Fireview Air Settings

[RandyG]

My Fireview is behaving a bit differently tonite, normally once stovetop temp gets to burn range for the cat, I can close bypass and set the damper to around .75 and flames go away in about 5 min's and of course cat ignites and she cruises through the night that way. But tonight I did the same thing, shut bypass and set to .50, for a long burn overnight and flames die out, but about 15min's in woof, backpuff. So I turn it up to my usual .75.But now I have constant flames in fire box.I can't turn down anymore than this because of my backpuffing. Just wondering if this is normal? The only thing different about tonite is outside temps are just dipping in the upper 40's. This is some of my coolest temps so far. Could this be effecting my stove? Just scratching my head at this point....

 

[jdonna]

That actually happened last night, loaded up for an all night burn, flames died, cat was chewing up smoke and whoop, had a back puff. My air was set at .5, I usually burn at .75.

Draft, stack height, chimney insulated or not ,location of the stove, prevailing winds, wood quality all weigh in on chasing down back puffs.

How is your stove setup?

One thing I know is that I had a good coal bed and dry white elm in, tends to out gas pretty fast, which I why I usually run a bit of flame in the firebox. Better heat output, and just a little bit less burn time.

I will be interested to hear other owners chime in.

 

[ddddddden]

. . .set to .50 for a long burn overnight and flames die out, but about 15min's in woof, backpuff. So I turn it up to my usual .75.But now I have constant flames in fire box.I can't turn down anymore than this because of my backpuffing. Just wondering if this is normal? The only thing different about tonite is outside temps are just dipping in the upper 40's....

Yeah, every setup is a bit different, so more details would help, but .50 air setting sounds a bit low when it's ~ 50° outside. I set it that low maybe when it's closer to 30° outside and the draft is stronger. There's nothing wrong with some flame in the firebox. I think that trying to dial down to zero flame right away can set the conditions for what you experienced. That said, in case you missed the thread, there were some issues with the first batch of steel cats; new batch came in this fall. If you got the steel cat, but not so recently that you have the new one, and you continue to have, um, variable performance from your cat(other than the hypersensitivity, which fades away) I suggest calling Woodstock to discuss.

 

[Todd]

Sounds like you cut back the air too much too soon for your weather conditions. Let it burn hot for about 10 min at #1 then turn it down to .75 for 10 more then try .5.

 

[charly]

I've never had any back puffs so far even at .5. Of course this is my first season so time will tell. I do know I have a pretty strong draft so maybe that is key. Normally I do the same thing as Todd. That seems to work well. I'm burning year old silver maple from two monster tree removals that came from the front of our house.

 

[RandyG]

Thanks guys, sounds like this is normal behavior with my outside temps.After posting last night I opened to 1 for a little while and then backed it down to .75 and it started the secondaries with slow dancing flames and never coughed again. I'm also wondering if me never filling my stove has anything to do with this. I only put about 4 to 5 4" splits a night. The firebox is only about half full each burn leaving quite a large area in the box for gases to collect, not sure, I'm sure most owners on here completely fill their stove every burn.I just don't need that much heat here. Even with temps in the 40's outside this little bit of wood keeps my house around 73 easily. This is just my theory on the backpuffing....

 

[charly]

Thanks guys, sounds like this is normal behavior with my outside temps.After posting last night I opened to 1 for a little while and then backed it down to .75 and it started the secondaries with slow dancing flames and never coughed again. I'm also wondering if me never filling my stove has anything to do with this. I only put about 4 to 5 4" splits a night. The firebox is only about half full each burn leaving quite a large area in the box for gases to collect, not sure, I'm sure most owners on here completely fill their stove every burn.I just don't need that much heat here. Even with temps in the 40's outside this little bit of wood keeps my house around 73 easily. This is just my theory on the backpuffing....

