Long time lurker, first time poster

countybrown · Jan 11, 2015

Hello all,

I've been hanging around the forum for a long time as a guest just learning, reading and enjoying. I figured it's about time I joined the club and posted up my setup, just to share and see if I can get any helpful info that might enhance my wood burning enjoyment and efficiency. I am from central Wisconsin, and as I write this it's 11 outside and 76 inside.

So I have a Hearthstone Phoenix that was professionally installed a few years ago. Double wall pipe going all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. I have plenty of good quality wood, and I add some to it each year so I am never in short supply of seasoned wood. The oldest I have right now was about 4 years seasoned (very little of that left), and the newest has about 7 months on it.

I have been getting 5 hours of burn time before reloading. Once my stove is heated up and well established, I am running about 500 degrees flue temp (probe type thermometer). I have never measured my stove top temp. I have no problem getting a nice smokeless burn with plenty of mesmerizing secondary burn visible.

Based on that info, would anybody have any advice for me? Anything I can do to improve or does it sound like i have a good handle on it?

Thanks in advance! Glad to be an official part of the community now.

begreen · Jan 12, 2015

Welcome CB. The Phoenix is not a large stove. Based on the temps outside it sounds like you are doing ok.

weatherguy · Jan 12, 2015

What kind of wood do you have? Some species dry a lot faster than others.

Excavator · Jan 12, 2015

welcome. yes with those temps it seams like you are doing good

Beer Belly · Jan 12, 2015

The neurotic in me would move the Broom from your stove kit to the other side where the poker is.....but that's just me

BradleyW · Jan 12, 2015

Personally, I would rather know my stove top temp than my stove pipe temp, but like others have said it seems to work for you, so there's no reason to change.
Now for the important matter--that is a cool pot on top of your stove. Where did you get it?

countybrown · Jan 12, 2015

weatherguy said:
What kind of wood do you have? Some species dry a lot faster than others.

Mostly oak, with some maple. There is also a small amount of birch in there from one tree on my property that HAD to go.

Beer Belly said:
The neurotic in me would move the Broom from your stove kit to the other side where the poker is.....but that's just me[emoji14]

Lol, I know the feeling. I noticed it in the picture and knew it would be a matter of time until somebody said something.

BradleyW said:
Personally, I would rather know my stove top temp than my stove pipe temp, but like others have said it seems to work for you, so there's no reason to change.
Now for the important matter--that is a cool pot on top of your stove. Where did you get it?

Yeah the dragon is pretty awesome. He came from Amazon. Holds a lot of water. I only fill it once a day and the steam comes out the nose. Here is the url:
http://www.amazon.com/Plow-Hearth-Dragon-Woodstove-Steamer/dp/B002ZPFZIU

BradleyW · Jan 12, 2015

Yeah the dragon is pretty awesome. He came from Amazon. Holds a lot of water. I only fill it once a day and the steam comes out the nose. Here is the url:
http://www.amazon.com/Plow-Hearth-Dragon-Woodstove-Steamer/dp/B002ZPFZIU[/quote]

Thanks for the link.

Jags · Jan 12, 2015

Sounds to me like you are operating it as you should. Fair warning...when you hit the 7 month old stash, don't be surprised if it is like hitting a wall. That is very much on the short side for seasoning ANY species of wood, especially oak and maple.

countybrown · Jan 12, 2015

Jags said:
Sounds to me like you are operating it as you should. Fair warning...when you hit the 7 month old stash, don't be surprised if it is like hitting a wall. That is very much on the short side for seasoning ANY species of wood, especially oak and maple.

Unless we enter the ice age this winter, I shouldnt have to come anywhere near the 7month old stuff this year. I have about 1 1/2 cords worth of wood that has at least 2 years on it. In total right now I am sitting on about 3 1/2 cords.

BobUrban · Jan 12, 2015

Welcome and nice looking stove. 1.5 cords would not get me to spring but others mileage will vary. Wisconsin gets awful cold though

Please don't keep ash in the house - even with a lid on the bucket!! I am assuming it is empty but if not take it outside and dispose of in a safe place.

jrems · Jan 12, 2015

Hi, welcome! Looks like you have a lot more experience than me but it looks like you are doing a good job. I does take awhile to figure everything out.

countybrown · Jan 12, 2015

BobUrban said:
Welcome and nice looking stove. 1.5 cords would not get me to spring but others mileage will vary. Wisconsin gets awful cold though

Please don't keep ash in the house - even with a lid on the bucket!! I am assuming it is empty but if not take it outside and dispose of in a safe place.

Thanks! I burn because I enjoy it, and I'm a cheap skate. I always have the natural gas furnace as backup, but damn do I love saving the money.

You are correct. The ash can is empty. I mostly use it for unloading coals in the case of hot starts where the coal bed is too large or cleaning it out if I let it die out. Even then it only holds them until I can let them cool a bit before getting banished to the snow drift in the back yard.

