Maximum heat output from the mansfield

[traveler659]

This is my first year burning with the mansfield.So far it has been doing fairly well putting out the heat but it is not what I had expected.I have been burning seasoned oak that was cut in fall of 2009.My house is appx.1600 sq ft, log home.The highest temp I have got so far is 550 before I start to throttle down.I was wondering if installing a damper would help on the heat output.It seems like a damper would keep a lot of the heat from going up the chimney and more coming out the stove.This stove should be running me out of the house.Like I said this is my first year with this stove so I am still learning.My old stove was an earth stove and it was fairly simple to operate and was well pleased with the heat but it created a lot of creosote.
For those of you that have the mansfield is it what you had expected?Do you think a damper would help?

 

[burnham]

I put a damper in mine, it helps. Before I did, even with the stove "choked down" all the way it seemed like there was a lot of heat/flame still going up the pipe. I replaced the gaskets, thinking that maybe the stove was sucking air, but that didn't help. I live in a small house and the Mansfield isn't driving me out.

 

[Todd]

So you are running wide open til 550 then backing down? Maybe too much heat going up the flue by running wide open? Try backing off a little sooner and let those secondaries take over.

 

[BrotherBart]

Not just too much heat going up the flue but too much cool primary air blowing into the firebox. Get the stuff flaming good and then start closing the air down in steps as the stove temp comes up.

 

[johnstra]

I'm heating 2100 sq ft with my Mansfield. It's -5 right now, so the stove isn't chasing me out of the house but it feels nice. It's 73 in the stove room, and 68 over in the downstairs central hallway. I have lots of vaulted ceiling space and a large landing upstairs that also gets heated. The landing is 75. If the temperature was greater than 20 outside, it would be 80 in here.

BB and Todd have it right. Get the load flaming good (all of your wood should be charred) and then start cutting back your primary air. My stove puts out max heat with the primary air shut completely. You should be able to get 1600 sq ft very toasty with that stove.

How tall is your chimney. One indicator on the Mansfield that you have good draft is this... get the load burning well and gradually cut your primary air back until you have it almost all the way closed. You should feel a bit of resistance before it "latches" all the way shut. If you leave it at that "nearly shut" point, you should get some vibration or even a strong buzzing sound from the air moving past the primary air shutters. It'll stop when you push the latch the final bit to fully close it. I've heard reports from a few people about their Mansfield having this "feature".

 

[NH_Wood]

+1 for everyone's advice above. Heating 3000 sqft with my Mansfield - does just fine until low single digits - then about 68 downstairs and upper 50's upstairs. I use a pipe damper, but I have very strong draft. Trust me, you've got a great stove - you'll learn how to use it.

P.S. 550* stove top is just about perfect for the Mansfield. You don't want to be shooting for stovetop temps over 600*. Cheers!

 

[shawneyboy]

+1 for everyone's advice above. Heating 3000 sqft with my Mansfield - does just fine until low single digits - then about 68 downstairs and upper 50's upstairs. I use a pipe damper, but I have very strong draft. Trust me, you've got a great stove - you'll learn how to use it.

P.S. 550* stove top is just about perfect for the Mansfield. You don't want to be shooting for stovetop temps over 600*. Cheers!

+1 to that... 550 is about the best place to be. I think as others have said you are waiting to long to throttle back. Remember the stove heats up slower than a metal stove, so when you see people talking about doing this or that with the stove take into consideration if it is a stone or a metal, and even what type of metal stove they have.

With the mansfield, start the throttle back process MUCH sooner than 550. I start cutting it back when the secondaries start up, depending on coal bed and type of wood this has been as low as 350. The stone heats up slower so if you are taking a stove top temp, your 400 is different, The firebox heat is much higher when your stove top reaches say 400 compared to a metal stove reaching 400 on the stove top.

Once you get a handle on the stove, and it's personality, you will relize how good you have it with that big ole rock.

Shawn

 

[Rich L]

Ya put in the damper.I did and I doubled my heat times.Also try turning the damper in one direction then the other.One of these directions will produce more heat off the stove.I get the most heat when I turn the damper towards the rear of the stove.