Help with new Quad 3100 burn

[Jclout]

Just had the inspecter check out the new stove install and chimney repair and he said it was beautiful. I fired it up on Saturday, it seemed to burn the wood quickley. At 10:00 I loaded it up with 9 splits East to West and I put the burn rate air control down all the way down and the start up air timer was open for 25 minutes then shut down. I probably did not get secondary burn and created more smoke and creosote than I wanted. The glass was also blackened for a while. I wanted to see how long of a burn I could get but only got 6 hours, I was a little dissapointed. The wood was not fully seasoned also. Also it looks like you have to burn the coals down a while before you have decent room between the floor and the tubes for new wood. Any suggestions are fully appreciated. Also how do you run the stove on low and still get a clean burn.
Thanks,
John

 

[precaud]

I loaded it up with 9 splits East to West

Try 3 larger splits instead of 9 smaller ones. It's all about diameter and surface area.

The glass was also blackened for a while.

A Quad hallmark...

I wanted to see how long of a burn I could get but only got 6 hours, I was a little dissapointed.

Larger pieces will help... as will doing something so you can close off the all of the air supplies completely at the end of the burn.

The wood was not fully seasoned also.

Shouldn't be making ANY assessments on that basis, then... really.

Also it looks like you have to burn the coals down a while before you have decent room between the floor and the tubes for new wood. Any suggestions are fully appreciated. Also how do you run the stove on low and still get a clean burn.

Honestly, you can't expect the stove to be working correctly with wood that isn't seasoned. That's the real problem.

 

[jason1238]

Stove Nut,

I've got a Quad 3100 Millenium. Essentially the same stove you have. First thing is, Precaud is right, you have to get some good seasoned wood to really have a baseline to go off of. This is the second year with mine, and the first year I've burned wood that I cut/split/seasoned and it makes a heck of a difference. Only now am I really getting everything I can out of the stove. Start now gathering wood for next year, and stick it out with what you have for now. It's a good stove, so don't give up on it!

I've had much better luck loading north-south (ends of the splits towards the glass). There's an air inlet under that little "hood" that's front and center on the floor. If you load the splits east-west, you only get the air blasting on the front side of the front split. I got similar results when I did this...a limo black tinted glass window, and lots more smoke! Loading them north-south lets the air shoot all the way through the firebox. The wood ignites quicker (less smoke), and allows you to back off the air sooner (longer burn). If you rake the coals forward and clean out inside that hood the best you can with your poker or rake, you'll make a little "pocket" in the coals. Lay one smallish split just barely resting on that hood over the pocket, and two or three larger splits along side and on top of that one and it'll light pretty quick with the primary opened up. The neat thing is, it will burn almost like a lit cigar, and once you get the hang of when and how much to cut the air back you'll be able to keep her in a slow rolling secondary burn for 4-5 hours with a full firebox(depending on your wood of course). I load her up at about 11pm, let everything get charred and the secondary light off nice, and cut it nearly all the way off by the time the news is off at 11:30 and go to bed. At 7am the next day there is still a pile of nice glowing coals to work with.

Also, keep a close eye on the timed startup air...mine has stuck open a few times. Make sure that the startup damper is really closing off all the way, or you're in for short burns for sure!

 

[nshif]

I too agree with loading north/south burns much better. Ive never had a problem with my ACC (start up air) works just fine allthough I do check it from time to time. My glass only gets dirty in the upper corners and usually cleans itself with the next hot burn. My stove is bigger then yours but its easy to get a 10-12 hour burn with good wood.

 

[stoveguy13]

how quickly did you close the primary air down that cloud be your big problem espcially with wet wood.the stove is also desinged to be loaded north south not east west.

 

[precaud]

Does the 3100 manual specify N/S loading? The 2100 does... I assumed all Quads were designed for it - that's why I didn't mention it in my first response.

 

[nshif]

how quickly did you close the primary air down that cloud be your big problem espcially with wet wood.the stove is also desinged to be loaded north south not east west.

The stove with the ACC feature automaticly shuts the air down at 25 min if you set it that way if it needs a longer start up then you need to baby sit it