Close call tonight! Stove top temp hit 800!

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CountryGal

CountryGal

Feeling the Heat
Oct 1, 2006
331
Table Rock Lake
hooterville-holler.blogspot.com
It's been snowing off and on today and I heard a thump and saw a log had hit the stove door. I put on my gloves and went to open the door gently and happened to glance at the stove top temp. It was 750 and climbing. OMG!

Paul had added a big log and it must have had quite a bed of coals. He said he shut down the air control at 450-500. I got the log moved and watched the temp climb to 800 before it started backing off. Nothing glowing and it's back down to a tiny bit over 700.

I did a search here and found my post that my stove dealer told me 900 was overfiring. Still, I like to keep it 600 or under.
 
Steel stoves can take quite a bit of abuse.

For future reference, some people have actually found that they can drop their temps by opening up the primary air all the way or even opening the door. It seems counter-intuitive but doing either thing shifts the balance in the stove away from the secondary burn action which is getting the stove top so hot.

My wife has a tendency to see the stove do this sort of thing quite often. As such, I installed a flue pipe damper and when she's got things ripping a bit more than she anticipated she closes that down which reduces the draft and helps regain control.

glad it didn't split in 1/2 (BTW, my stove saw 904 °F on the IR the other night after one of the aforementioned loads) This is why I think I'll only ever own a steel stove and will only ever buy one of the plain Jane budget friendly models like I have. If this gets tweaked, I can buy another and still be in it for less than the cost of one of the more expensive brands.

pen
 
Haven't seen ya in a while. Yeah, that Country tank can take it. But I was wondering about that glow in the desert NASA reported seeing from the shuttle.

BTW: I still think about that pic of your old chimney every now and then.
 
BrotherBart said:
Haven't seen ya in a while. Yeah, that Country tank can take it. But I was wondering about that glow in the desert NASA reported seeing from the shuttle.

BTW: I still think about that pic of your old chimney every now and then.
Click to expand...

Bart, ignorance was bliss for sure! I still can't believe that thing didn't burn the house down before I decided to get a new EPA stove and new chimney. Then finding this forum really made me feel I had angels looking over us.
 
I hit 920° on the front left door of the Vig last week.
 
With your permission I want to post that pic. For a wake-up call for folks.

This was between the ceiling and the roof.
 

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BrotherBart said:
With your permission I want to post that pic. For a wake-up call for folks.
Click to expand...


What the hell happened to that poor thing?
 
Yep. That was pulled out of my attic when I had the Country and new chimney installed. I imagine the pipe had rusted out from an old leaky roof. But we still burned the old smoke dragon. I had no clue the dangers!

I had the sprayed roof put on in the early 90s and never thought about the chimney pipe (just had a new 30 year shingle roof put on in January 2010).

I remember the day the installers called me outside to look at it, then I posted it here in my installation thread. Holy Moley!
 
I posted the pic to remind everybody that just looking down the middle of the pipe doesn't always tell it all. In fact after five seasons I am pulling the top plates and stuffed in insulation to get a look at the outside of my liners this year.
 
So that's the other picture that shocked you BB. I remember you said there were two.

pen said:
This is why I think I'll only ever own a steel stove and will only ever buy one of the plain Jane budget friendly models like I have. If this gets tweaked, I can buy another and still be in it for less than the cost of one of the more expensive brands.

pen
Click to expand...

Great point Pen.
 
You did a first class job with that stove and hearth. I wish to heck I had as nice looking a hearth as you do.
 
After the scare I had earlier this week, i try to keep the stove below 500, and yes I know my pipe wasnt very clean, or in need of a cleaning, especially at the 90degree elbow, which was by the way done promptly after my chimney fire, I now try to keep the stove top at 500 or below.
 
KatWill said:
After the scare I had earlier this week, i try to keep the stove below 500, and yes I know my pipe wasnt very clean, or in need of a cleaning, especially at the 90degree elbow, which was by the way done promptly after my chimney fire, I now try to keep the stove top at 500 or below.
Click to expand...

Doing that is just gonna get ya right back into the crapped up chimney business. If that pipe is clean now, let that big boy eat. And don't use that pipe damper.
 
I hear ya Brother, What temp do you run yours at? Still a bit shook thats all.
 
PM sent katwill.

Wanna keep the thread on track.
 
CountryGal said:
It's been snowing off and on today and I heard a thump and saw a log had hit the stove door. I put on my gloves and went to open the door gently and happened to glance at the stove top temp. It was 750 and climbing. OMG!

Paul had added a big log and it must have had quite a bed of coals. He said he shut down the air control at 450-500. I got the log moved and watched the temp climb to 800 before it started backing off. Nothing glowing and it's back down to a tiny bit over 700.

