Need some advice on repair

[thesmackdown]

Sooooo....about eight months ago we bought a house with a Monarch Add-a-Furnace. It is a mid-1970s vintage and is showing signs of wear. I plan on replacing it this summer with something more efficient.

It's my fire time heating with wood as an adult. I have learned a lot in the winter months so far. I have run into one problem however.

I think I was way overheating the furnace and burned a hole in the baffle. It might have just been from age too.

So, the questions I have are:

1. What is the purpose of that baffle.
2. How can I repair it to get me through the next few months (I found a replacement casting, but it's $100 and I have to remove all the cast plates which could turn out to be a can of worms)
3. It maybe coincidence but I am not getting a very long burn out of the furnace - last night for instance I loaded it full at 10:30 and was up at 2:30 with the fire being out and only a few coals not enough to restart. I did have the air supply on it's lowest setting.

Any answer would be appreciated

 

[begreen]

The baffle is to turbulate the fire, to mix in air for better combustion. If you are just trying to limp through the season, I'd screw on a metal plate patch to cover the hole. Before attaching, butter the back of it with furnace cement.

 

[defiant3]

If possible, a stovepipe damper would slow things down a bit. "Bout $10.00 at a hardware store.

 

[laynes69]

Your short burns are a sure sign of an overdraft. The suggestion for a flue damper is a good idea. More than likely from years of use and having too much draft caused your burnout. There are quite a few efficient furnaces on the market now if thats what you go with.

 

[thesmackdown]

Your short burns are a sure sign of an overdraft. The suggestion for a flue damper is a good idea. More than likely from years of use and having too much draft caused your burnout. There are quite a few efficient furnaces on the market now if thats what you go with.

How do I know how much to close the stovepipe damper?