Quick question on a NC13 & metal moving.

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chvymn99

Minister of Fire
Nov 20, 2010
652
Kansas
Been noticing the top portion of where the door seals against, seems to be moving inwards during a good hard burn. Done the dollar bill test while its cold (because I dont want to burn up my dollar bill), seems to be a decent drag on it, not as tight as other locations. But under a good fire, I notice a air gap. I'll either have to open and make sure there isn't any foreign material between the seal and the box or just push a little harder on the door to cut this air gap. Is this a sign that the gasket needs to be replaced? Or does the metal move that much during its heat cycles? I just dont see it when I get a smaller fire, even if I get the stove top to the same temperature. I just bought a temperature gun and its reading about 650-700 during a decent burn, because I never believe the other temperature gauge.
 
I have the same problem with my insert. Dont get me wrong, I do like my insert. It has kept us nice and toasty this past 3 winters, but I have the same problem you are describing. I have changed my door gasket this past September and when the stove is cold everything is nice and tight. When the stove gets hot I have to keep pushing the door handle lower and lower to keep the door firmly closed. The door handle ends up in 6 o'clock position. I wish there was something that would eliminate this metal movement.
 
I have the same problem with my insert. Dont get me wrong, I do like my insert. It has kept us nice and toasty this past 3 winters, but I have the same problem you are describing. I have changed my door gasket this past September and when the stove is cold everything is nice and tight. When the stove gets hot I have to keep pushing the door handle lower and lower to keep the door firmly closed. The door handle ends up in 6 o'clock position. I wish there was something that would eliminate this metal movement.

There is, a thicker front plate. It moves because the metal is not stiff enough and while it could be argued you are not over firing most stoves you have taken this one beyond structural stiffness.
 
Something doesn't make sense here. The top of the door frame is reinforced by the primary air/air wash manifold just over it. That and the fact that cooler air constantly runs over the metal in that spot as the primary air travels over it on its way down the glass and into the fire. Get a temp between the top plate and the top of the door during a burn.

ETA: And when door is open put a straight edge something flat against the top of the door frame on the front of the stove and see if there is a bow in the stove body there.
 
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You could cut a few strips of soda can / beer can and use that for a hot dollar bill test as well. Just cut the 1/2 to 3/4 wide and the length of the can and might have to flatten them out a bit but easy enough to do. Best thing would be gel some .0015 feeler gauge stock from most any industrial supply place and it will be flat as well as thin.
 
ok,
Something doesn't make sense here. The top of the door frame is reinforced by the primary air/air wash manifold just over it. That and the fact that cooler air constantly runs over the metal in that spot as the primary air travels over it on its way down the glass and into the fire. Get a temp between the top plate and the top of the door during a burn.

ETA: And when door is open put a straight edge something flat against the top of the door frame on the front of the stove and see if there is a bow in the stove body there.

Ok, so I just did, with stove cold. Its bowed in ever so lightly, i can just see a glimpse of light. What could have caused it? Any remedy besides new stove? Im assuming that youve seen before since that was a suggestion.
 
ok,


Ok, so I just did, with stove cold. Its bowed in ever so lightly, i can just see a glimpse of light. What could have caused it? Any remedy besides new stove? Im assuming that youve seen before since that was a suggestion.


Back in 2006 my first 30-NC was bowed in at the bottom of the door frame like that. A manufacturing flaw. ESW replaced the stove. Since it was winter, until we could swap stoves I put fatter gasket on the bottom center of the door to seal the leak.

Get on the phone Monday to ESW tech support.
 
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Thank you... I appreciate the guidance.
 
2 YO 13 here, and no such issue.

I'll keep an eye on it.
 
BB, I called Monday, and talked to a techincian. But I really dont think he was understanding what I was saying. I think he keyed on the door gasket when I said that I originally thought that I had a bad gasket. He wants me to change it and see if it takes care of the issue. I explained to him that its heating season, that it might be kinda of difficult. But he took down the info for when I called back.

