Jotul c550 Rockland tips thread

I have never had that happen but from reading here a lot my first suggestion is that you check your chimney for any blockages or creosote build up.

How dry is your wood? Recommended moisture content by many on this forum = 20% or lower to be considered seasoned.

How hot are your burning?

Weather conditions do make a difference but you said it is smoking every time you open the door despite the fact you still have low temps. at night that are equal to daytime temps. that you had when you had no smoke problems.

Both of your reasons sound possible, but to be on the safe side I would take a look at the chimney pipe and make sure there is not creosote build up that is reducing the draft. Especially because you are burning a softer wood that tends to produce more creosote.

When we had our insert installed, they did not do a block off place above the insert, but did block it off at the top. Last week I bought some sheet metal and some Tapcon screws and installed a block off plate over the wood stove. I am not sure how much more it is heating the room, but the temps on the cast iron surround have increase dramatically. I used to read around 110 - 120 on the surround with an ir thermometer when the fire was burning hot. Now I get between 180 - 200 degrees. After I finished the block off plate I lit the stove with the surround panel off. The amount of heat radiated off the stove with the fan off was many time greater that with the surround on, almost like a regular woodstove without a blower. I was thinking that this might be an advantage. If there is a power outage, now that I have the block off plate, I can lift off the surround to get better heat without the blower.

woodheat said:

When we had our insert installed, they did not do a block off place above the insert, but did block it off at the top. Last week I bought some sheet metal and some Tapcon screws and installed a block off plate over the wood stove. I am not sure how much more it is heating the room, but the temps on the cast iron surround have increase dramatically. I used to read around 110 - 120 on the surround with an ir thermometer when the fire was burning hot. Now I get between 180 - 200 degrees. After I finished the block off plate I lit the stove with the surround panel off. The amount of heat radiated off the stove with the fan off was many time greater that with the surround on, almost like a regular woodstove without a blower. I was thinking that this might be an advantage. If there is a power outage, now that I have the block off plate, I can lift off the surround to get better heat without the blower.

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woodheat -- thanks for posting this. I'm in the same situation you were (no block-off installed and insulation added at top). Did you pull out the inset to do this? That's the one thing that is making me a little hesitatn to do this, because I'll need to disconnect the liner, pull out the insert, and then put everything back. Looks like it might be worth it.

I did not remove the liner from the stove to add the block off plate. I took off the surround panel and had the clearance to do it from there. Kind of a custom installation situation per your fireplace, but I made 2 sections so I could fit it around the pipe and using sheet metal sheers I cut the round for the pipe a little at a time to fit it. Definatly only a do it yourself thing if your are handy with tools and drills and such.

I do not have any insulation either, just added the sheet metal block off plate. I cleaned my ss liner last week after 2 months of burning I only had a couple keg cups full of creosote dust. I don't know if adding the block off plate will cool off the liner or not to make more creosote, but I will check it again in a month to see how it is doing.

I do not know If am gaining any heat output , but the surround is way hotter with the block off plate installed.

woodheat said:

I do not know If am gaining any heat output , but the surround is way hotter with the block off plate installed.

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You are gaining heat due to all that extra heat in your surround. It is all radiating back into your room rather than up the chimney. Should keep the surround hotter longer too. :coolsmile:

My block off plate had to go on the top of chimney. Had planned to install one - drawings and everything but when it came to install day damper area had to be enlarged so that ss liner had a straight shot up the chimney. (First insert installer bent our old ss liner to fit it through the damper shelf....I had no idea and trusted that they knew what they were doing....) Made so that the block off plate couldn't be installed in that area so they did one up top.

It has worked just fine for us and we have more than adequate heat as it is. (I was worried when they first had to do this but now after a year I see we are doing ok heat wise.)

This insert is huge and the space it is heating is small which is why, I guess, that I can get away without the lower block off plate.

Glad to hear you were able to DIY and get a good fit without removing the liner or the insert. My installers NEVER want to move this thing again. :ahhh:

Hey all hope everyone is having a happy new year. I found this site and thread while searching for info on inserts and love all the comments. I bought my house 1 year ago and it had an old slammer glacier bay installed. After having the chimney sweep inspect it he recommended a SS liner insert put in.

I decided to upgrade to a new insert and think I have decided on the rockland as my choice. I decided on a flush mount as I have a relatively small hearth and did not want to go through the hastle at this time of lengthening the hearth area to accomadate a insert that sticks out. Keep up the info as I am learning alot.

PA FYI - I just posted a picture of mine, which has the option extra surround peice. Look in the picture forum.

This stove keeps getting better. Yesterday when we arrived, it was 21 below outside, inside 47 above, and in a few hours I had the inside toasty and when we went to bed it was above 70. Now this morning the wife and I had some questions regarding the fan speed vs stove top temp. We experimented with fan speed at full, stove top at 275 and fan at 1/3 speed stove top 370. The question is which way do you get more into the house. We could not figure any equation that could solve this dilemma., with out knowing the CFM and the air temps. So my question is what do the majority of 550 users think. BTW we are probably considered nerds by most that know us.

I think if the temps on the stove are below 300 I would turn on low. Temps in the 400 range medium. Temps 500 and above on high. We generally run ours with the fan speed on high and the temps in the 500 - 650 range when we are around. at night we load it up and when we are leaving we load it up and get it heated up to over 500 then turn the stove all the way down or just a smidge up and set the fan speed to medium high. Most people on here I think run their stove at least at 500 degrees, the secondary burn does no seem to go well for me much below this. If you have your air intake turned all the way down, you may have to reduce the fan speed to maintain the temps or the air flow cools the stove down. If you leave the air open some we can leave the fan on high and still maintain over 500. For maximum heat output (and fastest wood usage) once the stove is up to temp, we set fan on high and leave the air 50% open. The stove will run anywhere from 500-700 depending on the wood load.

