone Shelburne 8370 Manual.pdf
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We see too many sad owners here with cracked grates and worse yet with cracked stove bases. These stoves are not built to have forge like heat under their grates. Your buddy is trying to help, but this is kind of like telling someone to add mothballs to the gas tank because it peps up the engine. Don't do it. You have a beautiful stove that will last a long time by operating it correctly. Contact Thomas at www.supercedars.com and ask him to send you a sample pack of supercedars. They will get that fire going quickly. Usually most folks break them into quarters and find that enough to get the fire going well as long as the kindling and wood is dry.

Here is a link to the top-down fire starting method I mentioned. This also works to quickly warm up the chimney before the wood gets burning. It has worked well for many hearth.com members.
Watch the bottom video:
Efficient Wood Stove Operation - http://www.woodheat.org/wood-heat-videos.html
 
Brian said:
.I was getting light smioke rolling out when loading in the cold weather. Fall and early winter was fine.
Click to expand...
If the stove was doing fine in the fall, early winter, and then started having trouble, you might need the flue cleaned. It's possible that the cap could be getting clogged up. Have you had it looked at?
 
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I use the method of cracking the ash pan on start ups but seal her up when i get the wood lit. Sometimes its impossible to get it going unless i do that. Now i'm scared to use that method.
 
Use the main stove door and leave that open 1/4" while the fire is starting instead.

For real easy starts, contact Thomas at SuperCedar and ask him for a sample. You'll be amazed how easily 1/4 of these pucks start a fire. Also, get a good kindling stash established. If there is no locally available wood get some construction site 2x scraps and split them into thinner pieces. Or get raw flooring and wood cabinetry trim scraps.

http://www.supercedar.com/index.php
 
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