Quadra Fire 3100i doesn't heat the whole house

[deborita3]

My woodburning stove reaches high temperatures but my hallway and bedrooms are still a little chilly. I have a blower on the stove and turn the ceiling fan on in the dining room bit the heat just doesn't get down the hall and to the bedrooms. I don't remember the exact sq footage of the house; just moved here a few months ago but I believe it's over 1200. As for the controls on the stove; I know you open both when first starting the fire but when do you close them and can you keep the secondary one open which is located in the center of the unit?

 

[deborita3]

My woodburning stove reaches high temperatures but my hallway and bedrooms are still a little chilly. I have a blower on the stove and turn the ceiling fan on in the dining room bit the heat just doesn't get down the hall and to the bedrooms. I don't remember the exact sq footage of the house; just moved here a few months ago but I believe it's over 1200. As for the controls on the stove; I know you open both when first starting the fire but when do you close them and can you keep the secondary one open which is located in the center of the unit?View attachment 231782

 

[deborita3]

Any suggestions, help? I can't keep the fire going. This is my first time using a wood stove. I had the chimney swept, new liner and chimney installed and new firebricks put in.

 

[Dataman]

http://www.quadrafire.com/Products/3100i-ACC-Wood-Insert.aspx

Load it up and get it roaring along. Really good burn and damper it down about 1/2. Should burn 10 hours give or take. It also depends on what WOOD.

Have you read the owners manual?

Link Above and Manuals.

https://downloads.hearthnhome.com/installmanuals/3100_WOOD_INSERT_OWNERS_7044_226.PDF

 

[deborita3]

http://www.quadrafire.com/Products/3100i-ACC-Wood-Insert.aspx

Load it up and get it roaring along. Really good burn and damper it down about 1/2. Should burn 10 hours give or take. It also depends on what WOOD.

Have you read the owners manual?

Link Above and Manuals.

https://downloads.hearthnhome.com/installmanuals/3100_WOOD_INSERT_OWNERS_7044_226.PDF

When you say damper it down do you mean the primary control? I have read the manual and followed what it said. It got really hot one day when I started the fire, the second day I couldn't get it to start. Flame would die out. Is it not cold enough outside. It's in the mid 40's here.

Do you leave the door opened a crack after first starting the fire? I saw some posts that mentioned they leave the door open. I didn't see that in the manual.

 

[deborita3]

When you say damper it down do you mean the primary control? I have read the manual and followed what it said. It got really hot one day when I started the fire, the second day I couldn't get it to start. Flame would die out. Is it not cold enough outside. It's in the mid 40's here.

Do you leave the door opened a crack after first starting the fire? I saw some posts that mentioned they leave the door open. I didn't see that in the manual.

I have the pre ACC model

 

[Dataman]

Don't overfire it. I would leave my door open only enough to get it started. In order to extend burn you have to cut down oxygen supply. That air control knob. When starting it should be open. Damper it down with that. Read the manual, quick start guide section 5.

 

[bholler]

I have the pre ACC model

The pre acc model works the same you just have to close the startup air manually. How tall is your chimney? Is the stove hooked to a stainless liner that runs all the way to the top of the chimney? Is that liner insulated? Is there a blockoff plate sealing off the area around that liner?

 

[deborita3]

The pre acc model works the same you just have to close the startup air manually. How tall is your chimney? Is the stove hooked to a stainless liner that runs all the way to the top of the chimney? Is that liner insulated? Is there a blockoff plate sealing off the area around that liner?

The liner is all the way up to the top of the chimney and a block off plate, new cap. They didn't insulate the liner and told me they couldn't because there wasn't enough space but that it wasn't necessary because it was insulated at the top of the chimney. I don't know anything about chimneys, liners.

I started a fire a few minutes ago. I opened the primary control. After the the fire was started I closed it and now the flame is out. Sometimes it starts and stays lit with alot of heat and other times the flame just dies out.

 

[deborita3]

The liner is all the way up to the top of the chimney and a block off plate, new cap. They didn't insulate the liner and told me they couldn't because there wasn't enough space but that it wasn't necessary because it was insulated at the top of the chimney. I don't know anything about chimneys, liners.

I started a fire a few minutes ago. I opened the primary control. After the the fire was started I closed it and now the flame is out. Sometimes it starts and stays lit with alot of heat and other times the flame just dies out.

How many logs do you put in to start and how much newspaper and kindling. I have looked at videos, read the manual, don't know what I am doing wrong, just know it's cold in here. Lol

 

[bholler]

How many logs do you put in to start and how much newspaper and kindling. I have looked at videos, read the manual, don't know what I am doing wrong, just know it's cold in here. Lol

How dry is your wood. This sounds like typical problems from wet wood.

