I have a 3 plus year old Osburn 2200 that worked really well the first year, then seemed to degrade in efficiency and heat output over the last couple seasons. It gets damn cold up here and we're paying close to 4.50 a gallon for heating oil. This critter is my main heat source during the evenings and all weekend.
I've had the chimney cleaned each year before firing things up in August, but I have my doubts about how deep the sweeps who've done it managed to get into cleaning the upper reaches of the stove. The wood's good and seasoned, things go well as long as I leave the door cracked open and the inlet air handle full open. I get it up to temp I believe, try to turn the inlet air down and things go rapidly downhill to a slow smoky smoulder.
The book is vague at best. I pulled all the bricks out and gave it a good cleaning, but that didn't seem to do the trick. Anyone have any ideas how to get on top of the upper fire bricks and into the flue inlet? And just where does the inlet air enter the firebox? I'd like to make sure that's not restricted....
Thanks!
I've had the chimney cleaned each year before firing things up in August, but I have my doubts about how deep the sweeps who've done it managed to get into cleaning the upper reaches of the stove. The wood's good and seasoned, things go well as long as I leave the door cracked open and the inlet air handle full open. I get it up to temp I believe, try to turn the inlet air down and things go rapidly downhill to a slow smoky smoulder.
The book is vague at best. I pulled all the bricks out and gave it a good cleaning, but that didn't seem to do the trick. Anyone have any ideas how to get on top of the upper fire bricks and into the flue inlet? And just where does the inlet air enter the firebox? I'd like to make sure that's not restricted....
Thanks!