Stove Temps

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Magus

New Member
Nov 17, 2010
65
Michigan
I started a fire tonight with the Eco Bricks

The stove top temp is 600 degrees F while the flue temp is at 300 degrees...sorry is now border line between the "comfortable and
the creosote level.
The flue damper is fully closed.
The stove damper is open.
The house jumped from 62 to 68 in one hrs.

I used the same thermo for the flue and just put it on the stove top...dont know if this is accurate.

question....is it safe to let it air out at full throttle to see how high the flue temp gets or should I try an open up the flue damper just a bit. I am trying to find out a few things.
What is the max of the stove and or how to achieve an all night burn safely.
 
From what I understand...the flue damper helps keep the heat in the pipe and the stove longer.

I guess I dont know what is concidered "overfiring" in terms of temps for a wood stove. I dont want to ruin it.

Also, should I be using the flue damper or the stove damper...the manual did not call for a flue damper I just put one on because my neighbor had one on his set up.

Is it better to control the air at the stove or the flue.
 
Hi Magus,

Don't use the flue damper - a modern EPA stove shouldn't need one unless your draft in the flue is really excessive, such as from a tall chimney. I doubt this applies to you. Your neighbor's reason for using a flue damper probably has more to do with what he burns and how he burns it, and that he probably has an older stove that burns differently.

A stove top temp of 600 degrees with a flue temperature of 300 degrees is not necessarily bad - it seems to be indicated complete secondary combustion. Have you restricted the primary air to get secondary combustion once the stove is up to temperature? Do you see signs of secondary combustion when you are burning (i.e. flames dancing around the top of your firebox)? If so, then you are burning just fine. If not, then your wood may be too wet this season. But if your flue temperature is 300 degrees, you shouldn't be using a flue damper in any case.
 
I have a flue damper on my Mansfield. I don't use it. They installed it "just in case" and well, I don't need it. I suppose its a "better to have it and not need it" type thing. It sounds like you are getting complete combustion. If I were you I would leave the flue damper wide open and use the stove damper (air inlet control) to achieve the overnight burn.
 
When my Quad was installed they told me that I didn't need a flue damper and that my stove was designed so that I would not need one. I am getting a great secondary burn. Although my flue temperature is usually 150 degrees warmer than my stove top. But keep in mind these gauges probably aren't totally accurate, But give you some indication of the temps.
 
DBoon said:
Hi Magus,

Don't use the flue damper - a modern EPA stove shouldn't need one unless your draft in the flue is really excessive, such as from a tall chimney. I doubt this applies to you. Your neighbor's reason for using a flue damper probably has more to do with what he burns and how he burns it, and that he probably has an older stove that burns differently.

A stove top temp of 600 degrees with a flue temperature of 300 degrees is not necessarily bad - it seems to be indicated complete secondary combustion. Have you restricted the primary air to get secondary combustion once the stove is up to temperature? Do you see signs of secondary combustion when you are burning (i.e. flames dancing around the top of your firebox)? If so, then you are burning just fine. If not, then your wood may be too wet this season. But if your flue temperature is 300 degrees, you shouldn't be using a flue damper in any case.

Well I will only use the flue damper in case of an emergency....like last night!
I threw 3 Eco Bricks in last night before going to bed.
In the warm half asleep stupor...I left the stove damper wide open...when I threw the three new bricks onto the bed of hot coals at the bottom and closed the door.
I also left an 18 year old sitting 8 feet away from the stove playing video games.

10 Min later my wife wakes me and asks what is that smell?
I go out to the living room and the flue pipe temp was 600 degrees.
The fire in the box looked like the pit of Hades!
I used the flue damper to cut off the air going out and the stove damper to slow the air comming in.

Stood there for a while for the temps to tame themselves.

I look at the boy and ask...son...didnt you notice the stove getting really hot...and with a deer in the headlights look he responds...I thought you wanted it that hot!


sweet Mary!!
 
I am NOT a fan of high flue temps but I hit 600 almost every day on start up and reloads, no big deal once you get use to it. :)
 
oldspark said:
I am NOT a fan of high flue temps but I hit 600 almost every day on start up and reloads, no big deal once you get use to it. :)

Yeah...it scared the hell out of me, ths is the first time I have gotten it that high.
I just increased my chimney by 40% less than 48hrs ago so.....
 
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