I pretty much put in 3 splits that are about 5 in in diameter, then sometimes slide in a few smaller splits for a full load. Depends how cold it is outside, wind blowing, etc.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

My Fireview is behaving a bit differently tonite, normally once stovetop temp gets to burn range for the cat, I can close bypass and set the damper to around .75 and flames go away in about 5 min's and of course cat ignites and she cruises through the night that way. But tonight I did the same thing, shut bypass and set to .50, for a long burn overnight and flames die out, but about 15min's in woof, backpuff. So I turn it up to my usual .75.But now I have constant flames in fire box.I can't turn down anymore than this because of my backpuffing. Just wondering if this is normal? The only thing different about tonite is outside temps are just dipping in the upper 40's. This is some of my coolest temps so far. Could this be effecting my stove? Just scratching my head at this point....

I would naturally expect some backpuff with that low of a draft setting and only in the upper 40's. At that temperature we won't even build a fire. However, I have had this happen a couple times. After the backpuff the firebox will roll with flame. Kind of pretty actually. It will continue this way for a short time then settle back. So just give it more air and you should be fine but at those temperatures I know I'd have to have a setting of 1.25 or perhaps more. Our normal is .75

 

[jdonna]

Mines packed to the roof right now with two good splits and a bunch of ugly rounds. .75 air and cruising at 570 degrees. I was intimidated at first to load it full, but the stove is remarkably responsive to slight air adjustments.
Your confidence will build as you run it, my wife is now even close to loading up for overnights. Can't say she would even touch or last EPA stove.

 

[akennyd]

Yep, trying to run it too low...I try to keep a flame in the box when I close the bypass for the cat. About .75 is the best I can get right now and most of the time anyway for that matter...any lower and my flame trys to die out and I even will get soot build up on the glass (had that happen a few days ago, turned the draft back up a hair and the soot started to burn off the glass, kind of neat to watch).

 

[charly]

Mines packed to the roof right now with two good splits and a bunch of ugly rounds. .75 air and cruising at 570 degrees. I was intimidated at first to load it full, but the stove is remarkably responsive to slight air adjustments.
Your confidence will build as you run it, my wife is now even close to loading up for overnights. Can't say she would even touch or last EPA stove.

I have to agree, the stove is a pleasure to run. My wife never ran the EPA Quad 5700 we had but I know she will be able to run the Fireview with confidence.

 

[RandyG]

I believe I've had actually two problems solved, back puffing, due to too low of air settings vs outside temps, which was my original question and my glass is always sooted up, Not bad but gets more and more with each burn and after about 3 burns, I have had to clean it, my wood is running about 19%, so I haven't been able to figure it out until now, I'm closing down too much . Obviously, there tied together. I never thought of the air setting effecting my glass. It's been a little warm down here lately, but can't wait to fire up again with different settings, and also going to try to fill her up a little more also, thanks guys!!

 

[RandyG]

I would naturally expect some backpuff with that low of a draft setting and only in the upper 40's. At that temperature we won't even build a fire. However, I have had this happen a couple times. After the backpuff the firebox will roll with flame. Kind of pretty actually. It will continue this way for a short time then settle back. So just give it more air and you should be fine but at those temperatures I know I'd have to have a setting of 1.25 or perhaps more. Our normal is .75

Dennis, have to fire up when I can, upper 40's down here is winter,!!Thanks....

 

[jharkin]

Is the location in your profile right? I looked up Florida weather and it says daytime highs of low 80s, lows of high 50s/low 60s all week.... Not conductive to good draft.

 

[RandyG]

Is the location in your profile right? I looked up Florida weather and it says daytime highs of low 80s, lows of high 50s/low 60s all week.... Not conductive to good draft.

Jeremy, yea, unfortunately my profile is correct, stinks here , I'm not burning at these temps . Waiting for the next cool front !!

 

[jharkin]

I wouldn't think it stinks... Last time we were down to Disney it was very nice wearing shorts in March

 

[fire_man]

I believe I've had actually two problems solved, back puffing, due to too low of air settings vs outside temps, which was my original question and my glass is always sooted up.

It's amazing how long my glass stays clean and the reduced backbuffing since I insulated my flue. A better draft cures many problems!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I believe I've had actually two problems solved, back puffing, due to too low of air settings vs outside temps, which was my original question and my glass is always sooted up, Not bad but gets more and more with each burn and after about 3 burns, I have had to clean it, my wood is running about 19%, so I haven't been able to figure it out until now, I'm closing down too much . Obviously, there tied together. I never thought of the air setting effecting my glass. It's been a little warm down here lately, but can't wait to fire up again with different settings, and also going to try to fill her up a little more also, thanks guys!!

