ruined stove?

[pl@yer]

The other morning I loaded my stove and it was taking a long time to char the wood. I had to leave for work, so I decided I would call my son and get him to close the draft before he left for school. Well I forgot all about it until I got home for lunch. It had burned the load and I hate to think about how hot it got.
This was a couple of days ago.
I am pretty sure I am noticing that burn times have decreased significantly. After 6hrs I have the same amount of coals I used to have after 10hrs. Maybe I am just paranoid but I am worried I might have ruined my stove.
Anyone have any suggestions...things to test or check?


TIA,
Steve

 

[killick]

Hey Steve;
What type,brand and model,of stove do you have? Does it have a catylitic reburner ? Chances are the stove is ok but you may have cooked the cat if it has one.Also check for warped plates or interior baffles. You may want to have a WETT certified tech inspect it before you start firing it again.

Earl

 

[pl@yer]

E.W.-
thanks for the reply.
It is non-cat Drolet Escape 1800. It is burning now I loaded it at 12 and if there isn't lots of coals at 10PM, I guess I will be getting a WETT tech to check it.

 

[Chettt]

Steve if it was full of splits and rounds I'm sure it got hot but not enough to cause damage. If it was full of scrap 2X4's and such it can run too hot.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I'd look for warped panels and to see if the door seals tightly. Other than that the stove looks like it should be fairly bullet proof. There really are only 2 gaskets, around the glass and the door.

It shouldn't really matter, but how does it seal down into the ash pan? Is it a plug that you could pack ash around?

Maybe the stove burns faster because your burn cleaned it out?

Matt

 

[adrpga498]

I concur with Chettt.
Something i found on this site last year may help those who care to know how hot the stove got when you were away or fell asleep as I tend to do. Try making a "V" shape type wing with aluminum foil. Place this wing on the stove top thermometer in the grove on the right side of the needle. This will slide with the needle and stay put when the needle retracts as the temp. drops. I find this a great little marker to show how hot things got. The oroiginal post described it as an L shape. Short part of L into the groove,with longer part riding along the face of the thermometer.

 

[ckdeuce]

I concur with Chettt.
Something i found on this site last year may help those who care to know how hot the stove got when you were away or fell asleep as I tend to do. Try making a "V" shape type wing with aluminum foil. Place this wing on the stove top thermometer in the grove on the right side of the needle. This will slide with the needle and stay put when the needle retracts as the temp. drops. I find this a great little marker to show how hot things got. The oroiginal post described it as an L shape. Short part of L into the groove,with longer part riding along the face of the thermometer.

NICE!

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Steve, you might consider lightly firing up the stove tonight and turn out all the lights. Give the stove a good check for any cracks. If there is a crack, it will show.

 

[kenny chaos]

Seems like it would've caused problems with the flue pipe first?

 

[pl@yer]

Steve if it was full of splits and rounds I'm sure it got hot but not enough to cause damage. If it was full of scrap 2X4's and such it can run too hot.

It was a full load of splits and rounds. I'm starting to think I was just freaking out for nothing.

@EatenByLimestone
The door still looks like it has a good seal. The ash pan is a plug and there is ash packed around it. You might be right about cleaning out the flue and it drawing harder.

@adrpga498
I like the idea about the tinfoil gauge I'm going to try it out.

@BackwoodSavage
Thanks I'll try this tonight.

 

[eightpilot]

I have been using tin foil on my gauges for a few seasons now and it does work awesome...

 

[pl@yer]

Update:
Well I had all the lights off and a fire going. I looked around for leaks and could not see any. It does have a shroud around the back sides and half the top, which makes it tough to check the welds.
I still think I lost a little burn time (I'm thinking ~2hrs). so maybe the baffles inside got warped or something. I might take a stab at taking it apart on the weekend.

