Would a grate make Coals burn up better?

Most manufacturers state that grates are not be used in an EPA stove. Build the fires directly on the fire brick. Check your manual to be sure.

I would be careful about adding a grate to your stove. My insert (Jotul Winterport) state not to "elevate" the wood you are burning. I don’t know why, my guess too much air feeding the fire. I normally rack my coals to the front on a reload and they burn away.

Personally I like a big bed of coals. makes re-starts much easier

If you are burning coal, you need a grate, as coal burns far better with the air coming from below.

If you are burning wood then it needs a flat bed to burn properly, and does not perform well on a coal grate!!

This is why when I ve looked at buying a stove in the past, for burning wood only, I will not buy a Mulfti fuel, only a wood burner.

FWIW, I bought a small fireplace grate that happened to fit my (non-EPA) Jotul downstairs. I found that the wood didn't burn completely, it left a lot of charcoal-dust around that must've cooled down because it didn't have the insulating properties of the ash bed (on EPA stoves firebrick too) to keep it warm enough to combust.

Most stoves recommend not using a grate. Jotul specifically states so. The coals on the bottom of the stove surface are fine. Get a caol shovel or build a rake if you feel inclined to stir them up.

So I have to ask, are you having a problem with the coals not burning up? Stove getting too full of coals? I can't see any other reason to think about putting in some grates.

More air to burn down the coals. Not properly seasoned wood will give a coaling problem.

My manual also states that you do not need a grate. Now coal fires need grates but with wood it would just cause problems.

if you are trying to burn coal in a woodstove, then dont. If you are trying to elevate the fire in a woodstove, dont.

Actually, In my experience working with disaster cleanup, go ahead and make a grate with rebar. About 20 minutes into the burn, I doubt you will have a grate, just a pile of collapsed rebar in the bottom of your stove. But my manual says "no grates", and I figure they know what they are talking about.

Doesn't the "Tunnel of Love" elevate the wood?

My stove has a grate and ashpan. I don't want my coals burning up fast. I keep my ashpan full (of firebrick and ash) and my stove burns better/longer.

BeGreen said:

Not at all. The two, N/S, starter logs lie flat of the firebox floor.

My wife tried this today and gave me a glowing report of how well it worked for her.

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Ok for N/S loading I see your point. In E/W loading I have to plow a trench in the ash so some air can get to the back splits or sometimes they don't burn all the way through. I know I'm not the only one who does this. I think I learned it from BB.

Am I risking some damage or creating some hazard?

I sometimes wonder how a grate would be different from an ashpan? I've never had an ashpan equipped stove so just wondering.

I do have isues with my Jotul Rockland leaving chunks of coals unless at the end of the burn I leave the door ajar and stir em up about 4-5 times atleast. But that might be the not fully seasoned peices.

summit said:

if you are trying to burn coal in a woodstove, then dont. If you are trying to elevate the fire in a woodstove, dont.

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That sums it up correctly.

And just to add in one more point, wood will not burn so well on a grate, so if you are burning wood only, then buy a wood stove, not a multi fuel.

pile o’ wood said:

I sometimes wonder how a grate would be different from an ashpan? I've never had an ashpan equipped stove so just wondering.

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A "fire grate" like the OP asked about, is like what you see in a fireplace, it's purpose to keep the fuel elevated for airflow up through the wood. A stove with an ash pan has a "grate" in the floor of the stove that is rotated or slid to make an opening for ash to fall into an ash pan for disposal. Every stove manual I have looked at that was for a stove with an ash pan says to make sure the grate is closed and the pan in place when using the stove. Otherwise you will have a large amount of un-metered fresh air coming into the very bottom of the fire. They call that a "forge", and I don't think you want one in your living room. I have a small forge in my back yard, and I know it gets hot enough to melt iron.. you know like your stove might be made of... hh:

I always used a grate in a fireplace to help stop the logs and splits from rolling out into the room. Always liked a big pile of ash up around it, too.

