Pacific Energy users in the shoulder seasons

[Samsquanch]

Just curious if you folks running PE stoves in the shoulder seasons have good luck with burning small hot fires as needed, without roasting yourselves out and still achieving minimal / no visible smoke?

I’m still on the fence between a T5 and a BK Ashford and am trying to weigh how much I value the simplicity of the t5 versus the magic of the blazeking. I’m currently running a cat stove and can’t say I’m too keen on only getting a few seasons out of a cat, but that may be just due to the design/ cat placement of our current VC Dutchwest, but given the BK performance, I might be able to justify forking out a few bucks for replacement cats. We aren’t full time burners, maybe 2/3 of the heating season in terms of hours, but a clean shoulder season burn would be a priority. Im aware this is dangerously close to triggering a cat/non-cat debate... be kind.

Thanks!

 

[Sodbuster]

Just curious if you folks running PE stoves in the shoulder seasons have good luck with burning small hot fires as needed, without roasting yourselves out and still achieving minimal / no visible smoke?

I’m still on the fence between a T5 and a BK Ashford and am trying to weigh how much I value the simplicity of the t5 versus the magic of the blazeking. I’m currently running a cat stove and can’t say I’m too keen on only getting a few seasons out of a cat, but that may be just due to the design/ cat placement of our current VC Dutchwest, but given the BK performance, I might be able to justify forking out a few bucks for replacement cats. We aren’t full time burners, maybe 2/3 of the heating season in terms of hours, but a clean shoulder season burn would be a priority. Im aware this is dangerously close to triggering a cat/non-cat debate... be kind.

Thanks!

I can't speak for other PE owners, but as one, my stove burns best when full. I can't tell you why it just does. My buddy has a different stove, that I can't remember the name of now, but he can throw one split in at a time and be fine.

 

[begreen]

The mid-sized PE firebox does fine with a partial load of say 4 splits. The larger T6/Summit firebox does well with 5-6 medium splits. If the house is warm enough don't add any more wood. If a little more heat is needed later on then put 1-2 splits on to extend the burn.

 

[Sodbuster]

The mid-sized PE firebox does fine with a partial load of say 4 splits. The larger T6/Summit firebox does well with 5-6 medium splits. If the house is warm enough don't add any more wood. If a little more heat is needed later on then put 1-2 splits on to extend the burn.

Begreen, my PE will burn 4 splits OK, if I pack them tightly, centered in the stove, but I don't get a lot of heat. For an overnight burn it likes 6 splits.

 

[begreen]

Yes, my friend runs his Summit on 4 splits in mild weather too. It's their sole source of heat so in mild weather they run it lower than I do and just add a split or two as needed.

 

[Woody5506]

My T5 does fine in the shoulder seasons, burning smaller fires. I feel like the stove runs perfect on those 30-35 degree days. I guess it comes down to what your definition of smaller fire really is? For example, I start a small fire (3 splits) early every morning before I leave for work which provides a decent coal bed for my wife to reload onto mid morning. 4 splits in my stove I'd consider more of an "average" fire like what I'd do on a weekend when I'm home more to reload. My overnight burn is usually 6 splits or whatever I can pack into the box.

 

[Samsquanch]

Perfect, thanks guys! Sounds like we are all on the same page regarding what a “smaller” load is too. There’s kind of a minimum threshold of what you need to achieve clean burning temps regardless of stove design I guess. I imagine that is a bit easier with a brick lined stove vs. naked cast iron inside too.

 

[bcrtops]

Just curious if you folks running PE stoves in the shoulder seasons have good luck with burning small hot fires as needed, without roasting yourselves out and still achieving minimal / no visible smoke?
Thanks!

Yes, we burn small hot fires quite a lot. We will even have a small hot fire during very cool summer days, just to get the chill off the house in the AM. It is certainly possible to build a "smoldering fire" by using wet wood or shutting the air supply off too soon. I've even experimented with reducing the size of the firebox with firebricks during the shoulder season. Works by putting the bricks on both sides, keeping the fire central, but a pain to remove hot bricks if you really need a long/hot fire or overnight burn. Keep fire centered in firebox vs. to the side for a clean burn.

The real advantage of the PE stoves over other brands is their simplicity & ease of maintenance.

 

[MDWOOD]

We use our stove full time. same box as a t5.
I can run on small loads clean and it holds heat and coals well till the next fuel load
without baking us out.
Dry wood is the key to early shut down of air and warming up fast to cruise

 

[begreen]

My T5 does fine in the shoulder seasons, burning smaller fires. I feel like the stove runs perfect on those 30-35 degree days. I guess it comes down to what your definition of smaller fire really is? For example, I start a small fire (3 splits) early every morning before I leave for work which provides a decent coal bed for my wife to reload onto mid morning. 4 splits in my stove I'd consider more of an "average" fire like what I'd do on a weekend when I'm home more to reload. My overnight burn is usually 6 splits or whatever I can pack into the box.

Yes, how many splits depends on the split size. Three 3" splits is the minimum for our stove, but it's going to be a wimpy fire.

A couple other advantages of these stoves is they work ok in low draft conditions when the difference between outside and indoor temps is not as great. And PE (and I think Enviro) are among the few stoves that regulates the secondary air for an extended burn.

 

[Highbeam]

Between a bk ashford and a t5, you can’t hardly go wrong!

I’ll be lighting my bk soon. Shoulder season is no big deal.

 

[billb3]

Just curious if you folks running PE stoves in the shoulder seasons have good luck with burning small hot fires as needed, without roasting yourselves out and still achieving minimal / no visible smoke?

I’m still on the fence between a T5 and a BK Ashford and am trying to weigh how much I value the simplicity of the t5 versus the magic of the blazeking. I’m currently running a cat stove and can’t say I’m too keen on only getting a few seasons out of a cat, but that may be just due to the design/ cat placement of our current VC Dutchwest, but given the BK performance, I might be able to justify forking out a few bucks for replacement cats. We aren’t full time burners, maybe 2/3 of the heating season in terms of hours, but a clean shoulder season burn would be a priority. Im aware this is dangerously close to triggering a cat/non-cat debate... be kind.

Thanks!

Depends on what you mean by a small fire.
I find anything under about 50% of the firebox volume really isn't creating a very efficient clean burn. Of course, if you don't care about that, then burn a hand full of twigs. I find in the shoulder season, especially sunny days with solar gain, we pretty much only have a couple of pine fires between 7AM and about noon. With slower heat losses it isn't all that cold in the morning.