Flue red hot on Focus RSF 3600

[PDutro]

Just noticed this this morning. Had just put a piece of pine wood on a couple partially burned down pieces. Started to hear some soft thunking sounds along with the typical pinking and clicking noises our fireplace makes as the metal expands with increase in heat. Looked at the flue and it was glowing. I turned down (closed) the flue control and it’s glowing less now.

I was under the impression that these units could be loaded about 3/4 full, mine is only about 2/3 full currently. This is year 4 for us annd I don’t think I’ve seen this before. Chimney is freshly cleaned and swept. Any ideas? Is it just an issue of needing to close the flue down sooner with a hotter fire?

 

[begreen]

Dry pine takes off quickly due to the high oil content. The air needs to be turned down fairly quickly and aggresively in order to stop most of the heat from heading up the flue.

 

[PDutro]

Dry pine takes off quickly due to the high oil content. The air needs to be turned down fairly quickly and aggresively in order to stop most of the heat from heading up the flue.

Got it. Since the glowing red subsided quickly, am I treating this simply as an instance where the pine took off and heated up the flue, and either don’t burn pine anymore or keep the flue control closed down if I do? Should I take any other intervention at this point?

 

[begreen]

Pine is ok to burn, but like any high oil content fuel (pine, fir, cedar, eucalyptus, etc.) it requires cutting back the air quickly. It also helps to load it tightly with minimal air gaps and with thicker splits.