Regency 300Hi secondary issue

[rick clifford]

Hello. I have had a Regency Hi300 for a number of years and I just cant get the burn time I want/need. Also the secondaries dont always get well engaed for some reason. Chimney is well cleaned. BUT I have found a Regency Hi500 for under $1000 with the full surround and liner included. It is very clean and gently used. I would like some input on it as it will be my primary heat source and will need it to burn hot and long. Can I do that with or without the cat and can I hurt the cat if I run it hot . I feel it a great buy and an improvement over my current Hi300. Any and all info is appreciated. My house a drafty 1600 SQ cape with an exterior chimney on the north side. Chimney is approximately 20 or 21 feet. My wood is well seasoned , covered with some dating back to super storm Sandy. (maybe that wood is too dry) Last thing what is the difference between the Hi500 and the Ci2700. Thanks

 

[begreen]

The Hi500 is a beautiful stove and that sounds like a nice deal. However, it has a .3 cu ft larger firebox, so not a huge gain over the 2.3 cu ft Hi300. They're both E/W loading stove which means the actual working load will be maybe 25% in order to avoid wood rolling up against the door glass. If there is room, going up to an insert that can load N/S and is in the 2.8-3+ cu ft range will make a larger difference.

 

[rick clifford]

I did notice right away that its east west and I was able to load the HI300 either way easily. I figured more wood equals more burn time but I cant get the Hi300 hot enough nor get the burn times I am after. I am/was hoping with the newer technologies and the cat, I could get longer and hotter running fires so I dont have to get up at night to feed it. Again, I want this as my primary heat source. Maybe I am in dream world. I am looking at my firebox as I write this and the 500 will just fit due to the depth and the sloping back wall. Anything larger in those 2 dimensions won't cut it without chipping the brick. In addition, my setbacks are good. 1 thing I am unsure of is the collar sits back further in the Hi500- 14 3/8 inches as opposed to the Hi300- 11 1/8, Is there an adapter I could us to use for this difference

 

[rick clifford]

So once again I am back and still cant get the secondaries working. Nor the burn times but one thing at a time. As suggested there may (or may not) be air slipping back in at the collar. As I will shut the stove down today for the first time in a month due to 50 Degree temps, I want to seal around the collar. What would be the best and easiest way to do it. And what is the best way to do it even if its not easy. Very frustrated with the stove and want to try to correct all issues before moving on to a new stove. Any other issues I should look for in this thing. Air control is built into the stove and I cant get a visual on that (or is there a way I dont know about) Thank. Happy Holidays

 

[begreen]

How large is the gap? If minor, then stove or furnace cement will work. If larger it can take some flat stove gasket.

Has the liner been checked for flaws? If it is kinked, or fishmouthed inside, then that can affect draft negatively. This may take lowering a camera down it for inspection.