Finally been using my stove (first ever..) questions/issues...

[cabinner]

Hey Everyone,

I have been very busy with my cabin and didn't have time to post here... The stove has been working the last few weekends (when I go up to my cabin) and was pretty ok but I do have some issues...

Recap: I have a 12ft by 12 ft by 13.5ft tall cabin. I have an englander wood stove 17-VL. My chimney is a double wall duratech. It is 16ft tall.... My main issues is not being able to sustain a burn for more than 2 hours...

This is what I have been doing: I put two pieces in the stove leaving a large gap between them. Then I put some lighters (I bought ones that I am really unhappy with and will buy different ones... I got these http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Products-9910-Fatwood-Pounds/dp/B000HHO4W6/ref=pd_sim_lg_1)

Then when they are burning I put a few pieces over those wood pieces. I then let it burn with the door slightly open. If I close the door at this stage the fire goes out. Once it is really strong burning (maybe 30-40 min) I close the door leaving the valve open. BTW - My stove is connected to the outside with an air kit.

I try to only close the door once the temp gauge shows that it is at or near the good range (400 degrees if I remember correctly). From the minute I close the door until I need to add wood takes about an hour and half... This is a nightmare during the night.

Not sure what to do.

 

[Sprinter]

Just a few general thoughts.

1. You can't expect too much burn time with that size stove. Better than you are getting, but not overnight.

2. What is your wood supply like? Species, moisture content, etc.? Probably the single most important factor.

3. You shouldn't need to wait that long to close the door or start turning down the air. That technique may be wasting a lot of fuel. You should be able to shut the door soon after the fire is established with the air turned up. Then you should be able to start turning the air down in steps when it's well established, as little as a few minutes depending. No need to wait til the stove top is that hot. If you can't do that, then the wood may be a problem.

4. Try Super Cedar starters. Those may work better for starting.

 

[cabinner]

1. I know I can't expect it to last very long and it does say on it "max 6 hours" which means probably 4-5 hours but I am very far from that.

2. I did use crappy wood so far... The oak wood floor I didn't use in my cabin. But I did get excellent wood today and will try with it next weekend.

3. I wish I can close it quickly. I just feel that the fire dies out if I do. Also I need keep the lever open for very long.

4. I was thinking on getting these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1630083502&pf_rd_i=507846

 

[Holiday]

Usually if you need that extra air for that long the cause is the wood.

 

[Sprinter]

Pretty much got to be the wood. Adequately dry wood is absolutely important, and that means about 20% moisture content as read on a meter. Much greater than that will cause just those problems. It may even be more important in a small stove like this, I don't know.

On the starters, the overwhelming choice of most of the members here are the Super Cedars. Order them direct from the company and use about 1/4 of a disc. http://www.supercedar.com/ Use the code hearth13 for a 10% discount.

A recent thread: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/super-cedar-free-samples-discount-code.113830/

 

[DianeB]

Would love to see a pic of your little cabin.
My guess is your wood is dry, but perhaps not hard wood. You may want to shut down the air some before it gets to 400. You may be burning off all your gases before you shut the door. I also think 2 pieces may not be enough. Could you get 3-4 if you split them smaller?

 

[dmmoss51]

But I did get excellent wood today and will try with it next weekend.

If you just got it today doubt it will be ready for next weekend unless its' been drying for a few years already.

 

[cabinner]

Thanks for all the info!

Diane - I will show some photos soon... It is really coming together nice. Our lofted bedroom gets very very hot with this stove but not for long . The wood is hard wood - oak.

dmmoss - the wood I got is from two trees that were dead on my land for about two years and they were leaning on another tree. They are Oak. Perfect fire wood...

I did find this video and the guy has a small stove like mine and he even uses that V formation that englander mentions in their manual -

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Another thing I noticed many people do is a nice kindling and paper to start it.. I didn't do that...

 

[dmmoss51]

That does sound like good wood but leaning logs are not the same thing as split dry wood... see numerous threads on here about this and get a moisture meter you only need to spend about $12 that will tell you how dry/wet it is.

 

[Holiday]

I cut and split some poplar that were pushed over and on a pile for 3 years, wet inside. Generally until it's cut and split and allowed to season it's not good wood. I think the chances of oak being dry that wasn't cut and split is slim.

 

[Sprinter]

2. I did use crappy wood so far... The oak wood floor I didn't use in my cabin.

Actually, I would think that flooring would be pretty dry and dry oak should work well, but there's something about the wood or the burning technique that's causing this. I'm actually more concerned about your new wood than the flooring scraps.

dmmoss - the wood I got is from two trees that were dead on my land for about two years and they were leaning on another tree. They are Oak. Perfect fire wood...

