Just called my dealer about Hearthstone overfire temps, info not so good......

[NH_Wood]

Hi all! I have a Hearthstone Mansfield. I can get my stovetop to 600*, but normally to ~ 500-550* on a full load. My manual states that temps of 600* are possible on high burn (although I can get this temp when completely shut down - I have a very strong draft). The manual states to not overfire the stove, but never includes an overfire temp. So, I figured I'd call Hearthstone, but they have no number on their website. They want you to talk with the dealer. So..I call the dealer. I ask about overfire temp. He says that there is no need to worry about overfire temps, because 'these stoves' are hard to get above 300-400*! He said that overfire temps would be anything above ~ 500*. I told him I have NO problem getting to 500-500* consistently, and that I've reached 600* on several occasions (and that the manual states that 600* is possible on high burn). He said I must have a very strong draft, which I do. I know that lots of folks here with soapstone (Hearthstone) get stovetop temps in the 500's, so I knew the dealer just wasn't very well informed about this question. So, I never got an overfire temp, but sure would like to talk with someone at Hearthstone - anyone have a phone number direct to the manufacturer?

Cheers!

Edit: Sorry, should have put in the Hearth room!

 

[CTburning]

Its always been reported here that the Heritage upper limit was 600. I only remember because when deciding on which stove to buy, the Fireview was 100 degrees more. At 600 degrees, that Mansfield must be puttin out some heat!

 

[NH_Wood]

CTBurning - yes, 600* seems to be at the upper end, but fine for these stoves. And, yes, at 600* she's pumping a whole lot of heat into the house for sure! Cheers!

 

[joshlaugh]

I have the smaller Heritage and the manual for that clearly states that the best burn is between 400-600* stovetop. I recently got it up to 500 but usually have it around 4-450. Let me know what you kind out, since I should be careful about overfiring too-before long I will be burning 100% bitternut hickory and I know that I will get the stove hotter for longer with that wood vs the elm and silver maple I have been burning during the shoulder season.

 

[shawneyboy]

My Mansfield on a full load is usually cruising in the mid 500's .. I think the dealer is ill-informed. He said hard to get above 400 ???? No freaking way Please keep us posted and pm me if you hear differently.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree that dealer does not know what he is talking about. For sure if I had a stove that had to be run between 300 and 400 degrees, it would go into the junk fast! And for sure 600 should not hurt that stove a bit. I think they could be burned hotter but they just want to cover their butts but I'd stay under 600 to be sure. It is sort of like ours at 700 being the upper limit. I have no problem running at 650 or even a bit hotter. Over 700 then I take measures to slow things down a bit.

 

[NH_Wood]

Thanks guys. I agree with you all completely. How could the dealer think the Mansfield could heat the 2500sqft it is reported to be able to heat with a stove top between 300 and 400*?! Impossible. I also typically cruise at about 550* or so. I'm not sure how to find a contact number for Hearthstone direct - they have no number on their website. They want the dealer to handle the consumer relations. I'll keep trying and I'll keep you posted if I find out any info. Cheers!

 

[Slow1]

So..I call the dealer. I ask about overfire temp. He says that there is no need to worry about overfire temps, because 'these stoves' are hard to get above 300-400*!

I suspect your dealer hasn't seen really dry wood eh?

 

[shawneyboy]

Oh and BTW I have a full load of Oak and Maple in the rock right now. Stove top is at 525, secondaries are flaming away, and not a lick of smoke from the chimney.... Guess this is in overfire mode ???

 

[NH_Wood]

Oh and BTW I have a full load of Oak and Maple in the rock right now. Stove top is at 525, secondaries are flaming away, and not a lick of smoke from the chimney.... Guess this is in overfire mode ???

Ha! Guess so - you'd better learn how to burn that stove......knock it down a couple hundred degrees and your good to go......

