new country hearth 2000

[southernway]

Hi everybody,

Hope someone can help. We bought this new wood stove country hearth 2000. We are having trouble starting the fire I am not sure if it is a draft issue. The chimney was cleaned, we have good pipes they clean. The only way we can get a good hot fire is if we take out the plug to clean out the ashes. Does anybody else have that problem ? Our old wood stove burned faster and hotter when we lit the fire we have been burning wood for about 20 years now but this new stove has us stumped.

 

[Grisu]

Welcome to the forum!

Most of the time when people have problems after switching from a pre-EPA to an EPA stove it is the wood. The newer stoves really require dry wood with an internal moisture content of less than 20% to burn well. How long has your wood been split and stacked in a sunny and windy spot? What species? Do you have a moisture meter to check them?

Other option is too short or too wide of a flue. How tall is your chimney? What type (masonry, single, double-wall)? If masonry is it lined? What is the diameter of the flue? Any bends?

When starting the fire do you leave the front door open until a well burning fire is established? Do you have the air control fully open when closing the door? How quickly do you try to close the air? If your house is rather airtight, have you tried opening a window close to the stove to see if that improves draft? In that case you may need an outside air kit.

 

[begreen]

Sounds like poorly seasoned wood, but describe the entire flue system in detail just in case there is an issue there.

 

[bobdog2o02]

my old Contry Hearth 2500 needed the door to be cracked, with the locking mechanisms touching but not latched, for a solid 15 miutes on a fresh startup.....