HS Mansfield how long at top temps

[dtabor]

Hello all, I finally got rid of my Neverburn and am now the proud owner of a Hearthstone Mansfield. So far we love it. I am learning how to use the new stove and getting used to soapstone style heating but am wondering once I close off the air and get my secondaries going, and then the stovetop temps get up between 500-600*, how long should they be hanging up there on a full load of wood? Even with great secondaries it seems my wood burns down quickly and the temps start dropping. As I said, Im learning this new stove and just want to know whats "normal" and what I need to watch for.

Thanks!

 

[Smoked]

Something to think about on a stone stove is that there is a lag between what you see in the firebox and what the temp on the top center stone is. I drive my air based on what I see in the firebox and not by what the temp is on top. When I load, I open the air until the firebox is full of active flame. I start backing it down to get the lazy flame but not so much as to lose the secondaries and cause smoke from the stack. if it is a warm load, it normally only takes about 15 min to get to the point where the primary is about 7/8th closed and the stove is cruising. The max temp on the top normally is about an hour or so later when lager splits start to off gas and the secondaries go nuts.

I don't know anything about your old stove but wood type, dryness, and weather all change how soon and how close to completely closed the primary gets and ultimately when the stove spikes. Some larger splits in the back of the stove should delay your max temp spike. 6x6x20 or larger in yours might help. When I split big rounds, I try to split some more blocky than the typical wedge shapes. These seem to do better for longer burns. less surface area per pound of wood.

Other things, what type of wood, and how tall is the chimney? Do you have a damper in the stove pipe? I have just started to use a damper this year and feel I have had a little more control on the few colder nights we have had down here.

 

[dtabor]

I may not have worded my original post correctly. Im wondering how long, once my stovetop thermometer is reading 500-600 should it stay up that high, giving me maximum heat before it starts to drop back down again. The reason I ask is mine seems to not stay up there very long and in my house I need higher temps to get useable heat from my stove (large area and drafty).

I generally havent had any problem at all getting my secondaries going.

 

[Smoked]

I have never been brave enough to load mine like this but maybe this thread will help. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/stove-loading-pics.151473/
Those are some serious tight loads and that should help you get a longer hotter burn depending on the wood species. Now that I have the dampers, I may try it this way too If yours loads north south like many of those in that thread, it should work well.

I got the angle of the question. Without saying it, my concern was you might be burning half the load up trying to get the stove top temp up before shutting it down some. If the primary is set to high after the stove is getting to the right internal temp, then you are sending extra BTUs up the stack.

 

[burnham]

My Mansfield will hang between 500-600 degrees for two or three hours, then start dropping off. It will put out good heat, using dry oak, for about 7-8 hours on a full load.

 

[blacktop37]

I have the Hearthstone Equinox. I am very happy with it, 5th year.I run Hedge wood only. I heat about 2300 ft open area with high ceilings. I never run the stove without running a ceiling fan in a large room. it has to have an effect on stovetop temp.My house is built well but has a lot of windows. With temps down to 5 (5to45) I run a stovetop 400 to 450 for 5 hours. it then falls of very slowly.It is hard to describe but the house is warm but not hot. I can tell you exactly how much wood I use in a day burning 24/7(if wind below 20) Average log or split 5 in dia 19in long. I put 3 in morning before work, 3 when home at 5, 3 when 10 bedtime. always many coals, stovetop about 200 250 before reload. Again ceiling fan never turned off, it has to be taking stovetop temp down but it sends heat everywhere in the house.

 

[Smoked]

I have the Hearthstone Equinox. I am very happy with it, 5th year.I run Hedge wood only. I heat about 2300 ft open area with high ceilings. I never run the stove without running a ceiling fan in a large room. it has to have an effect on stovetop temp.My house is built well but has a lot of windows. With temps down to 5 (5to45) I run a stovetop 400 to 450 for 5 hours. it then falls of very slowly.It is hard to describe but the house is warm but not hot. I can tell you exactly how much wood I use in a day burning 24/7(if wind below 20) Average log or split 5 in dia 19in long. I put 3 in morning before work, 3 when home at 5, 3 when 10 bedtime. always many coals, stovetop about 200 250 before reload. Again ceiling fan never turned off, it has to be taking stovetop temp down but it sends heat everywhere in the house.

We have some transplanted hedge here but I have never had the pleasure of burning it...maybe one day!

 

[dtabor]

Hmm, well, Im going to have to get some timers going and see. Im sure mine isnt at max temp for 3 hours, no way. At the moment Im having to load E/W as my wood was cut longer for my old stove. Wood is mostly Beech. I load up as high as I can toward the tubes on lots of hot coals. The wood takes off soon after I close the door and as I said once it is all in flame, I can turn my air down and get good secondaries, at least I think they are good, the nice ethereal looking floating flames and alot coming from the holes in the tubes.

 

[blacktop37]

Hedge is very dense may be the most btu of any north american wood.Iim not sure about beech if is semi soft it cant hold out as well. Just as important make sure you have done everything reasonable to make your house tight and well insulated. Im a firm believer in a OAK attachment.

 

[blacktop37]

We have some transplanted hedge here but I have never had the pleasure of burning it...maybe one day!

Its a miracle we have it here. Back in the dust bowl days the government put people to work planting these trees in square mile grids all over the state. 70 or so years later the farmers have to trim the south side of the rows or it takes too much of their field over. It has to go into a stove because it pops like the 4th of July.