I'll get more coals when burning hard oak in real cold days in Feb.
Usually piled up in the middle and a little more air on a Saturday morning helps burn them up.
They may not have pretty flames to watch but they are pumping out some heat. I actually prefer a layer of them on the bottom except when its time to dig out some of the ashes.

Dakotas Dad said:

pile o’ wood said:

I sometimes wonder how a grate would be different from an ashpan? I've never had an ashpan equipped stove so just wondering.

Click to expand...

A "fire grate" like the OP asked about, is like what you see in a fireplace, it's purpose to keep the fuel elevated for airflow up through the wood. A stove with an ash pan has a "grate" in the floor of the stove that is rotated or slid to make an opening for ash to fall into an ash pan for disposal. Every stove manual I have looked at that was for a stove with an ash pan says to make sure the grate is closed and the pan in place when using the stove. Otherwise you will have a large amount of un-metered fresh air coming into the very bottom of the fire. They call that a "forge", and I don't think you want one in your living room. I have a small forge in my back yard, and I know it gets hot enough to melt iron.. you know like your stove might be made of... hh:

Click to expand...

Yes I realize all of that, and I have a 'fire grate' in multiple fireplaces. But doesnt answer my question. You dont run with the ash pan door open so I dont know what your talking about a forge for. Air can still circulate under the logs through the ash pan can in not? Or is there some method ofsealing the ash pan from the firebox and only opened when you want the ashes to fall through? Sorry, I've never had an ash pan equipped stove so just curious.

pile o’ wood said:

I sometimes wonder how a grate would be different from an ashpan? I've never had an ashpan equipped stove so just wondering.

Click to expand...

My stove has a grate that is inset as part of the firebox floor. Ashes (and small coals) can fall through it, and its openings cannot be closed or adjusted. Below it is the removable ashpan, and as you say, there is no "forge" unless the ashpan door is open (or a gasket is faulty). With the door wide open, it is more like a nuclear device than a forge!

With the ashpan door closed, primary air coming down the front airwash might allow for some airflow under the coals, but I'd guess not nearly as much as if the grate was elevated like in a fireplace. If you stir the coal bed in the Harman, some ash and smaller coals drop down into the pan, reducing the coal bed and allowing more airflow and quicker burning of coals.

I realize a lot of folks can get an excessive coal buildup at times, but the Harman is a downdraft stove so it needs a deep coal bed to run well. For that reason, I filled up my ash pan with ash and brick so I'd have a "normal" firebox floor and get MORE coals, not fewer.

pile o’ wood said:

Dakotas Dad said:

pile o’ wood said:

I sometimes wonder how a grate would be different from an ashpan? I've never had an ashpan equipped stove so just wondering.

Click to expand...

A "fire grate" like the OP asked about, is like what you see in a fireplace, it's purpose to keep the fuel elevated for airflow up through the wood. A stove with an ash pan has a "grate" in the floor of the stove that is rotated or slid to make an opening for ash to fall into an ash pan for disposal. Every stove manual I have looked at that was for a stove with an ash pan says to make sure the grate is closed and the pan in place when using the stove. Otherwise you will have a large amount of un-metered fresh air coming into the very bottom of the fire. They call that a "forge", and I don't think you want one in your living room. I have a small forge in my back yard, and I know it gets hot enough to melt iron.. you know like your stove might be made of... hh:

Click to expand...

Yes I realize all of that, and I have a 'fire grate' in multiple fireplaces. But doesnt answer my question. You dont run with the ash pan door open so I dont know what your talking about a forge for. Air can still circulate under the logs through the ash pan can in not? Or is there some method ofsealing the ash pan from the firebox and only opened when you want the ashes to fall through? Sorry, I've never had an ash pan equipped stove so just curious.

Click to expand...

No, air cannot circulate under the fire, the grate is closed. As I said the grate slides or rotates to close while burning. The floor of the stove is solid with it closed. Your fire is built on that floor. When opened, ashes fall into the ash pan, filling it. The point I was making about the forge is that the only way to get air to flow through the grate and into the bottom of the fire would to be to have the grate and ash pan door open. Bad.