Secondaries not like they used to be

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setitonfire

setitonfire

Member
Oct 24, 2013
69
Topsham, Maine
I've noticed over the last two weeks that my secondaries don't seem as strong as they used to be. I seem to have more then enough draft and wood is measuring 18-20% per MM but I'm still getting white smoke. (I know it could still be the wood)

On a full load stove is cruising under at around 470* whereas it used to in the high 500*

The pic below is not the best, had to try and shade the sunlight. I'm getting very little secondary action after about 30 min. I've loaded it up on a full coal bed and it caught fairly quickly. I cut all the air back in increments and that took about 25 min.

Could it be the extreme cold weather? Should I open the air a little more?

20140107_144451.jpg
 
First you need to make sure it is smoke you are seeing or just vapor. It is common to see it in this cold air. Watch and if it disappears in a short time, it is vapor. If it is smoke, it won't disappear like that. I'm betting you will be back to normal next week.
 
Open the air up a little more than usual . The colder temps affect the burn in many ways, keep an eye on it so it doesn't overheat.
 
Dennis makes a valid point. That "white smoke" may not be smoke at all. There is still moisture in even the best air dried firewood. As you burn, the moisture is released. On cold days, you will get a vapor trail something akin to the exhaust on your car.
Smoke will dissipate, steam will disappear.
 
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Let it get a little higher in temp before closing it down, and if need be leave the air lever open a little more than usual in these cold temps. Just keep an eye on it.
 
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Check the baffel above the tubes. I had a similiar problem with my Regency HI300, I must hav hit the baffel with a split and moved it out of place.
 
Summit has no tubes. It is a full s.s. baffle box and should be held in place with a pin in the back.
 
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Not really. I think I knocked mine out once in 8 seasons. But I think I may no have had it on all the way after reinstalling after cleaning.
The pin has a jog in it and slides in and the jog holds it in place. The baffle can slide a little side to side at the front. I use my poker to just push it a smidge one way or the other if needed.
 
The vapor makes me suspect the wood. But it's also good to check the cap screen if there is one to be sure it's not starting to clog up.
 
Don't forget the usually lower than normal cold tempts we are getting here in the East will also show more vapor than usual.
 
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