Randy, I don't think the air setting is the problem with the glass. I'd guess either you have a small air leak or most likely, the wood is a problem. The reason I say this is because it is quite normal many times here to really choke the air, even to the point of putting out the fire. We simply do not get any black glass. So I have to say it is a wood problem.

 

[charly]

Randy, I don't think the air setting is the problem with the glass. I'd guess either you have a small air leak or most likely, the wood is a problem. The reason I say this is because it is quite normal many times here to really choke the air, even to the point of putting out the fire. We simply do not get any black glass. So I have to say it is a wood problem.

Same thing here Dennis, I can choke the fire right out and the glass never gets black,,,,, in fact I haven't cleaned the glass since I started the stove about a month ago. My wood is really dry.

 

[Jambx]

Interesting conversation with Woodstock a few weeks ago - told them how I ran mine at night - load it up (packed) - char the wood good - engage the cat and set draft to ~.75

I was then told I could just shut the draft right down to 0 since the fireview is far from airtight. I have been doing this now for the last two weeks (temp in the high 20's) with very good results. I didnt think I could drop it that much and still have good results. 10+ hours later in the morning I open the draft full and still have flames present.

 

[HotCoals]

Interesting conversation with Woodstock a few weeks ago - told them how I ran mine at night - load it up (packed) - char the wood good - engage the cat and set draft to ~.75

I was them told I could just shut the draft right down to 0 since the fireview is far from airtight. I have been doing this now for the last two weeks (temp in the high 20's) with very good results. I didnt think I could drop it that much and still have good results. 10+ hours later in the morning I open the draft full and still have flames present.

I'm curious as to why they said it is far from airtight...did they say?

 

[ddddddden]

I'm curious as to why they said it is far from airtight...did they say?

I think that the air intake does not close completely; not open as much as the minimum air on a non-cat EPA stove, but not "airtight" like the brass screw draft controls on some smoke dragons can close.

 

[charly]

Interesting conversation with Woodstock a few weeks ago - told them how I ran mine at night - load it up (packed) - char the wood good - engage the cat and set draft to ~.75

I was then told I could just shut the draft right down to 0 since the fireview is far from airtight. I have been doing this now for the last two weeks (temp in the high 20's) with very good results. I didnt think I could drop it that much and still have good results. 10+ hours later in the morning I open the draft full and still have flames present.

Interesting,,,, what kind of stove top temps did you see ? Chimney temps,,, flue internal or surface?

 

[RandyG]

Randy, I don't think the air setting is the problem with the glass. I'd guess either you have a small air leak or most likely, the wood is a problem. The reason I say this is because it is quite normal many times here to really choke the air, even to the point of putting out the fire. We simply do not get any black glass. So I have to say it is a wood problem.

Dennis, I'm burning oak that is 1 yr seasoned and shows 19% and 2yr maple showing about the same, and there is always more soot on the left corner of the glass than any other location. Would this indicate an air leak? If so, how would you resolve it? Stove chalk the inside joint in that area? Might call woodstock and discuss this......thanks.

 

[Todd]

Interesting conversation with Woodstock a few weeks ago - told them how I ran mine at night - load it up (packed) - char the wood good - engage the cat and set draft to ~.75

I was then told I could just shut the draft right down to 0 since the fireview is far from airtight. I have been doing this now for the last two weeks (temp in the high 20's) with very good results. I didnt think I could drop it that much and still have good results. 10+ hours later in the morning I open the draft full and still have flames present.

I could never do this with my Fireview or it would stall. Could of been poor draft, wood or basement install issues but I can do it with my Keystone which is upstairs and has an insulated 6" chimney. Anywhere from .5 down I can get a good 12 hour burn with enough coals for a freash reload. The glass does get a little brown but not half as bad as my Princess. In my experience the Fireview glass stayed a bit cleaner than the Keystone with lower burns.