Grisu · Jan 12, 2015

countybrown said:
Unless we enter the ice age this winter, I shouldnt have to come anywhere near the 7month old stuff this year. I have about 1 1/2 cords worth of wood that has at least 2 years on it. In total right now I am sitting on about 3 1/2 cords.

I would say you are either not burning 24/7 or you are not filling up the firebox but your wood consumption seems low when you reload every 5 hours. How full is the firebox when you reload?

countybrown · Jan 12, 2015

Grisu said:
I would say you are either not burning 24/7 or you are not filling up the firebox but your wood consumption seems low when you reload every 5 hours. How full is the firebox when you reload?

You are correct. I am not burning 24/7. Depending on the outside temps I may burn all day, down to 8-10 hours throughout the day, some days not at all. Like I said in a previous post, I burn because 1. I enjoy it, 2. I am a cheap skate a like saving the money when I can.

I have a plenty good new(er) HE furnace that holds its own. I work 12 hour night shifts so I try and keep the stove burning all day when I am home and at night on my days off. My wife tries to help out as well at night, but she is not totally comfortable with the stove operation, and she also does not want to get up in the middle of the night to refill it. For me, the relationship I have with my wood stove is "Nice to run it, but if it goes out, Oh well".

To answer the second part of your question, I reload the firebox with usually two larger splits and a combo of smaller splits and rounds. Whatever I can reasonably fit in the stove to fill the box as much as feasible.

Kevin Dolan · Jan 12, 2015

countybrown said:
Hello all,

I've been hanging around the forum for a long time as a guest just learning, reading and enjoying. I figured it's about time I joined the club and posted up my setup, just to share and see if I can get any helpful info that might enhance my wood burning enjoyment and efficiency. I am from central Wisconsin, and as I write this it's 11 outside and 76 inside.

So I have a Hearthstone Phoenix that was professionally installed a few years ago. Double wall pipe going all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. I have plenty of good quality wood, and I add some to it each year so I am never in short supply of seasoned wood. The oldest I have right now was about 4 years seasoned (very little of that left), and the newest has about 7 months on it.

I have been getting 5 hours of burn time before reloading. Once my stove is heated up and well established, I am running about 500 degrees flue temp (probe type thermometer). I have never measured my stove top temp. I have no problem getting a nice smokeless burn with plenty of mesmerizing secondary burn visible.

Based on that info, would anybody have any advice for me? Anything I can do to improve or does it sound like i have a good handle on it?

Thanks in advance! Glad to be an official part of the community now.

Love the dragon

blacktail · Jan 13, 2015

Nice looking setup and that dragon is sweet!

xman23 · Jan 13, 2015

Welcome, looks like you've been burning just fine. Clean glass with a white base. Love that Dragon. If I didn't have a nice cast pot , I'd be getting one.

I was wondering about the stack prob. Its in a hole drilled through the double wall. Doesn't they create a path for exhaust to get to the insulation and outer wall? It's not big hole and with a draft it's going the other way, but just curious if this is routinely done this way.

countybrown · Jan 13, 2015

xman23 said:
Welcome, looks like you've been burning just fine. Clean glass with a white base. Love that Dragon. If I didn't have a nice cast pot , I'd be getting one.

I was wondering about the stack prob. Its in a hole drilled through the double wall. Doesn't they create a path for exhaust to get to the insulation and outer wall? It's not big hole and with a draft it's going the other way, but just curious if this is routinely done this way.

I asked my local dealer and chimney sweep about drilling a hole in the pipe before doing so. First of all, as you probably know, you have to use a probe type thermometer on double wall pipe, as a surface mount is not going to give you an accurate reading. They told me to follow the directions for drilling the proper size hole and there would be no worries. The hole is a pretty tight fit, and there is pretty much so zero pressure behind the smoke in the chimney. Add in a proper pulling draft and there are no issues. I have never had a problem with smoke infiltrating into the house or between the pipe layers.

Grisu · Jan 13, 2015

countybrown said:
You are correct. I am not burning 24/7. Depending on the outside temps I may burn all day, down to 8-10 hours throughout the day, some days not at all. Like I said in a previous post, I burn because 1. I enjoy it, 2. I am a cheap skate a like saving the money when I can.

I have a plenty good new(er) HE furnace that holds its own. I work 12 hour night shifts so I try and keep the stove burning all day when I am home and at night on my days off. My wife tries to help out as well at night, but she is not totally comfortable with the stove operation, and she also does not want to get up in the middle of the night to refill it. For me, the relationship I have with my wood stove is "Nice to run it, but if it goes out, Oh well".

To answer the second part of your question, I reload the firebox with usually two larger splits and a combo of smaller splits and rounds. Whatever I can reasonably fit in the stove to fill the box as much as feasible.

Sounds good. Just wanted to make sure you are not getting "short" burn times due to loading the stove only half full.

countybrown · Jan 15, 2015

Since everybody liked him so much, here is another picture of the dragon. He's in full swing today.

firefighterjake · Jan 15, 2015

I shall call him Puff . . . too bad your name wasn't Pete . . . then it could be Pete's Dragon.

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