I did a search here and found my post that my stove dealer told me 900 was overfiring. Still, I like to keep it 600 or under.
Click to expand...

Me n you both. I have the same preference, but had a similar experience. Being caught off guard, I close the main air down and kept monitoring the flu temp and stove temp wondering if I had messed up, until it went back below 700.

Really gets the adrenalin going doesnt it!? :grrr:
 
DonNC said:
CountryGal said:
It's been snowing off and on today and I heard a thump and saw a log had hit the stove door. I put on my gloves and went to open the door gently and happened to glance at the stove top temp. It was 750 and climbing. OMG!

Paul had added a big log and it must have had quite a bed of coals. He said he shut down the air control at 450-500. I got the log moved and watched the temp climb to 800 before it started backing off. Nothing glowing and it's back down to a tiny bit over 700.

I did a search here and found my post that my stove dealer told me 900 was overfiring. Still, I like to keep it 600 or under.
Click to expand...

Me n you both. I have the same preference, but had a similar experience. Being caught off guard, I close the main air down and kept monitoring the flu temp and stove temp wondering if I had messed up, until it went back below 700.

Really gets the adrenalin going doesnt it!? :grrr:
Click to expand...

Yes it does! I must have walked over and looked at that temp 50 times before I could relax. Got my exercise tonight for sure.

Also turned off the lamp so I could see if anything started to glow. And, of course, came here immediately to search posts.

I actually pondered whether I should try and block the air underneath my air control but decided to wait and watch. Didn't have to...but reading here over the years had me find it off season in case I needed to shove tin foil into it. LOL!

This forum is a treasure of information!!
 
Countrygal, I am sure jealous of that beautiful hearth!!!! I would sure like to see more pics!! I am also glad those angels were looking over you with the old setup....And yes, hearth.com rocks and I do not know where I would be if I had not stumbled upon this site.....I have had my adrenaline going a few times this year. Had a log roll out on me so I resist the urge to move those logs now. Glad your ok now.
 
BrotherBart said:
With your permission I want to post that pic. For a wake-up call for folks.

This was between the ceiling and the roof.
Click to expand...

OMG it's amazing the house didn't burn down!!

Ray
 
pen said:
Steel stoves can take quite a bit of abuse.

For future reference, some people have actually found that they can drop their temps by opening up the primary air all the way or even opening the door. It seems counter-intuitive but doing either thing shifts the balance in the stove away from the secondary burn action which is getting the stove top so hot.

My wife has a tendency to see the stove do this sort of thing quite often. As such, I installed a flue pipe damper and when she's got things ripping a bit more than she anticipated she closes that down which reduces the draft and helps regain control.

glad it didn't split in 1/2 (BTW, my stove saw 904 °F on the IR the other night after one of the aforementioned loads) This is why I think I'll only ever own a steel stove and will only ever buy one of the plain Jane budget friendly models like I have. If this gets tweaked, I can buy another and still be in it for less than the cost of one of the more expensive brands.

pen
Click to expand...

I don't think I would recommend that, while it may cool down the stove top I think that flue temp would go sky high.

I just did a little experiment, my stove top was at about 550* and the flue temp was at about 650*, I opened the door slightly and the stove turned into a blast furnace, the flue temp went up 300* in less than a minute. :ahhh:

On my stove I like to keep it under 700* My blower will turn on high at 675*, even with a full load of pallet wood it generally won't go above 700*

I think if your stove is getting too hot, turn on the blower on high, if that does not work, plug the secondary air intake with foil, that should bring the temp down quickly.
 
GAMMA RAY said:
Countrygal, I am sure jealous of that beautiful hearth!!!! I would sure like to see more pics!! I am also glad those angels were looking over you with the old setup....And yes, hearth.com rocks and I do not know where I would be if I had not stumbled upon this site.....I have had my adrenaline going a few times this year. Had a log roll out on me so I resist the urge to move those logs now. Glad your ok now.
Click to expand...

183080_1903227618563_1177893271_32437931_5018295_n.jpg

The old smoke dragon and hearth!

188448_1903229338606_1177893271_32437936_4073289_n.jpg

Country and new hearth.

When a log rolls, I always put on both gloves and grab the shovel and I open the door very slowly. My gloves are heavy duty and if I had to use my hand to stop it from coming out I could. The stove has a little lip inside the door that helps keep the logs from rolling out, but I don't count on it.
 
Beautiful hearth and stove!!! Thanks for posting pics. I don't even go near the door without my welding gloves on!!! Just in case....By the way, great avatar pic!!
 
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