 

[grommal]

I concur with Chettt.
Something i found on this site last year may help those who care to know how hot the stove got when you were away or fell asleep as I tend to do. Try making a "V" shape type wing with aluminum foil. Place this wing on the stove top thermometer in the grove on the right side of the needle. This will slide with the needle and stay put when the needle retracts as the temp. drops. I find this a great little marker to show how hot things got. The oroiginal post described it as an L shape. Short part of L into the groove,with longer part riding along the face of the thermometer.

Now THIS is such a fantastic idea, I wonder why none of the stovetop thermometers have incorporated this as a feature and selling point. Anybody from Condar lurking out there, reading these posts?

 

[firefighterjake]

I concur with Chettt.
Something i found on this site last year may help those who care to know how hot the stove got when you were away or fell asleep as I tend to do. Try making a "V" shape type wing with aluminum foil. Place this wing on the stove top thermometer in the grove on the right side of the needle. This will slide with the needle and stay put when the needle retracts as the temp. drops. I find this a great little marker to show how hot things got. The oroiginal post described it as an L shape. Short part of L into the groove,with longer part riding along the face of the thermometer.

Now THIS is such a fantastic idea, I wonder why none of the stovetop thermometers have incorporated this as a feature and selling point. Anybody from Condar lurking out there, reading these posts?

Forget Condar coming up with the high temp indication . . . I'm waiting for them to come up with the raised thermometer so I can easily see the temp while my big, fat butt is still parked in the Lazy Boy.

 

[grommal]

I concur with Chettt.
Something i found on this site last year may help those who care to know how hot the stove got when you were away or fell asleep as I tend to do. Try making a "V" shape type wing with aluminum foil. Place this wing on the stove top thermometer in the grove on the right side of the needle. This will slide with the needle and stay put when the needle retracts as the temp. drops. I find this a great little marker to show how hot things got. The oroiginal post described it as an L shape. Short part of L into the groove,with longer part riding along the face of the thermometer.

Now THIS is such a fantastic idea, I wonder why none of the stovetop thermometers have incorporated this as a feature and selling point. Anybody from Condar lurking out there, reading these posts?

Forget Condar coming up with the high temp indication . . . I'm waiting for them to come up with the raised thermometer so I can easily see the temp while my big, fat butt is still parked in the Lazy Boy.

That's what kids are for. "Hey, go grab a couple more splits from the porch, and while you're at it, tell me what the stove temperature is!"

If only it worked that way...

 

[firefighterjake]

I concur with Chettt.
Something i found on this site last year may help those who care to know how hot the stove got when you were away or fell asleep as I tend to do. Try making a "V" shape type wing with aluminum foil. Place this wing on the stove top thermometer in the grove on the right side of the needle. This will slide with the needle and stay put when the needle retracts as the temp. drops. I find this a great little marker to show how hot things got. The oroiginal post described it as an L shape. Short part of L into the groove,with longer part riding along the face of the thermometer.

Now THIS is such a fantastic idea, I wonder why none of the stovetop thermometers have incorporated this as a feature and selling point. Anybody from Condar lurking out there, reading these posts?

Forget Condar coming up with the high temp indication . . . I'm waiting for them to come up with the raised thermometer so I can easily see the temp while my big, fat butt is still parked in the Lazy Boy.

That's what kids are for. "Hey, go grab a couple more splits from the porch, and while you're at it, tell me what the stove temperature is!"

If only it worked that way...

Oh, kids . . . guess I better get busy . . . "Oh Mrs. Firefighterjake . . . I need you for a few minutes . . . it's something I'm working on related to burning wood."

 

[pl@yer]

I just wanted to post a follow up. Since this issue was resolved a while back.

I did the paper (dollar) test and the gasket was not tight on the handle side. I replaced the door gasket and my burn times returned to normal.

I also added the blower fan to the back. Now when I need to crank the heat, I can leave it wide open and the fan on full which keeps it well below the max temp of 300* C.
Without the fan and loaded with my super dry rock maple this thing would probably get close 400C.