Time to throw some pine on and open up the air! If this goes on much more I won't have any room for wood!
Matt
Matt
Ack! My little stove is coaling up!
- Thread starter EatenByLimestone
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
- Status
Reducing coaling:
For east-west stoves, burning smaller, hotter loads does it.
For north-south types, burning larger pieces does it.
For east-west stoves, burning smaller, hotter loads does it.
For north-south types, burning larger pieces does it.
I have a Jotul F3, is that an east-west or a north south? Or a north-by-northwest? <gr>
I have coals build up, too. I generally put some smaller pieces in there and open it up all the way, seems to get them to bun down.
I have coals build up, too. I generally put some smaller pieces in there and open it up all the way, seems to get them to bun down.
Coaling up is when the stove is full of coals and you can't put anymore wood in the stove until the coals burn down
Having a small stove, I've learned that you can reduce the coaling by using smaller splits. We use slab this year and the awful coaling we had last year is now gone - used to have to clean it out twice a day sometimes.
Depends on where you live... or maybe how you look at it... if you look at it from the side, it changesWoodsroad said:
The F3 is E-W (primary air is fed to the side of the wood).
Stevebass4 said:
:gulp:
That's sac-religious....Run with the air wide open and burn some softwood with poor coaling abilities ie. PINE
Gunner said:
Those coals give almost half your heat! Let em burn down or burn the fire a little hotter.
Stevebass4 said:
Are you saying your coaling up even after burning your fire wide open? Could be a draft problem?
yup i run it wide open all the time
the qf 2100 is a small insert with only one air lever - i don't have a draft problem that i know of - never any smoke inside the home
using a direct connect - 6 feet into my chimney
i don't know how to run it any hotter than what i am doing now
the qf 2100 is a small insert with only one air lever - i don't have a draft problem that i know of - never any smoke inside the home
using a direct connect - 6 feet into my chimney
i don't know how to run it any hotter than what i am doing now
Stevebass4 said:
How tall of chimney and what is the inside flue diameter? It may be drafting well enough not to dump smoke into you home, but not enough pull to give you optimum efficiency. Maybe you need a full liner? I use to have excessive coals with my old stove running into an 6.5"x10" flue. Then relined with 5.5 and stove burned much better.
Might be worth checking the seal where the direct connect pipe meets the chimney tiles. That could kill your draft if it leaks.
I'd say you have a draft problem... describe the chimney.
You might try larger logs. My Quad 2100 will burn just fine on a couple 6-7" dia. splits without coals building up. It loves big rounds, too. I run the air at the lowest setting.
You might try larger logs. My Quad 2100 will burn just fine on a couple 6-7" dia. splits without coals building up. It loves big rounds, too. I run the air at the lowest setting.
normal brick chimney (exterior) with clay lined the direct connect is blocked off with a blockoff plate and the direct connect is 6 feet inside
i would guess it's 20 feet high
i know i should get a full liner
i would guess it's 20 feet high
i know i should get a full liner
This is one of the reasons why I'm glad I bought a Summit insert. I don't live in a truely cold climate. Right now, we are hitting the 50's during the day and a stove full of coals will keep the house warm nicely. It's also good to know that I can always put more wood in it. I've only had it half full of coals or maybe a little bit more. That's still almost 2 cubic feet of coals. Shovel them to the front and open the draft and I get good heat for a long time.
I guess I am lost here.
Why in the world would you want to discourage coals?
I have a small woodstove. And when it gets full of coals thats when I get my best heat.
I rake them to the front, add a few pallet slabs, put in the hardwood then shut it down.
I don't think I would ever take them out.
Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this??
Why in the world would you want to discourage coals?
I have a small woodstove. And when it gets full of coals thats when I get my best heat.
I rake them to the front, add a few pallet slabs, put in the hardwood then shut it down.
I don't think I would ever take them out.
Perhaps someone can enlighten me on this??
Wolves-Lower said:
I think what is being referenced here is the fact that they have a LARGE coal buildup, not allowing enough room to add cord wood.
This can be a problem depending on the types of wood used and burning habits. Coal buildup isn't really a bad thing, but some stoves perform better while a live flame exists and gasification of the unburnt wood happens.
Some ideas that may help:
If you wish to reduce (burn) a large coal base down:
1. Keep the coals stirred up and keep the air controls open (obviously watch to make sure you are in the safe temp zone), if you do not let an ash coating establish on the coal it will burn hotter and faster.
2. Stir the coals and add small, dry splits a couple at a time to keep the firebox temp up. This is where a lesser wood such as pine works well. This allows for good heat generation as well as consuming the coal base (lots of heat in those coals).
3. Attempt to rake or pile the coals into the center of the stove (but disturb the pile often to get rid of any accumulated ash). This will concentrate heat (like starting your charcoal grill).
Hope this helps.
- Status
Similar threads
