Is this overfiring?

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Monosperma

Member
Jun 4, 2011
109
Colorado/NewMexico
I recently installed a Lopi Revere insert. In the top of the firebox are secondary burn tubes. I am burning super-dry juniper, 3-5 inch diameter rounds. I have noticed that when the flames are dying out and the cycle is entering coals stage, and there are blue flames flicking around the top of the firebox, the burn tubes are faintly glowing. Not super brightly, but they are glowing. Probably they are glowing when the flames are in full force, too, it's just that it is too bright to see the glow. The top and sides of the unit are nowhere near glowing; it's just the secondary tubes inside the firebox that I am talking about. I am observing the faint glow, even though the air intake is set 1/4 or less. I'd hate to think I'm overfiring the unit. Am I overfiring the unit?
 
No, you are fine. Would be a good idea to monitor your flue temps and stove top temps if you are concerned with over firing. I burn allot of Juniper as well. It burns very hot so needs to be controlled. Glowing secondary tubes is not uncommon, good luck.
 
That's funny, I can't say I have ever seen mine glow at all. Not to mention I have a different stove, but that shouIdnt matter. I can't see your stove is being over fired at that stage of the cycle with the intake air at 1/4.
 
You're fine. Juniper has a lot of oils in it so you should get a great show when it's going!

Matt
 
my secondary tubes glow very easily, i regularly get them going. Measuring temp on an insert is hard. I keep the face below 600F (measured byIR), usually well below that too.
 
We've had ours glow as well. No biggie. I wouldn't want to see them red hot too much or I bet they'd need replacing more often than normal though.
 
Glowing internal parts of the stove is par for the course. If the exterior begins to emit light, then things are too hot.

pen
 
Mine glow all the time. My stoves top cruises at 700 with little effort.
 
sounds like your ok my air holes up top of my stove glow as well when its burning good.
 
How is the flue temp monitored? I got my first burn in last night. I have Jotul C450. I was unable to get my faceplate on, So I can see my flue where it enters the insert. I burned some cut up redwood 2x6 decking, got a full box going pretty good. My flue was glowing orange where it enters the insert. I had the air turned to half way, and lowered it to 1/4 and the glowing faded. My liner wouldn't bend enough get it into the insert at the proper location to install the surround. I need to get the insert pulled out of the fireplace cavity another 6 inches. The surround looks nice, but it still heats the house well without it. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to get it pulled out more to get it in. With the surround I would not have seen the flue glowing.
 

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Bump. This thread was about burn tubes glowing inside the firebox. Chimney pipe glowing is different and would scare me during the first burn.

I think it got too hot.
 
Did you ever get your stove pulled out Mr A? My installer had a similar issue and used a special 45° elbow that takes the place of the flange provided by Jotul, The part number/description they used was SC645 - 6" X 45 Deg. Elbow Magnaflex. It really reduced the height above the stove that was required before starting back at 45° to clear the lintel.

Hope this is of some help.

How is the flue temp monitored? I got my first burn in last night. I have Jotul C450. I was unable to get my faceplate on, So I can see my flue where it enters the insert. I burned some cut up redwood 2x6 decking, got a full box going pretty good. My flue was glowing orange where it enters the insert. I had the air turned to half way, and lowered it to 1/4 and the glowing faded. My liner wouldn't bend enough get it into the insert at the proper location to install the surround. I need to get the insert pulled out of the fireplace cavity another 6 inches. The surround looks nice, but it still heats the house well without it. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to get it pulled out more to get it in. With the surround I would not have seen the flue glowing.
 
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