Just when I thought I had my woodstove dialed-in, I began experiencing a new wrinkle.
I swerved into some locust in my woodpile and found the stuff hard to light-off and at the end of the burn, lots of big coals - limiting my firebox capacity and reducing the amount of heat output potential. My locust was seasoned and dry. Did some searching and found that others on this forum had some of the same trouble with locust. All of this was contrary to my previous experience as I regard locust as the best firewood I have ever burned. But my stove top temps were only getting up to about 450 degrees with the locust.
So I swiched over to some maple and oak mix and my burn was better, but only a bit. My glass started blackening-up on the sides and I'm thinking maybe a bit moist?
Then, I open the firebox door over several days and find smoke wanting to spill out the door - not something I have experienced before.
So - I got a new 6 inch stainless steel liner with 1/2 insulation that only a week or so drafted like a vacuum cleaner. I'm thinking I've got a creosote obstruction.
It warmed up outside today, so I let the fire go out and the stove cool. I check the stove pipe going from the stove to the thimble/tee. All clean with only a little black dust. I go down to the cleanout, open the door on it and BINGO the problem has been found. The cap on the end of the liner had fell off and the chimney was drawing air from the leaky cleanout door and limiting the draft to the stove. While I was there, I put a mirror up and had a look-see at the chimney liner and it was super clean. Re-attached the liner cap, started a new fire, my draft was back and the stove once again easily cruises to 500 to 600 degrees, the glass has burned clear and I am a happy camper!
Turns out the locust was good, there was no creosote or obstruction. Tricked by the liner!
Happy New Year Everyone
Bill
I swerved into some locust in my woodpile and found the stuff hard to light-off and at the end of the burn, lots of big coals - limiting my firebox capacity and reducing the amount of heat output potential. My locust was seasoned and dry. Did some searching and found that others on this forum had some of the same trouble with locust. All of this was contrary to my previous experience as I regard locust as the best firewood I have ever burned. But my stove top temps were only getting up to about 450 degrees with the locust.
So I swiched over to some maple and oak mix and my burn was better, but only a bit. My glass started blackening-up on the sides and I'm thinking maybe a bit moist?
Then, I open the firebox door over several days and find smoke wanting to spill out the door - not something I have experienced before.
So - I got a new 6 inch stainless steel liner with 1/2 insulation that only a week or so drafted like a vacuum cleaner. I'm thinking I've got a creosote obstruction.
It warmed up outside today, so I let the fire go out and the stove cool. I check the stove pipe going from the stove to the thimble/tee. All clean with only a little black dust. I go down to the cleanout, open the door on it and BINGO the problem has been found. The cap on the end of the liner had fell off and the chimney was drawing air from the leaky cleanout door and limiting the draft to the stove. While I was there, I put a mirror up and had a look-see at the chimney liner and it was super clean. Re-attached the liner cap, started a new fire, my draft was back and the stove once again easily cruises to 500 to 600 degrees, the glass has burned clear and I am a happy camper!
Turns out the locust was good, there was no creosote or obstruction. Tricked by the liner!
Happy New Year Everyone
Bill