 

[wellbuilt home]

I have a equinox and It can burn out of control if i fill my fire box with a full load of coals already burning .
I added a damper and it fixed the problem .
My stove doesn't get much above 400o but it hits OK, It doesnt really put out enough heat for a 3000sf house.
It would be nice to reach 550 o on the cold nights .
I run it with the air open 1/4 and the damper closed and burn 21/23 splits with 3 loadings and keep the temps between 275/425o
If i run with the air 1/2 open i need to load the stove 4 times but dont get much above 425o but the stove temp stays above 325o
for 6 hrs +
The rear heat shield & blower helps the heat output and helps with the stove temps buy blowing air over the stove surface and cooling it .
Over all i like the stove even though it burns alot of wood .
John

 

[branchburner]

Copied from another thread ..

“FYI,
here is jims email
[email protected]
woodstove expert hearthstone
800) 827-8683 ext 235

he is a very good guy and responds to (my emails at least) very quickly
Signature

Dave Gault
WoodHeatStoves.com
blog.woodheatstoves.com”

 

[DALE SR 3]

I have a Lennox Montecito fireplace and manual states The Montecito fireplace will operate best if attention is given to operating the unit with the damper fully opened after refueling in order to bring the firebox and the chimney system up to their optimum operating temperature.
Combustion efficiency is relative to firebox temperature. A temperature of 500º C (932º F) and up, with a visible flame, in the upper part
of the firebox indicates a maximum efficiency. To obtain this temperature, the fireplace must be operated with the primary air and air boost
controls fully opened during 10 to 20 minutes after reloading, depending on the heat and on the moisture content of the wood.


I called Lennox and asked them what does up mean, the guy says up no maximum, I asked does that mean 1500 degrees, he says no maximum.

Manual also says: Do not burn large amounts of paper, cardboard, Christmas tree branches or building construction materials. Intense firing with these materials may overheat the fireplace, causing damage to the unit. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN WITH NO MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE?


I asked when I fill the firebox with Ironwood and Ash the stainless steel tubes usually start glowing red, he says that is perfectly normal.

 

[Pagey]

I know that a steel stove and a soapstone stove are different animals, but I honestly don't see how they expect you to keep a "burn tube" type stove under 600 at all times. With a full charge of well seasoned wood and internal temps over 1,000F to maintain secondary combustion....maybe I'm just naive.

 

[Todd]

I think these soapstone manufactures are more concerned with internal temps reaching 1400+ degrees which is about double the max suggested external temps. These high temps are not good for cast iron and parts could start to warp. The soapstone however can take temps well above 1400.

 

[Dakotas Dad]

The manual for my stove clearly states above 600 is an "overfire"..

Homestead Manual:

Monitor your stove’s temperature to make sure that your fire is giving off the proper amount of heat. Place a stove thermometer (available from your dealer) on the top center stone of the stove. The thermometer could read between 300° to 400° Fahrenheit (149° to 204° Celsius) on a low burn, and as high as 600° Fahrenheit (316° Celsius) on a high burn. Do not exceed the high burn rate temperature; over-firing your stove will result in voiding the warranty.

yours is a little less clear, but it does say:

Mansfield Manual:

MONITORING STOVE TEMPERATURES
Monitor the stove temperatures with a stove thermometer
(available from your dealer) placed on the top center
stone of the stove. The thermometer could read as high as
600° F (427° C) on high burn and 300-400° F
(149-240° C) on low burn.
Do not over-fire the stove. (refer to previous section).

My understanding, and instructions from my dealer are "Don't run the stove over 600°F for extended periods". I seriously doubt that an occasional accidental trip a bit above 600 is going to cause instant catastrophic failure. The problem probably would lie with trying to run at 600 all the time.. if the stove spikes on you for some reason, it could go well above 600..

We very rarely take the stove above 425, has been very close to 600 a couple times, but, even with a large box fan two rooms away blowing on high, it takes about 10 minutes to get the downstairs closing on 80 degrees.. to hot for me. We "cruise" about 350, keeps the downstairs around 72, upstairs around 68, works for us.

In a way I am very disappointed in Hearthstones practice of putting it all on the dealer. I am lucky that 2 out of three dealers that are within my acceptable 50 mile radius are pretty darn good. But I read on here all the time people who have only one dealer near them, and they suck. Although using the dealer locator may help them find one they didn't know about, it did for us, and we bought from the dealer 15 miles away, and didn't even know they were there until using it.

 

[cmonSTART]

NH_WOOD, how long are you getting out of a load of wood burning like this?