Englander 30 question

[fran35]

Hey guys,
Quick question:
I purchased the 30 last winter and was using so so wood. That wood has now reasonably dried and the stove is performing much better than last year. I know that the best way to decrease creosote production is to build hotter/shorter fires. However, that is easy during the day. But at night, when loading up for the extended burn, I load the box up, get the whole thing going to about 650 and then turn down the air to a trickle. This makes it do that I usually have a small bed of coals come morning. My question is this--Is this practice of turning the air way down to make the load last through the night bad for creosote production? I also have 30 + feet of Class A running up the side of the house, which may also encourage the build up. Thanks.

 

[pen]

So long as you aren't smoldering the fire at night (no flames / black glass / smoke from chimney)

Then you'll do fine.

pen

 

[Jags]

The idea is to keep the burn tubes active during the outgas stage of the burn. Sounds like you are doing it by the book. A good sign is that when you tune the primary air down, are you still getting active secondary burns (flame at the burn tubes). Its a sign that you are getting good re-burn of the gasses.

When you tune it down, if you notice that the fire just goes "flat" on you, ya might want to give it a bit more time with more primary air.

 

[fran35]

Thanks guys. Also, I have a stove top thermometer, but not a pipe thermometer. Should I really get both? I guess I figure that I can kind of gauge what is going on in the 5 feet of stove pipe by the stove top thermometer. Also, if my 30 regularly hits 750 at night on the big loads before I turn down the air, is that too much? What is the overfire temp on a 30? Just wondering at what temp I should start getting nervous.

 

[GAMMA RAY]

Fran...I have both a stovetop and pipe thermometer on my 30. When I get a good load going on a nice bed of coals the stovetop gets up to 750 till he settles.....I got it to 800 once....and that made me a lil nervous....I am still learning the stove and have to remember I don't have the lil old 13 no more!

 

[Jags]

Thanks guys. Also, I have a stove top thermometer, but not a pipe thermometer. Should I really get both?

Well, I'll ask the question back to you. Can you drive a car without a fuel gauge? Sure you can, but you might not always have accurate representation of where you stand. I would highly suggest a pipe thermo, but it is not a "requirement".