Hearthstone Homestead Performance question

[LeveL]

Bought a Homestead this year and put in to operation in Nov.with moderate success. There's a learning curve, but I was overall happy. Once the stove was over 300-320 there was little to no smoke out the chimney and I was working on my burn times. This week the stove started burning differently. It seems to be burning faster and there is almost always smoke from the chimney, even at 500. I have a pipe damper, ash pan is closed and full of ashes to ensure no air, the stove is free standing into a stove chimney so two 90d turns chimney goes up 20 ft.

 

[Fsappo]

Did you buy the stove new?

 

[LeveL]

Did you buy the stove new?

yep

 

[Fsappo]

These stoves aren't design to be used with a pipe damper. I guess if its already in there, are you keeping it wide open? That stove, with properly seasoned wood, should burn at a nice steady temp, for 6 hours more or less smokeless.

 

[Jonathan Corcoran]

These stoves aren't design to be used with a pipe damper. I guess if its already in there, are you keeping it wide open? That stove, with properly seasoned wood, should burn at a nice steady temp, for 6 hours more or less smokeless.

We have only been able to get a strong fire for 2 hours--no flue damper. I was wondering if the outside air kit was drawing too much air, so I covered some on the vents outside. We timed the burn and it was still at 2hrs. We are burning Doup Fir at 16-18%. I've been wondering if we aren't getting enough wood in the fire box?

 

[splitoak]

We have only been able to get a strong fire for 2 hours--no flue damper. I was wondering if the outside air kit was drawing too much air, so I covered some on the vents outside. We timed the burn and it was still at 2hrs. We are burning Doup Fir at 16-18%. I've been wondering if we aren't getting enough wood in the fire box?

To get the long burn times in my heratige 6-7 hrs gotta load up to the pipes...wood size makes a big diff...big splits burn longer not as hot..smaller spits hotter stove shorter burns..i find in my setup..i can get a good burn and a stovetop 500-525...

 

[DougA]

We are burning Doup Fir at 16-18%

Not sure what that means but if it's a fir, it's softwood and you'll have a big difference between that and a good hardwood. Short, hot burn times, especially if it's that dry. Don't restrict the outside air, just close the air control on the stove.

 

[LeveL]

These stoves aren't design to be used with a pipe damper. I guess if its already in there, are you keeping it wide open? That stove, with properly seasoned wood, should burn at a nice steady temp, for 6 hours more or less smokeless.

My thought was the damper helps keepheat in the box, therefore better temps and longwer burn times. I wish hearthstone would just make videos to show exactly how to these things

I wish Hearthstone would just make some videos of exactly how to run these stoves. Take the learning curve out. I was hoping it would not be so tempermental.