We installed a TLC-2000 in Oct of 2009. I figured last year would be my learning year but some things still aren't working quite right. With firewood things are pretty good but with coal I have had problems. This is Bituminous coal since that is all we have around here (SLC, UT) from nut to stove size. It comes down to two issues:
1. It is rare that I get the nice flames dancing on top of the coal. Usually when I try to load it up there is LOTS of smoke (When I first got it I smoked the whole neighborhood) tumbling around inside but no flame. I have learned (the hard way) to keep a little red coal exposed but it can sometimes smoke so much that it smothers even that flame. Any suggestions or do I just have coal with lots of volatiles?
2. When I get it loaded up and some flames, the flames will just keep getting stronger and stronger until it is just a fire box of flame. Moving the air controls, even as low as possible has little effect. As a result even if I load it up full at 10 PM, the next morning at 7 AM it will be pretty much dead. Does this mean I need a barometric damper? If I turn the air control all the way down where is it pulling air from?
Thanks
1. It is rare that I get the nice flames dancing on top of the coal. Usually when I try to load it up there is LOTS of smoke (When I first got it I smoked the whole neighborhood) tumbling around inside but no flame. I have learned (the hard way) to keep a little red coal exposed but it can sometimes smoke so much that it smothers even that flame. Any suggestions or do I just have coal with lots of volatiles?
2. When I get it loaded up and some flames, the flames will just keep getting stronger and stronger until it is just a fire box of flame. Moving the air controls, even as low as possible has little effect. As a result even if I load it up full at 10 PM, the next morning at 7 AM it will be pretty much dead. Does this mean I need a barometric damper? If I turn the air control all the way down where is it pulling air from?
Thanks