 

[deborita3]

How dry is your wood. This sounds like typical problems from wet wood.

I don't know. I purchased from someone that also has made deliveries to others on my street. I am going to have to get a tester and see what the moisture is. I am new to wood stoves. Never had one before as I lived in a condo for many years. I do t have any experience. Hoping to get help and suggestions from here. I appreciate all the help so far.

 

[bholler]

I don't know. I purchased from someone that also has made deliveries to others on my street. I am going to have to get a tester and see what the moisture is. I am new to wood stoves. Never had one before as I lived in a condo for many years. I do t have any experience. Hoping to get help and suggestions from here. I appreciate all the help so far.

Chances are you wood is to wet. To find out if that is your issue get some of the compressed wood bricks. If they work fine you know its the wood.

 

[deborita3]

Chances are you wood is to wet. To find out if that is your issue get some of the compressed wood bricks. If they work fine you know its the wood.

I had a hot fire last night.

 

[deborita3]

How many logs do you usually start with and how much kindling? How long do you leave the primary air open until you close it?

 

[bholler]

How many logs do you usually start with and how much kindling? How long do you leave the primary air open until you close it?

On my regency which is very similar to your quad i used a peice of newspaper crumpled up and a little bit of cardboard. Then i filled the firebox full of wood and lit it. At my old house with 35' of chimney it was up to temp in 15 mins or so from cold. The new house only has 18 feet so it takes a little longer 20 or 25 mins and i may need to leave the door cracked for the first 5 mins or so.

 

[deborita3]

I just had a nice fire but it just went out. I have been trying for over an hour now and can't keep it lit.

 

[bholler]

I just had a nice fire but it just went out. I have been trying for over an hour now and can't keep it lit.

Sounds like wet wood.

 

[deborita3]

Sounds like wet wood.

 

[deborita3]

Is it OK to store some wood in the basement. Can that make the wood damp? Should it be stored outside?

 

[iceman2424]

Do you leave the door opened a crack after first starting the fire? I saw some posts that mentioned they leave the door open. I didn't see that in the manual.

Assuming your wood is good, and assuming you're using kindling to start the fire, AND assuming your air control is fully open, cracking the door would be my next step. I am a night and weekend burner, and I do this every time on startup.

I also crack a nearby window for an extra jolt of O2.

10 to 15 minutes later I'm burning hot, and the fire is ready for medium sized splits. Don't use big ones, that could be another issue. The smaller the better on startup.

40 ain't too warm to draft, I love burning in these temps. But you might want to consider preheating your flue, too. Light a piece of newspaper and hold it up to the baffle until it burns down. Good way to promote draft, I've found.

 

[deborita3]

Assuming your wood is good, and assuming you're using kindling to start the fire, AND assuming your air control is fully open, cracking the door would be my next step. I am a night and weekend burner, and I do this every time on startup.

I also crack a nearby window for an extra jolt of O2.

10 to 15 minutes later I'm burning hot, and the fire is ready for medium sized splits. Don't use big ones, that could be another issue. The smaller the better on startup.

40 ain't too warm to draft, I love burning in these temps. But you might want to consider preheating your flue, too. Light a piece of newspaper and hold it up to the baffle until it burns down. Good way to promote draft, I've found.

I got a fire going now. Temperature gauge on stove Rose to 300 degrees. Still don't know what the problem is and why it takes so long to get the fire going. How long do you leave the air control open after starting the fire and how long do you leave the window open? Appreciate all the help.

 

[edyit]

get yourself a few packs of these (broken link removed) or something similar as long as its all wood with no wax binders, if it works well with these then you can determine if it's your wood supply (which it sounds like it is)

 

[iceman2424]

I got a fire going now. Temperature gauge on stove Rose to 300 degrees. Still don't know what the problem is and why it takes so long to get the fire going. How long do you leave the air control open after starting the fire and how long do you leave the window open? Appreciate all the help.

I leave the door cracked and window open for 10 to 15 minutes, and then shut both. After that I leave the air control open for about a half hour before I start the damper down.

Take video of what you’re doing on startup and post it here. I’m a nerd, and love analyzing this crap.

If you are following the manual and struggling to get hot fires going, then like others are saying, you’ve got wet wood.

 

[deborita3]

This may be a stupid question but if it's the wood then wouldn't it not start at all? The fire has been going now for about 45 minutes and the temperature is hot. I think I am doing some wrong with the controls