Hi Folks:
I have a non-EPA, old-school Hearthstone Castleton that we installed in 2018. It's our 3rd season with the stove. Generally, we are very pleased with it.
The past month it seems like our stove is running very hot. The first two seasons, if I filled the firebox at night to capacity, and shut the air down all the way I would get a nice, slow burn all night without the unit getting too hot.
Now, if I fill the firebox and shut the air all the way down the thing will get significantly warm. I've routinely gotten into the redline area several times (but luckily no damage yet.) No matter what I do I can't seem to slow the burn if the firebox is full of wood.
I've checked the air control mechanism. SLiding it all the way open I can see the sliding door under the stove open wide as it should. WHen sliding it all the way shut, I was surprised to see it actually doesn't close all the way. It leaves about a 1/4-1/2" gap open even when moved to the fully closed position. I tried removing the control arm/lever and slide the ventilation door myself as I thought perhaps the arm/lever was the problem. But was surprised to see the control door stops at the same spot even without the arm, as if there is a stopper inside the sliding mechanism.
Any ideas? Does anyone else here have a Castleton and can you tell me how much of a gap is left "open" in the air vent when the lever is set to the fully closed position?
Any other thoughts? Perhaps my main door gasket is leaking...although I doubt that because the flames get much higher when I open the door.
Thanks!
I have a non-EPA, old-school Hearthstone Castleton that we installed in 2018. It's our 3rd season with the stove. Generally, we are very pleased with it.
The past month it seems like our stove is running very hot. The first two seasons, if I filled the firebox at night to capacity, and shut the air down all the way I would get a nice, slow burn all night without the unit getting too hot.
Now, if I fill the firebox and shut the air all the way down the thing will get significantly warm. I've routinely gotten into the redline area several times (but luckily no damage yet.) No matter what I do I can't seem to slow the burn if the firebox is full of wood.
I've checked the air control mechanism. SLiding it all the way open I can see the sliding door under the stove open wide as it should. WHen sliding it all the way shut, I was surprised to see it actually doesn't close all the way. It leaves about a 1/4-1/2" gap open even when moved to the fully closed position. I tried removing the control arm/lever and slide the ventilation door myself as I thought perhaps the arm/lever was the problem. But was surprised to see the control door stops at the same spot even without the arm, as if there is a stopper inside the sliding mechanism.
Any ideas? Does anyone else here have a Castleton and can you tell me how much of a gap is left "open" in the air vent when the lever is set to the fully closed position?
Any other thoughts? Perhaps my main door gasket is leaking...although I doubt that because the flames get much higher when I open the door.
Thanks!
