Operating Questions

[CAPBOY]

I've been burning now for about a month. I'm burning stovechows. Did the install myself and it was fairly simple. Liked what I read about the cumberland. Liked others, but considering the price it was the best fit.

So the user manual says range 1 for corn, 2&3 for pellets, and 4 for cherry pits and pellets. What does this all mean? Why one or the other?

CB

 

[jtakeman]

The quality(ash content) of the fuel for the most part. The programs will adjust feed rates and combustion air to better control the burning of the different fuels.

 

[jrsdws]

I'm not familiar with this stove, but I assume these selections modify the fuel delivery/feed amount and combustion air. Each of these fuels vary in size, shape, btu, burn characteristics, etc., so adjustments need to be made.

What are you burning now and how is it working?

 

[CAPBOY]

Burning stovechows. Bought 2 tons came to $376 after using the Lowes coupon from the post office that HD gladly accepts. They've been OK, but I have no experince with anything else. Here's the instructions:

 

[jrsdws]

Nice chart to go by! That's a lot of adjustability and should serve you very well. So if your burning Chows on range 2 or 3 for example, and you buy something else of lower quality that needs more air, you could change to range 3 or 4 perhaps to make them burn better. Find some super premium pellets and you'll be able to burn in the lower ranges.

 

[DexterDay]

Wow.... I like that adjustability

Chart is pretty self explanatory. As J-takeman and Jrsdws describe, the better the fuel quality, the lower the program you can run. Some pellets require more air to ensure good combustion. Some require a higher feed rate to get the heat you want.

How do you like the stove so far? Any install pics We love pics

 

[CAPBOY]

I like the stove so far. My worry at the start was the daily cleaning. That hasn't been that bad. Just need the gloves to keep the hands/arms safe. We have a 2200 sf colonial. No basement. We keep the guest room door closed. Other doors open (2 beds, 2 baths) on a 1 bag day, downstairs is 68-70 upstairs is 66-68.

Once I set the range, I modulate using the temp settings. The temp on the stove is meaningless/ notional since I have it attached to the stove. Coldest night so fr has been in the 20s. No issues.

 

[mmckee83]

We purchased a Cumberland MF3800 this fall and really like it so far, I have only put Cheat River and Somersets through it so far and the burn pot only needs to be cleared once a week maybe two depending on the setting. I got into a schedule of shutting it down and clearing the burn pot on Wednesdays and doing a full clean on Sundays. The ash pan could probably go 2 weeks with burning those pellets, especially the Somersets, before it would need to be emptied. I have not tried any softwoods but will probably pick up a few bags this spring.

The highest that we have got it up to is Range 3 - level 4 and that is with it in the teens outside and it kept the front of the house 75-78 and the back bedrooms 68 (I prefer the back of the house a little cooler for sleeping anyways). We were only able to run it there for a little while before we had to turn it back down because it was too warm. I don't know if we will ever get it up to the highest settings without cooking ourselves out.

 

[CAPBOY]

The last few weeks I've been running it on Level 2 and using the thermostat to regulate. No that we have a few days here that are a bit cold, I'm going to check out level 3.

 

[UpStateErik]

I like mine on 4-1 as compared to Range 3 on higher levels. Stove will shut down on 4-4 w (auger over temp) I have found the thermostatic mode which shuts the the stove off is nice for the simple reason when it refires the extra air cleans the pot out. The bottom plate under the burn pot had issues with certain pellet brands making clinkers that plug the holes up more. I drilled every other hole out to 3/16 and havnt had any issues with any brand since.

 

[CAPBOY]

Was on range 2 yesterday when I came home. Was a bit chilly, 64ish in the house. Bumped it to 3 with the thermostat modulating and the house quickly got up to 70 down 68 up. Will play with level 4 tonight.

 

[mmckee83]

I have not played with the thermostat yet, I have left it on since November when we got it installed (there have been a few instancese that it has been to warm outside so I just shut it completly off and of course the few hours a week for cleaning). The dealer that we got it from said that he also does not use the thermostat during the winter.

My only concern is that our house cools down pretty quickly on account that we do not have good windows, single pane with drop down storms from the 70's untill the 24th when we get new ones, and that the stove will kick on and off a lot durning the course of a day and night. Last night was 2 degrees out and on 3-5 the front of the house was 76 and in the back rooms were 67.

 

[CAPBOY]

Played with level 4 last night. Wow that heated up the house quickly. Got the downstairs to 72 and up to 69 in no time. There was a bit of a strange smell coming from the stove, a bit like melting plastic?

 

[imacman]

Played with level 4 last night. Wow that heated up the house quickly. Got the downstairs to 72 and up to 69 in no time. There was a bit of a strange smell coming from the stove, a bit like melting plastic?

Probably not plastic, but oils from manufacturing.....you've finally gotten the stove up to a good temp, and all new stoves give off an odor like that. Should slowly disappear as you use it at that temp more.

Many new users fire their stove up outdoors on high for an hour or 2 when they first get them just to eliminate this.

 

[chriscarl]

I like mine on 4-1 as compared to Range 3 on higher levels. Stove will shut down on 4-4 w (auger over temp) I have found the thermostatic mode which shuts the the stove off is nice for the simple reason when it refires the extra air cleans the pot out. The bottom plate under the burn pot had issues with certain pellet brands making clinkers that plug the holes up more. I drilled every other hole out to 3/16 and havnt had any issues with any brand since.

How is that bottom plate with the 3/16 holes working . Does it reduce the amount of cleaning needed?

 

[UpStateErik]

How is that bottom plate with the 3/16 holes working . Does it reduce the amount of cleaning needed?

No Issues, After having run over a dozen flavors of pellets through this stove over the past few years. I can say that quality of pellets has the largest impact on cleaning. Currently running Lignetics and Barefoots this season. Lignetics make clinkers but does not plug the lower plate. Barefoots are just awesome, very little cleaning if any. With either of these brands I shut the stove down pull the pot dumper, scrape out remaining crud with plastic putty knife. push pot back in, refire... I dont even lift the plate out but only once a week for good cleaning. As always YMMV, hope this helps!!

 

[chriscarl]

I have been burning a sommersets. I scrape the plate about every other day or so, really just minor build up. Maybe one or two holes clogged. Stove runs very clean. When I have some real free time I will drill out the holes. I actually purchased the 3/16 bit already. I also spoke to Paul at CSW. He is the guy in the you tube video. Very helpful. If you need his number I can PM it to you.

 

[chriscarl]

I've been burning now for about a month. I'm burning stovechows. Did the install myself and it was fairly simple. Liked what I read about the cumberland. Liked others, but considering the price it was the best fit.

So the user manual says range 1 for corn, 2&3 for pellets, and 4 for cherry pits and pellets. What does this all mean? Why one or the other?

CB

How do you like your MF 3800 after a year?