Good day for a Fireview tuneup

[Macpolski]

We have been burning here in South Jersey 24/7 since Christmas and burning fairly steady before then. I don't remember a winter this cold and can't imagine living in some of the northern climates. Brrr…. Needless to say, we are so happy that we purchased the Fireview last Spring.

I woke early this morning as I couldn't sleep, and contemplated cleaning the ashes/coals, cat, screen, and glass on the stove as well as a general vacuuming. It's been around six weeks since the cat was vacuumed and I noticed the stove was burning differently - erratic and somewhat cooler. After cleaning out the coals I pulled the cat. Yes it needed a vacuuming and since I had an empty squirt bottle, vinegar, and some mineral free battery water decided to give it a good shower after the vacuum. Used nearly a quart of the 50/50 solution then rinsed with the mineral free water.

Back to hearth I started vacuuming the area around the bypass and cat opening. The screen needed a good cleaning as the sides were probably 80% clogged and the front about 30%. All clean, the cat is dry, I reinstalled everything.

Hoping to see a big difference in performance, I grabbed a ¼ round of a SuperCedar some kindling and relit the Fireview. Added a few more small splits and it was coming back to life. It was breathing way better! I experimented with the draft control all the way down to .5 - no flames but the cat was glowing red. I added a couple more splits and had the top up to 620 deg - no flames - no smoke. I am a very happy camper.

 

[Woody Stover]

All I had time to do was clean the glass; We'll be flirting with single digits again tonight and I figured I'd better fire it up to stay ahead. 'Bout tired o' this crap....

 

[Macpolski]

All I had time to do was clean the glass; We'll be flirting with single digits again tonight and I figured I'd better fire it up to stay ahead. 'Bout tired o' this crap....

I feel for you, but we went up to 45 today. It ain't over yet, though.

 

[ddddddden]

I don't remember a winter this cold and can't imagine living in some of the northern climates. Brrr. . .

'Bout tired o' this crap. . .

+1
My go-to wood stash that is covered is running low. The rest is wet as $#!+. Farmer's Almanac got it right for my region. . .WET & CHILLY!
S'posed to be near 70° several days next week though. . .hoping for an early spring.

 

[Woody Stover]

+1
My go-to wood stash that is covered is running low. The rest is wet as $#!+.
S'posed to be near 70° several days next week though. . .hoping for an early spring.

Lately, everything is first getting a couple of days in the on-deck circle next to the stove before it goes in. I'm looking forward to that warm-up as well....sounds like tee shirt weather!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

We have been burning here in South Jersey 24/7 since Christmas and burning fairly steady before then. I don't remember a winter this cold and can't imagine living in some of the northern climates. Brrr…. Needless to say, we are so happy that we purchased the Fireview last Spring.

I woke early this morning as I couldn't sleep, and contemplated cleaning the ashes/coals, cat, screen, and glass on the stove as well as a general vacuuming. It's been around six weeks since the cat was vacuumed and I noticed the stove was burning differently - erratic and somewhat cooler. After cleaning out the coals I pulled the cat. Yes it needed a vacuuming and since I had an empty squirt bottle, vinegar, and some mineral free battery water decided to give it a good shower after the vacuum. Used nearly a quart of the 50/50 solution then rinsed with the mineral free water.

Back to hearth I started vacuuming the area around the bypass and cat opening. The screen needed a good cleaning as the sides were probably 80% clogged and the front about 30%. All clean, the cat is dry, I reinstalled everything.

Hoping to see a big difference in performance, I grabbed a ¼ round of a SuperCedar some kindling and relit the Fireview. Added a few more small splits and it was coming back to life. It was breathing way better! I experimented with the draft control all the way down to .5 - no flames but the cat was glowing red. I added a couple more splits and had the top up to 620 deg - no flames - no smoke. I am a very happy camper.

Mac, how did you dry the cat before putting it back in?

Not that warm for sure here as it was cold today. Very sunny and bright but very cold. Not so cold tonight as only 14 forecast. Looks like we'll finally got some more snow coming Monday. We have not had too much lately but then we haven't had much melting either except on the black roads when the sun does shine.

 

[pinewoodburner]

We have been burning here in South Jersey 24/7 since Christmas and burning fairly steady before then. I don't remember a winter this cold and can't imagine living in some of the northern climates. Brrr…. Needless to say, we are so happy that we purchased the Fireview last Spring.

I woke early this morning as I couldn't sleep, and contemplated cleaning the ashes/coals, cat, screen, and glass on the stove as well as a general vacuuming. It's been around six weeks since the cat was vacuumed and I noticed the stove was burning differently - erratic and somewhat cooler. After cleaning out the coals I pulled the cat. Yes it needed a vacuuming and since I had an empty squirt bottle, vinegar, and some mineral free battery water decided to give it a good shower after the vacuum. Used nearly a quart of the 50/50 solution then rinsed with the mineral free water.

Back to hearth I started vacuuming the area around the bypass and cat opening. The screen needed a good cleaning as the sides were probably 80% clogged and the front about 30%. All clean, the cat is dry, I reinstalled everything.

Hoping to see a big difference in performance, I grabbed a ¼ round of a SuperCedar some kindling and relit the Fireview. Added a few more small splits and it was coming back to life. It was breathing way better! I experimented with the draft control all the way down to .5 - no flames but the cat was glowing red. I added a couple more splits and had the top up to 620 deg - no flames - no smoke. I am a very happy camper.

When you cleaned your screen, did you remove it from the stove or clean it in the stove? I did the same cleaning today but forgot the screen. I did have to put in another clip to hold the screen in place. That is the third one that has come off. I should be able to clean the screen early next week since it should warm up.

 

[Macpolski]

Mac, how did you dry the cat before putting it back in?

Not that warm for sure here as it was cold today. Very sunny and bright but very cold. Not so cold tonight as only 14 forecast. Looks like we'll finally got some more snow coming Monday. We have not had too much lately but then we haven't had much melting either except on the black roads when the sun does shine.

I let it air dry for about an hour on the warm hearth as I finished working on the stove. I did notice though, as I was spritzing the cat real good from all angles, front to back, back to front, that as I rotated it while spritzing the solution would collect in the frame. I then held the cat in place and shook the entire assembly and the collected solution would come out. I'm sure if I were ready to reinstall the cat quicker, I could have used my wife's hair dryer.

 

[Macpolski]

When you cleaned your screen, did you remove it from the stove or clean it in the stove? I did the same cleaning today but forgot the screen. I did have to put in another clip to hold the screen in place. That is the third one that has come off. I should be able to clean the screen early next week since it should warm up.

I initially was going to clean it in the stove but found it easier to simply remove it. I'm glad I did as I never realized it was ashed up so much. I had a brush attachment on my vacuum and that worked very well.

 

[Bobbin]

I vacuumed the cat. on our Woodstock Classic last week. It has the ceramic "jacket" and it was cracked. I will order the replacement shortly but will likely wait to install it until next fall, after we've had the chimney swept.

I replaced the combustor in our 2001 Fireview last fall and was dazzled by the improvement in performance. And we actually "maintain" our combustors. The one we replaced was 5/6 yrs. old. (Our Fireview is 23 yrs. old and we've replaced the combustor about 5 times).