It's 13 degrees outside but the ole EKO is summerized

woodsmaster said:

What temp at full power though ? Mine runs 325 F at 100% power after I clean it with a full load, raging fire. After about 4 or 5 cord its up to 450 full power, full load just from just a little fly ash on the tubes

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Mine never exceeds 400 unless I "forget" something. I load my starter load, let it burn bypass open until I hit 400 degrees. At that point I hit start and run the fan at 70%, shutters full open. When I come back in an hour or so to throw in my first real load I'll adjust the fan speed down to 50%, usually, and start closing the shutters. When I toss in my full load for the late night burn I usually have the fan at 50% and shutters down to 50% open. With these adjustments I'm usually running right at 350 +/-. Never above 400. If I see it creeping toward 400 I reduce the air. My fan/shutter adjustments are very consistent through the burn and throughout the year. This combined with my visual inspection of the fire tubes leads me to believe all is well with my maintenence plan.

I only run my fan a 100% when the weather is particularly bad. High humidity, warm, no wind. Those kinds of days are few and far between with my November through March burn schedule.

maple1 said:

What kind of thermometer do you use to measure with?

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This badboy right here:

http://www.amazon.com/Chimney-Plus-610302-Condar-Thermometer/dp/B002TNQBRC/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1395865908&sr=8-14&keywords=flue thermometer

I didn't pay nearly this much, however. I suspect the accuracy is in range of plus or minus one banana. But it works for my purposes. The sweetspot for my EKO is between 300 and 400. My RTV sealed flue joints will let me know if it hits 500 (which has only happened when I do something wrong)...

woodsmaster said:

I cant hardly even get above 325 at 100% after a decent cleaning. It can't hurt to clean it.

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I agree 100%. I guess I just don't want to clean it? ha. Maybe this year is the year. Who knows. If I do it this fall I will be sure to post a photo essay of my results.