firebox is packed with red coals taking up space. they keep the stove kind of hot but doesnt throw as much heat as when wood actually burns. any advice? causes? etc, thx
Blaze King Princess source of too many coals?
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Drop by this thread for a current similar topic...
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/jotul-oslo-builds-too-many-coals.136115/#post-1826420
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/jotul-oslo-builds-too-many-coals.136115/#post-1826420
Usually two things cause excess coals, wood not dry enough and refilling the stove too soon. Usually when there's a cold snap we get a lot of threads with this issue.
And if the coaling stage is a problem because the stove does not throw "enough" heat then the stove is undersized for the heating load of the house. The coaling stage is an integral part of the burn cycle and needs to be taken into account when deciding on the stove.
Since you have a BK: What's the temp of the cat? That will determine how much heat you get.
Since you have a BK: What's the temp of the cat? That will determine how much heat you get.
7acres
Minister of Fire
Want a quick fix? Shovel the coals up and dump them in a pile outside. Then turn the water hose on and quench them till you get no steam. With a cleaned out firebox you will have to light it from kindling. But that's easy, quick and nearly smoke free with a top down/upside down fire (Google it).
Stump shot
Member
Try turning it up to 3-3.5 for a couple of hours before you reload. This should burn down your coals and make a lot of heat.
We really need some advise from BK burners here. Cat stoves are a, well actually, different breed of cat.
Skidooer
Member
My King Ultra is doing this right now. I'm going to try some different wood and see how it goes (nice dry clean Elm). Think I'm turning it down too quick after re loads, and the Poplar/ Ash mix I'm burning has quite a bit of bark attached. I rarely rake to the front. Any other suggestions?
Poindexter
Minister of Fire
I tried burning my coals down today just because of this thread. I had a cold stove about twelve hours ago so I could sweep my chimney and used some kindling for the first time in weeks. I ran it on three for hours to get the house warmed back up so my wife would put on something skimpier than sweat pants.
When I got down to 3-4" of coals in the bottom of my Ashford 30 I didn't reload just yet, as I have been doing for a few weeks now. Instead I levered over to bypass and got busy with my BK tool. I pulled chunks of charcoal out of the back of the firebox and brought them forward in the firebox - starting about three hours ago.
The cat was still hot, so I went back to engaged and let rip on 3/3, high, for a good hour or so. Then I went to bypass again and wrangled some more, left it on high, 3/3.
The worst was the dang bio-log in the very back on the floor. I got my shovel under it and moved it a bit at a time onto my coal bed on the front.
What I found was with a heap of coals full width of the stove taking up maybe the front 8" of the floor and standing maybe 6" tall, give or take, with the thermostat on high and the cat engaged the cat needle would climb and the room would get warmer- and my coal pile got smaller.
Once I got down to a heap of coals across the front about 6" deep and 4" tall I reloaded the stove with fresh wood and turned the 'stat down to 2/3 before I blistered.
I'm getting into the season where the thermostat is just going to be on three for about six weeks or so, but I can see raking the coals and charcoal lumps forward to burn them down is going to be a regular chore. Pretty flames, but I am not going to complain about it. My only complaint about the stove is settling into my warm chair in my warm living room to see lumps of charred wood through my stove window. I'd ruther watch flames dance in the stove than anything on TV I can think of, and for the next few weeks I'll get to.
When I got down to 3-4" of coals in the bottom of my Ashford 30 I didn't reload just yet, as I have been doing for a few weeks now. Instead I levered over to bypass and got busy with my BK tool. I pulled chunks of charcoal out of the back of the firebox and brought them forward in the firebox - starting about three hours ago.
The cat was still hot, so I went back to engaged and let rip on 3/3, high, for a good hour or so. Then I went to bypass again and wrangled some more, left it on high, 3/3.
The worst was the dang bio-log in the very back on the floor. I got my shovel under it and moved it a bit at a time onto my coal bed on the front.
What I found was with a heap of coals full width of the stove taking up maybe the front 8" of the floor and standing maybe 6" tall, give or take, with the thermostat on high and the cat engaged the cat needle would climb and the room would get warmer- and my coal pile got smaller.
Once I got down to a heap of coals across the front about 6" deep and 4" tall I reloaded the stove with fresh wood and turned the 'stat down to 2/3 before I blistered.
I'm getting into the season where the thermostat is just going to be on three for about six weeks or so, but I can see raking the coals and charcoal lumps forward to burn them down is going to be a regular chore. Pretty flames, but I am not going to complain about it. My only complaint about the stove is settling into my warm chair in my warm living room to see lumps of charred wood through my stove window. I'd ruther watch flames dance in the stove than anything on TV I can think of, and for the next few weeks I'll get to.
I used to rake them forward and throw a couple eco bricks on top, that way I got good heat while I burned the coals down, a split or two of pine works as well.
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