Ok so I decided for sure on the Rockland. Installation = tomorrow. Hope all goes smooth and I will be enjoying some toasty fires in the weeks to come.

mcollect said:

This stove keeps getting better. Yesterday when we arrived, it was 21 below outside, inside 47 above, and in a few hours I had the inside toasty and when we went to bed it was above 70. Now this morning the wife and I had some questions regarding the fan speed vs stove top temp. We experimented with fan speed at full, stove top at 275 and fan at 1/3 speed stove top 370. The question is which way do you get more into the house. We could not figure any equation that could solve this dilemma., with out knowing the CFM and the air temps. So my question is what do the majority of 550 users think. BTW we are probably considered nerds by most that know us.

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For me, I don't like to start the fan until the temp is 500*. I like to get her up to 650* or so then really damper down. Thermometer is in blower vent.

I know some of you have had faulty left blowers that had to be replaced. I got my insert last winter and blowers have worked just fine until a couple of days ago. Left blower began 'chirping' intermittently.

Called dealer who called the manuf. and was told that they have had 'manuf. defects' with the left blower.

I'm still under warranty so only have to pay $25.00 for trip charge.

So, beware of chirping sounds from your insert. 8-/

I find it interesting that it is only the left blower and hope to find out why it is that specific one.

First post,lots of good info here.Should have joined long ago.
Looks like the 550 is going in the fireplace.Just wanted to
ask about outside air.Does anyone have there insert plumbed
for blast air,or is it even possible :roll: .Was wondering about sucking the heat out of the house. Jeff

It's not possible to hook up an OAK to the 550.

Thanks.Its not a make or brake item,just looking at all options.

Just had my Rockland installed this morning, can't wait to get out of work and home to check it out and break it in!!

andella said:

Just had my Rockland installed this morning, can't wait to get out of work and home to check it out and break it in!!

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Open windows because it is stinky.

Also, place your thermometer in the slot above the firebox where the blower air exits. Anywhere else does not give accurate reads and break in fires need to start out 'cool' and gradually go to higher temps. before building a really hot fire. Three medium sized splits in my firebox can easily get temps up into the 600's....very different from my old insert.

I didn't know about therm. placement so my initial fires were a bit too hot but, luckily, my insert was forgiving and nothing 'bad' happened as a result of my ignorance.

Good luck and enjoy. :coolsmile:

So my stove is working great. I have a fire every night. I came home for work yesterday and there were enough leaves and straw in my stove to stuff a scarecrow. Good thing the squirrel or whatever didn't jump out at me, I’d of peed myself. I had a fire the night before. Damn thing worked fast.

Bizango- Why so harsh on the critter. Maybe it was helping you out by bringing some kindling to you so you wouldn't have to do it yourself. :roll:

Whatever it was it was more than likely female and looking for a nice spot to build a nest for her next 'litter'. Spring is just around the corner and that nesting instinct is powerful. Amazed that she was able to navigate a ss liner and that the smell of smoke didn't bother her.

You might want to put a screen on your cap - or stop burning and let her return and you will be able to watch how a family of squirrels (or whatever) grows instead of watching a fire every night. An interesting conversation piece.

I have a couple of questions for you guys...... I have had the stove for a week now, done the break in fires and have been going full strength for a few days now. The air control seems to make very little difference in airflow. It is noticible somewhat and does work to an extent but has nowhere near range of airflow compared to a couple of my friends stoves (not Jotuls). Is this normal?? Also (probably directly related to my first issue) I am yet to see the secondaries burn yet ever. Any advice/suggestions?? I am burning some kiln dried wood and have been experimenting with the bio-bricks as well.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

andella said:

I have a couple of questions for you guys...... I have had the stove for a week now, done the break in fires and have been going full strength for a few days now. The air control seems to make very little difference in airflow. It is noticible somewhat and does work to an extent but has nowhere near range of airflow compared to a couple of my friends stoves (not Jotuls). Is this normal?? Also (probably directly related to my first issue) I am yet to see the secondaries burn yet ever. Any advice/suggestions?? I am burning some kiln dried wood and have been experimenting with the bio-bricks as well.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

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Are your friends' stoves stoves or inserts? On inserts we can only adjust the primary air. On free standing stoves the damper can be adjusted as well. Some stoves even have 3 air adjustments...

Secondaries kick in for me at around 600* with air almost all the way closed. How hot are you burning? Just because you don't see secondary flames does not mean that they aren't working. I figure they are at work whenever there isn't any smoke coming out of my chimney.

I don't cut back on the air until fire has really taken hold and temp. is in the mid 400* range. Cutting back does make a difference. Flame pattern changes. If I cut back too soon I loose flames. If I get it right flames move into the secondary light show dancing on top of the logs and the temps. rise up into the 700's and stay there for quite awhile.

Thanks for the response!

My friends' are both inserts..... one is a Regency and the other is a Quadra-Fire. I have been burning between 5 and 6 hundred (thermometer in slot where blower air comes out like others have suggested) It just seems that the amount of adjustability with the air flow is a much wider range than that of my Rockland. Maybe I need to burn hotter to see a visible difference. As far as heat output is concerned it is working great. Just kind of surprised not to see the secondaries pouring out flames

perplexed what is for quite awhile on secondary burns.

I am getting close to pulling the trigger on one of these units.
Can some Rockland owner(s) out there share their experience (good or bad) with cleaning out the liner?
It looks like the manual says to pull out the unit and disconnect from the flue connector.
Was hoping you could just remove the baffle and clean.

Thanks