Wood doesn't even start to dry until it's split open. Oak needs to be split and properly stacked for at least two years, some say three, to get adequately dry. Moisture can't go anywhere with bark around it.

I fully agree with the advice to get a moisture meter. It's the only way to take the guesswork out.

 

[Sprinter]

Another thing I noticed many people do is a nice kindling and paper to start it.. I didn't do that...

A few pieces of small kindling on top of a SuperCedar chunk will definitely help to get the fire established quickly.

 

[DianeB]

I checked the reviews for the stove at the home depot site and some of the reviewers said they needed to add height to their chimney's for better draft.

 

[Sprinter]

I checked the reviews for the stove at the home depot site and some of the reviewers said they needed to add height to their chimney's for better draft.

Interesting. I would have assumed that 16' would be enough. Maybe not. The manual mandates 15' minimum, so maybe 16 would be a bit marginal in this case.

 

[cabinner]

I have a meter and I will check that wood next weekend when I am there. I already split some of it and I will split all of it next time as well. Englander says you need 15ft minimum and I have 16ft of actual pipe... If you add the stove itself (not sure if you do or not..) then I have more.

I just found this video and it is vey annoying...

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This guy just started a fire without kindling, burning 5 logs in one shot, using one little piece of fire starter... after 5 minutes he has this much flames?!?!??! how could this be..? Do you all have it like that? mine will barely burn after 30 min.

Now I know enlgander is not a high end stove by any means but does that really matter?

 

[Sprinter]

I just found this video and it is vey annoying...

LOL. It would be annoying after your experience. But I do get good flames like that in 5 minutes (usually). You should expect the same and I think you will once you get everything sorted out, including the wood supply and loading/starting/burning technique.

I have read that flue height officially does include the depth of the firebox, but most casual use of the term does not seem to.

Great that you already have a moisture meter. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[cabinner]

Wow... if you are able to get the same results in 5 minutes I hate you... just kidding. How do I do that!!???

The wood floor is dry but because it is 3/4" thick it will burn quite quickly.

I was reading some reviews and everyone says it takes 30 minutes to get it starting... I don't mind ti taking long to start though - what I want is to be able to sleep for 5 hours before getting up to reload this stove.

 

[dmmoss51]

This guy just started a fire without kindling, burning 5 logs in one shot, using one little piece of fire starter... after 5 minutes he has this much flames?!?!??! how could this be..? Do you all have it like that? mine will barely burn after 30 min.

Good draft and dry wood goes a long way.

 

[cabinner]

btw... one of the stove reviews mentioned adding a damper to the pipe which he claims will double the time of the burn... any thoughts?

 

[Sprinter]

Could you post a pic of how you are loading and starting your fires?

btw... one of the stove reviews mentioned adding a damper to the pipe which he claims will double the time of the burn... any thoughts?

No. That will just kill whatever draft you have. You don't need it. In some cases of very strong draft, they can be useful, but not here.

 

[cabinner]

I will make a video next weekend and post here.

No damper - got it.

I want to try using that fat wood with some kindling and paper like that British guy in the video I posted. Or should I just get those ceder blocks and forgot about kindling - try to do like the other guy with his "crazy fire in 5 minutes" method?

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Sprinter, is that you? I can't tell by your new avatar.... I like you old one better.....

 

[Sprinter]

Sprinter, is that you? I can't tell by your new avatar.... I like you old one better.....

Same sprinter. I just felt like a change. It's from my old FF days. Burnouts were my favorite thing. I'm just a firebug.

 

[Sprinter]

Or should I just get those ceder blocks and forgot about kindling - try to do like the other guy with his "crazy fire in 5 minutes" method?

I don't see anything wrong with the second video. It obviously works. His wood must be dry or it wouldn't. If your wood is dry enough, you don't necessarily need kindling, but it will catch faster if you do. I actually can close my door almost immediately after starting. With a SuperCedar and some kindling, the stove air is plenty to get the fire going well enough to start turning the air down in stages after maybe 5 minutes depending.

You might try the "top-down" method too. You can search around about how to do that. I think there are some youtubes on that.

 

[weatherguy]

I will make a video next weekend and post here.

No damper - got it.

I want to try using that fat wood with some kindling and paper like that British guy in the video I posted. Or should I just get those ceder blocks and forgot about kindling - try to do like the other guy with his "crazy fire in 5 minutes" method?

Just get the super cedars, better than anything else out there, let us know the moisture content of your wood, don't forget to split a piece and measure the fresh split face.