Insert temp question

[mikevolpe]

I am new to this and I am sure this is has been gone over a million times, but.

Just had our lopi Answer insert installed. The installer said to break it in with 1 small fire just to get it hot, let it cool, then double the legth of time from the 1st fire,, let it cool and then double that fire and let it cool. So we did that. Last night we burned for about 2 hours then closed the air control and let it alone.

It was fantastic, the thermostat temp was going up and I didnt have to listen to the heater which sounds like a cash regester everytime I hear it come on.

But anyway my question. The owners manual said do not overfire, but it didnt give a temp that it considered overfiring. The installer said it was designed to run with the door closed and the air control open without overfiring.

What temp is overfiring?

What temp should I run the stove at?

Thanks
Mike

 

[rhyano]

Congratulations on getting your new insert going well.

While I do not have the same insert as you do, I do have an insert in my home.

My drolet insert manual states to keep the stove top temperatures lower than ~840 degrees.

Id say that as long as the blower is on it would be very hard to overfire an insert since the blower is constantly cooling the insert. I suppose if you really wanted to overfire it you could, but youd have to intentionally over load it with pine and put the wood in the stove in such a way that it burns really really hot.

My insert has been running with a stove top temperature averaging ~450 degrees for a typical burn.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Hi Mike - I have the same insert you have, and typical cruising temps for the Answer Insert I see are right around 500 or so.
I think you are talking about the blower rattling, mine took some adjustments to keep the rattle down....sometimes just placing a small washer or nut underneath the blower for support does the trick.
I usually throw 3 good size splits in...and let it burn down to 325-350 before reloading.....don't expect the 8 our burn tme they claim....even if you fill it to the gills with 3 year seasoned oak, I'm guessing max is going to be 5 to 5 1/2 hours with only a few coals left.
Good luck.

 

[Northeaster1]

My PE vista often goes up in the 800-900 range. I called the company to make sure that was OK. The techs, alothough he would not give an actaul temp, said that I was fine. He defined overfiring as buring a fully loaded firebox in 4 hours or less, which would mean the draft would have to be open neary the whole time.
He said that during testing, they hooked a big fan to the stack, to pull the draft out even harder - creating more draft, and it still was safe.

I have only had mine a year, but am very happy with it. I usually only burn a new load of wood on high for 20 minutes or so, and then start shutting off the draft, , ie to 1/2 open, then 5-10 miutes later 1/4 open, then 5 -10 minutes later closed (of course it isn't completely closed, but juts low draft). As long as you are seeing the big secondary flames, its all good. If you choke it too early, and the flame seems to die down too quickly, just open it back uo for 10 minutes, then try closing the draft again, in small stages.

 

[bokehman]

The installer said it was designed to run with the door closed and the air control open without overfiring.

What temp is overfiring?

What temp should I run the stove at?

Thanks
Mike

First,don't run it with the air control open except when starting a fire or for a few minutes after adding wood. For efficiency and maximum heat output the air control will be somewhere between closed and 20% open.

With an insert you can't get a temperature from the stove top. With my insert when it is really working hard I can get the top corners above the door to 600 and the glass over 800 but it needs to be packed full of wood for that.

That's the stove. On the other hand it is easy to get the liner to hot. With mine if I put a lot of kindling in and leave the air open the liner will go orange. Moral of the story, if you see any sign of glowing anywhere shut the air to minimum (sometimes this makes it get even hotter for a short period).

 

[stejus]

Another way to see if you are overfiring is to look at the air chamber between the stove top and the top shelf. I'm not sure where you're blower air exits, but on my HI300, the air travels between the stove top and top shelf. If you ever see a red glow from within there, the stove pipe or top of the stove will be red if you overfire. If this happens, close air all the way and turn the blower on high until things cool down.

 

[mikevolpe]

Thank you for all the good info, this site has been extreamly helpfull throughout my resarch and purchse. I cant wait to go home and fire it up again.

What I meant by cash regester sound is when my house heater kicks on I hear the oil co. cash regester. The blower is fine

 

[nlittle]

Another way to see if you are overfiring is to look at the air chamber between the stove top and the top shelf. I'm not sure where you're blower air exits, but on my HI300, the air travels between the stove top and top shelf. If you ever see a red glow from within there, the stove pipe or top of the stove will be red if you overfire. If this happens, close air all the way and turn the blower on high until things cool down.

This works...LOL Just did it last night! Reloaded on a bed of coals that was still too hot.