I'm wondering how hot people let the surface temp of their DW stovepipe get before turning down the air. Although during a burn I like to keep it around 220-240 at 20" from the stovetop, on startup and new load I would like to let it go higher. And sometimes if burning a good load of great wood, I would like to let it settle in at 260-270 (I have a pretty tall chimney and feel I should run a little hotter than someone with a more average size chimney.)
Last season there were a few discussions about whether surface temp of DW is meaningless or "only relative". Some members with both probe and IR guns were also generous enough to take readings on both, at the same time and height. However, the results indicated probe temps of between something less than 2x to something more than 3x the surface temps. So a surface temp of 250 could be a flue temp of somewhere between 475 and 800. I don't feel I need to know the flue temp to the degree, or even within 100 degrees (and prefer not to put a probe in). Just need to know it's hot enough to discourage creosote formation, and not so hot that I'm pushing the envelope on the pipe. I feel that if i'm above 200 I'm OK on the low end. Just wondering about the high end.
Many thanks.
Last season there were a few discussions about whether surface temp of DW is meaningless or "only relative". Some members with both probe and IR guns were also generous enough to take readings on both, at the same time and height. However, the results indicated probe temps of between something less than 2x to something more than 3x the surface temps. So a surface temp of 250 could be a flue temp of somewhere between 475 and 800. I don't feel I need to know the flue temp to the degree, or even within 100 degrees (and prefer not to put a probe in). Just need to know it's hot enough to discourage creosote formation, and not so hot that I'm pushing the envelope on the pipe. I feel that if i'm above 200 I'm OK on the low end. Just wondering about the high end.
Many thanks.