Proper Air Control For PE Summit Insert

[Coldinclev]

As a newbe to owning an insert as well as this forum I have a question about air control. The manual that comes with this insert is very vague on this. As a new owner you tend to worry about overfiring the stove and damaging a very costly investment. There is really no place on the summit to put a magnetic thermometer so I hit the casing around the top of the door as well as glass with an IR thermometer. I run the air control wide open until logs are really cooking (15 -20 min). Then I turn the control down until flames are tamed. Sometimes 75%. I've even run it all the way off. Can anyone shed some light on this. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks

 

[madison]

It is a learning process,,, no if and's or buts

Many variables including chimney performance--> interior vs exterior, height of chimney, outside temperature, size of splits, moisture content of fuel, species of wood, amount of coals remaining when reloading to name a few.

Rather than trying to make it overly scientific with IR thermometers etc. I typically just load up the stove, open the air control, set a timer for ~10 mins, reduce the air if the fuel looks like it is ignited. Then shut down the air completely a few mins later. I have a tall interior chimney and after the first yr of burning marginally seasoned wood,now have dry wood, 100% locust. As you will see from subsequent posts, dry well seasoned wood is key to these stoves.

I don't have an insert, but a similar firebox.