Overburn problem

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AltaVistaStove

New Member
Jul 6, 2025
2
rapid city
I can't turn down the airflow on my 2008 Alderlea T5 enough. Door gasket seems good. Just put in new door glass and gasket since glass had cracked and glass gasket was leaking air. Thought that would solve my air flow problem. It made it better but still can't slow down the flow as much as when new. I've inspected things and don't see anything warped from overheating and the damper seems to be working right but I can't restrict the incoming air as much as I'd like to control the fire. When new I could shut damper far enough to slow the fire down to a simmer but now even shutting the damper down all the way I get more of a burn than I'd like. Makes me careful not to add much fuel at a time as afraid it might burn to fast and hot. Any ideas appreciated on how to deal with this.
 
Welcome. Do the dollar bill test on the door at multiple points and make sure the door glass gasket is sealing all the way around. Also, are the insulation blocks on either side of the baffle in good condition and touching up against the baffle? Has the baffle secondary tube gasket been replaced after cleaning?

Another thing that can change is the species of wood, its dryness and thickness. Some types of wood burn hotter and faster than otheres. Thicker splits will burn slower.
Is the stove being loaed N/S and tightly packed?
 
Welcome. Do the dollar bill test on the door at multiple points and make sure the door glass gasket is sealing all the way around. Also, are the insulation blocks on either side of the baffle in good condition and touching up against the baffle? Has the baffle secondary tube gasket been replaced after cleaning?

Another thing that can change is the species of wood, its dryness and thickness. Some types of wood burn hotter and faster than otheres. Thicker splits will burn slower.
Is the stove being loaed N/S and tightly packed?
Thanks for the reply! I just watched some UTube videos. Will be easy to do the dollar bill test. Will also try to take out the baffle to inspect. What would tell you that a new baffle is needed? Anyway this all gives me hope I can fix this stove and continue to use it!
 
It takes a lot of abuse, typically overfiring a lot, to wear out a PE baffle. A baffle will need to be replaced when
it no longer can direct secondary air properly. This usually shows up as a bad sag and rupture on the bottom side or front edge. Our T6 baffle is the same age as your stove and it is still in very good condition.