Anyways its happened twice since then. But this morning, specifically. I started the fire as usually, it had reached temperature (stove top and pipe). So I started to push in the air rod. By the time that I had gotten about 1/4 to 1/2" from bottom, I actually killed the fire. So I pulled the rod back out (never did touch the door at any time since I had shut it). Fire started right back up. Let it get back up to temperature. Pushed the rod back in about 1/2 way back in. Had just set back down and noticed the fire started going to the front side of the stove. At this time it started to flare and widened the flames with a downward appearance (a signature of the moving metal, that I have keyed on). I grab my cell phone and temperature gun. The stove top temperature was about 560-580 and the area above the door was about 540-560.

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ok found it,

i'll work on getting you squared away when i get back to work will probably be middle of next week though , like i said in PM wife is in hospital again 4th time in less than a year she went under the knife last friday and im hoping she will come home tomorrow, im staying home with her for a few extra days until i know she can move around ok. did my tech key a replacement door gasket? if so doing as BB suggested will make an effective :"bandaid' until i can come up with a permanent solution.

sorry i didnt catch this sooner but its been a rough week, ive kinda put stove stuff on the "back burner" do me a favor if ya would, PM me the serial number so i can look it up, include a good "daytime" phone number, i'll call you , but like i said will be deep into next week before i go back to work so i cant get anything done til then. what you have going on is not at all dangerous, its not gonna split open or anything radical like that the temps you are seeing aren't even close to what we have registered in our lab during the "torture tests" which that stove handled with flying colors. you will probably use a bit more wood with that air leak if we leave it alone though. he air entering through the leak is following the same "path" as the primary you should be able to close it further than normal and have an active burn with less secondaries visible but i expect it will still burn pretty clean due to the location of the leak.

rest assured i'll get you taken care of
 
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Mike, best wishes for your wife's speedy and complete recovery. Don't worry too much about stoves.
 
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No problem. I completely understand, like i said in the PM. Take care of your Valentine, she deserves the best. I hope her the best & my prayers go out to you guys.
 
thanks BG, appreciate it a bunch, Dee is doing well she had a milestone this evening. she had surgery last march for diverticulitis , soon after developed a post operative infection on the suture line and had to go back in to get that dealt with (was a nasty infection hit her quick and hard). we got that cleared up and all seemed well, then hernia's popped up, back she went, they installed a mesh of some sort to fix the hernias , was ok for a few months then the mesh failed badly. they had to go in and remove the mesh and install something that was as described to me as "like leather" hoping to have her back home tomorrow so i can spoil her rotten again. my sister in law is coming down from akron tomorrow to give me a hand but im not leaving the house until i see her get up and move around without help i got 5 weeks vacation time sitting there , i'll use it all if i need to.

again though BG, i appreciate the concern bro, i love you guys
 
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No problem. I completely understand, like i said in the PM. Take care of your Valentine, she deserves the best. I hope her the best & my prayers go out to you guys.


thanks chvymn,

if it looks like i may be tied up long term i'll have one of my techs take care of you, ive seen your shots i know whats going on, if i cant fix the stove, i'll replace it. that's how we roll
 
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Stoveguy, my prayers are with you and your family...

Furthermore, really... I am absolutely amazed at the customer service you stove guys give us pyro's. I have a Blaze King Princess and couldn't be happier, but seeing customer service like this makes me want to put a 13 in upstairs this weekend (although it definitely isn't in the budget).

Furthermore, this is the type of service you expect from a high price stove, not the high value (moderate price, but great performing stoves). I tip my hat to you and your organization.

Thanks
 
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Just wanted to bring a update on this. My Stove is out of the house and the new one should be home tonight. It has been a pleasure to work with Mike, after a discussion he's exchanging me out a NC-13 on warranty. At this time, I'm so glad that I bought a stove from a company that stands behind there product. Thank you and Kuddo's to you Mike and Englander Stoves.
 
Just wanted to bring a update on this. My Stove is out of the house and the new one should be home tonight. It has been a pleasure to work with Mike, after a discussion he's exchanging me out a NC-13 on warranty. At this time, I'm so glad that I bought a stove from a company that stands behind there product. Thank you and Kuddo's to you Mike and Englander Stoves.

This right here is just one of the reason so many folks cannot say enough good things about Englander . . . and of course their employees with their excellent customer service.
 
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