Question re quadra fire 5700

[Brockport Bill]

I have just purchased a quadrafire 5700 step top wood stove. I have installed it in my basement. The house is a ranch 1800sf with a large atrium. I figure the heat will flow from the basement and flow up the atruim into the main floor. My question is how much wood can I put in the stove to last all night and then reload and run all day. I load it in the am before work at 6:00A and when I get home at 3:30P the fire is out and looks like it has been out for hours. The stove is about 150 degrees. I have the main air control at about 15-20% open. I hear about these 12-13 hour burns do I need to load more wood. I am new to wood stoves so I didn't know can the wood be higher than the fire brick so I can pack more wood in

Bill

 

[TMonter]

What kind of wood are you burning and what size splits?

 

[Brockport Bill]

I am burning a mix of what I was told to be hardwoods. There seems to be some oak (I think) I am not sure about the rest. The split sizes are some 4"x8"x20" flat splits, 4-6" triangle x 16" splits

Bill

 

[Gunner]

Try loading a little bit more each time, until you are comfortable with how it acts, the 5700 is ALOT of stove. After the flames die out the coal heat lasts a loonng time...

 

[Brockport Bill]

What is a safe flue temp, I try to keep it at 400. Is that okay

 

[Gunner]

Depends, I have double wall and a probe thermo. 400-500 is what I get during the active stage of a fire.

 

[Corie]

Is that 400 external or internal on the flue? I'm humming along right now at a 900 degree internal pipe temp.

 

[Brockport Bill]

The flue temp I am refering to is with a internal probe style. I wasn't sure if you want to let the fire run hot, because doesn't that mean your wood is burning to quickly?
When I open up the primary air the flue temp will get to 850-900 easily, I didnt know if that was safe. Especially loading before work or bed and letting it roar

 

[RonB]

Hello Brockport and welcome. With decent wood and technique you will get a 10-12 hr burn. There is a learning curve and I am still learning on my 5700. However, I can get the longer burns when needed. It usually requires filling the firebox all the way. And then at the right stage of the fire you can essentially run it with the primary control pretty much closed (15-20%? open). Review your Quad instruction book in the fires sections. Also, you are closing the startup air completely off after 5-15 min, right? Also, (just covering the obvious) air controls are shut/closed when they are pulled all the way out.

 

[Gunner]

Is that 400 external or internal on the flue? I'm humming along right now at a 900 degree internal pipe temp.

Humming right along indeed...what is the stovetop at when the probe is 900?

I run up to 900 every time I kindle a new load but usually settles in around 400-500 probe with a stove top of 700 after cutting back the air.

 

[Brockport Bill]

Yes I do keep the start up air closed (pulled out) after 15 min. Today I accidentally let the stove get too hot. It was at a flue temp of 1200. fortunately it is rated at 1200 continuous. That seems to be pushing the envelope to close for me. I loaded the stove this morning pretty much packed and it lasted about 7 hours. When I got home there were still some live coals in the stove, but it still was not hot enough to even ignite kindling. I am not clearly sure of what type of wood I am burning, The guy I bought my first load from said it was all hardwoods. It seems to my knowledge they are. When you you look at the ends of the wood they have a tight grain looking similar to red oak, but I cannot be certain. I do pull the primary air control all the way out , then I push it back in about 3/8"-3/4". I am also trying to figure out the best way to get the warm air from the basement to the main floor. I have a boiler with in floor radiant heat, so I do not have any duct to draw the heat into the cold air return and circulate it that way. It may end up that I need to put a blower in with some duct trunk to circulate the air throughout the house. First I am trying to bet the least invasive as possible. I hope to be able to draw the hot air up through the atrium (one thing hot air will do is rise) and then it will heat the kitchen / living room. My house has a open floor plan so hopefully that helps with air circulation. A coworker has a wood burner in his basement, he has a two story house. his first floor is usually 75 and 2nd floor is a little cooler. He used his furnace to circulate the warm air from the basement with the fan only mode. I think if I use something like that could help, even though I do nolt want to install duct in existing walls for a house I just built.

 

[RonB]

I just checked my primary control and I had it set at about 3/8" open. That is similar to one of the readings you reported. The way the secondary flames lazily roll/drift is the determining factor for me that helps me set the air control correctly for todays conditions (wood load, wood type, outside air temp, how good the draft is today, and etc.) Once again, a full firebox (probably 6-7 med. to large splits and majority of them hardwood) set this way will give a long burn and adequate heat. What would happen if you closed the air control fully (after the load is really good and hot)? It still may be a learning curve for you to go through. Try different situations with your stove when you are around to monitor it. If I may suggest, make another post for the second issue about circulating heat from the basement. Keep this thread dedicated to improving your burn time. I think you will get better help if we are only dealing with one issue at a time. Also, do some digging in older threads as time permits. You will find answers or leads there as well.

 

[begreen]

Bill, take a standard table or box fan. Put it in the the atrium entrance blowing on low speed - towards - the stove. That may be all it takes to get a good thermal loop going.

 

[Jefflee1]

Bill

This is my second year with my 5700, I couldn't be happier. Last night was the first time in 5 weeks or better I let the stove die. It was warm yesterday ( almost 40) . Plus I wanted to clean the glass.
I work a 12 hr day, the way I get a burn to last that long is to load the stove with the pieces pushed all the way back (North south), then in the front find pieces to load the other way (east, west) untill it is as full as I can make it. Let it burn for 15-20 mins the close the air right off, since I am not home, I don't care if the house gets a little cool, (very old house lots of drafts also depending on the temp outside) the stove will warm her up pertty quick. I have gone 14 hrs and a little better and still had coals enough to start it without kindling.

Jeff