Help with a Hampton 300 insert!!!!!

[mwilliams7967]

This is my first year burning and everything seems to have been going good. However, I just placed a stovetop therometer on the top. I cannot get this thing over 320 degrees. I am using wood that I believe is on the well seasoned side and great slow burns with the damper all the way closed (most of the time). Not sure if there are any tips or tricks to get the heat up on this insert Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Fsappo]

How much area are you trying to heat? Is it doing a good job?

 

[buckdog]

When u say damper? do you mean draft control? If so, open it up, and let some air in there and burn that wood like u stole it.

 

[MetMan]

If it's on the top, that's not actually the top of the stove. If you open the door, you can see the top of the firebox. Not sure how you can get a thermometer in there and still read it. I tried to get my EE major son to build me one for an HI300 over Christmas break but it didn't happen. Sounds like everything is going just fine for you.

 

[mwilliams7967]

Thanks guys for the quick response! Try to answer all of these replies in one post. I think the unit is working great and heating the first floor of a four bedroom stone single home. I did mean draft control as opposed to damper. I will try to open it up a little, I was always under the assumption to get the least air in the box as possible to slow the burn down. As far as the stove-top thermometer, I just have this sitting on the four inch ledge. Unsure how to get a reading closer to the actual box!! Thanks for the responses!

 

[Fsappo]

Thermometers are over rated in my opinion. If a medium sized insert is keeping 1000-1300 square feet warm, giving you 6-7+ hour burns before you need to reload and when during those slow burns you see little or no smoke comin out the chimney, life is good.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

300 is hot for that ledge with the blower running. Remember there is air under the ledge- not a fire box. Go by efficient burn (secondary flame, no smoke out the chimney)- not the temp on that ledge.

I have a HI300, and Ditto what Franks said.

 

[gilmil]

On the left hand side where the blower air comes out you can see the fire box. I positioned a magnetic thermometer in there with 600 degrees facing me. You can then shine a flash light into the vent hole to see what you're burning at. Lucky for you I have my stove out today to put in a block off plate

 

[mwilliams7967]

Gil, thanks for that idea, gonna give that a shot just to see where I am at.

 

[stejus]

Gil, thanks for that idea, gonna give that a shot just to see where I am at.

Here's a pic of what it should look like sitting in the blower air chamber. In this picture I had the thermometer pins towards the front so I could see it easier. You should have no problem getting this stove to 500-600 degrees on a full load.

 

[mwilliams7967]

Stejus< thanks for the reply. I tried this when Gil posted his response. I am burning right now with my thermometer in that exact location, I am sitting at right around 625 degrees as we speak!! Thanks for this idea!

 

[phil san]

Hey, How do you guys like the Hamptons?
Been toying with the idea of getting the Freestanding unit for next year. Been burning a 6 year old VC Intrepid II catalytic for a large den area. Does very well but the stove is just wearing out ( VC didn't build them like they use to) and the refractory is a pain not to break.

 

[mwilliams7967]

Hey Phil, This is my first stove. I had done some shopping around with Vermont Castings being my other choice. I really can say I have no complaints with my Hampton. It is more of an issue being a first time stove user than the stove! I have gotten so many compliments on this stove, I got the timberline brown color. I will attach a picture of the stove

 

[phil san]

Love it. That's what I was looking at only in the free standing. My Enviro pellet insert looks similar.

Just use to catalytic on my wood stove. Never had any issues and have been burning with many models 30+ years. Not up on this new secondary burn stuff. Seems like you have to keep a roaring fire going where as with the Cat I close it up and get a good all night er. But then what do I know about the newer wood stoves.