Even though I don't own a PE stove, this is good to know. How old is your T6? PE was in my top 3 picks originally. I really loved the look and the reputation of their stoves at that time.We're warm here this fall so I have only done a few fires. It was 64F yesterday, 54 right now. Our T6 still looks as good as the day it was born. That is except for the ashen look inside.
Excellent. I bet that first fire in the new unit is going to feel good....UPDATE!
Well, got the good news today that PE is going to replace my firebox! Hopefully it is in on Friday. Guess what I am doing this weekend!
Even though I don't own a PE stove, this is good to know. How old is your T6? PE was in my top 3 picks originally. I really loved the look and the reputation of their stoves at that time.
Congratulations! As a satisfied owner of a Super insert I am pretty sure you will love yours, too. I would recommend getting an IR gun. The hottest accessible place I found was in the center just above the door and below the top edge. However, I don't think you will be able to fit a thermometer there. With the IR gun I can also hit the flue collar through the blower opening and find that about 50 F warmer than the spot over the door. Thus, I usually run the stove at 550 to 600 F at the door spot which should keep me well under 700 F overall. I can check again but as I remember the top was quite a bit cooler than the spot I am using.
If you wouldn't mind, can you check top verses front of door? Also, what's the temp in the upper left corner of the door verses the center of the door? Any suggestions on an IR gun? I was just going to get another mag thermometer. My biggest concern is that air from the blowers cools the thermometer, giving an inaccurate reading.
I took some measurements today. The stove has been running with the air fully closed and nice secondaries for ~30 min with the blower off. The IR gun readings:
Above the door: center: 590 F left and right corner (but not on the blower cover yet!): 465-470 F
Top; just before the surround: center: 420 F left and right side: 230-240 F
Flue collar, "lasered" through the blower opening: ~600 F
I started closing the air when the door center spot hit 350 F and had it almost fully closed at 500 F.
I use the IR gun from Harbor Freight which seems to work well enough. Usually it is $40 but often on sale for $30 and sometimes even for $20. I think for many inserts it is the only way to get some reliable readings. The manufacturers should really put a recommendation in their manual where to place the thermometer and what temps not to exceed. Just simply saying "not to overfire it" is not enough IMO.
I think temp measurements with an insert is an impossible dream. My 30-NC in the fireplace can be kicking at 650 to 700 and shortly after I turn the blower on at half speed the stove top thermo reading drops a couple of hundred degrees. Same for the infrared thermo. Ya just gotta do it with how the fire looks and if you are smoking up the 'hood. Fine to test how the burn looks and measure temps without the blower. But when that blower is turned on, all bets are off.
So the BIG question that PE can't answer is: what temp can I burn to and where to put the thermometer? My dealer has recommended that I place it on the top, just behind the cast iron top and that I run 400-600F with 700F being the max. I am starting with that advice but am open to others input. I used to run it just over the top left corner of the door with the same temp ranges in mind He suggested that didn't do a good job of representing where the stove was actually running. I am thinking I am going to run 2 for a while and compare.
I'll vouch for when the blower is off. Especially on an insert.
Had to run the PE with no power during Sandy's after math. Glad I bought it, and that it convects the heat with no blower.
But I really had to keep an eye on the temps.I know they are way hotter than the thermo shows (upper right of the door). Running the 13 was way easier.
what did they say?I called up six dealers with the same question a couple of weeks ago and got wildly different answers, including from PE tech support themselves.
I am very pleased with the ultimate outcome of my situation.This should give renewed hope to those of us who were starting to question PE's warranty policies.
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.