Well, the first "run away" fire of the season is going on now. About 5 medium splits in the Endeavor, and it's just one of those loads that, for whatever reason(s), decided to really take off. Nothing seems to help, unfortunately. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood from too many hours at work the last 2 months, but I am tempted to pull this non-cat and replace it with something more controllable...if such a stove exists.
Runaway in the Endeavor
- Thread starter Pagey
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
It does.
If I kept my Endeavor I was going to plug the secondary air intakes a little or make plugs I could put over them during these fun loads. They're under the side shields, the holes are up high but Lopi has a channel that funnels the air from the bottom up, IRRC they're rectangular channels, you can see them easily from the bottom.
It does.
If I kept my Endeavor I was going to plug the secondary air intakes a little or make plugs I could put over them during these fun loads. They're under the side shields, the holes are up high but Lopi has a channel that funnels the air from the bottom up, IRRC they're rectangular channels, you can see them easily from the bottom.
I considered just that, but by god the stove is HOT. Too late to go poking around under there. Just a frustrating end to a frustrating day. I've had way larger loads this year that didn't take off on me, so who knows. No rhyme or reason, it would seem.
Blower on high, big pot of cold water on the stove and ride it out.
Or open the door and bypass like others here suggest to break the secondaries. I understand the idea but I can't get behind the thinking. 
OR get a cat stove that doesn't have bunches of unregulated air pouring in and call it a day.
Blower on high, big pot of cold water on the stove and ride it out.
OR get a cat stove that doesn't have bunches of unregulated air pouring in and call it a day.
I didn't think about the pot of water. See? Too much work ruins the brain. I am going to study the secondary air inlets tomorrow with a cold (or cooler) stove and fashion some sort of stop/plug. This is just ridiculous.
On the ocassion that I let my Endeavor get a bit overheated I just shut down the primary air all the way, turn the fans on high and ride it out. Only takes a few minutes to notice the stove top temp dropping. These things can take a licking and keep on ticking....by a bit overheated I'm talking North of 800 on the infared...
4 years with an Endeavor and I have never had this problem, I can't understand what the difference could be? I can understand your frustration.
Maybe you didn't have run aways earlier because of warmer air temps and less draft. When I was running my oakwood and having a tall stack, using a pipe damper was a real help taming a runaway. Maybe give it a shot with a pipe damper if you do not have one.
A wise old timer that used to sell VCs told me one time that running a Oak with an adjustable damper was a cure for the everburn runaways.
Since going to the fireview, it is crazy that I can snuff the fire out on a full load with the air control. The wife will sometimes say, "hunny you better turn down the stove before it runs away", then, "oh yea wrong stove"
Once I went cat, I do not know if I would go back! I feel your frustration, I went through stove baby sitting.
A wise old timer that used to sell VCs told me one time that running a Oak with an adjustable damper was a cure for the everburn runaways.
Since going to the fireview, it is crazy that I can snuff the fire out on a full load with the air control. The wife will sometimes say, "hunny you better turn down the stove before it runs away", then, "oh yea wrong stove"
Once I went cat, I do not know if I would go back! I feel your frustration, I went through stove baby sitting.
Every install is different, his chimney may perform a little better, who knows! My Endeavor entertained me on more than one occasion. After 2 years with mine I needed something with more control and that's where a cat stove stepped in. Of course there are still plenty of non cats out there I would LOVE to try.(PE is at the top) Sooo many stoves so little money to waste.
Different stove but i know how feel Not had a true run away here but it is frustrating when you just want to take the chill off.
To me it seems the EPA made non cats to burn hot and hot only.
etiger2007
Minister of Fire
You could always take ash from your ash bucket and throw a couple scoops on the fire to smother it some. Since my over fire if I get north of 600 on the stove top the heart starts beating alittle faster.
It got nearly 800F on the Condar, and that was with the blower going and the ceiling fan in the room on high. Had to open a shite ton of windows, too.
etiger2007
Minister of Fire
I've got a question about the "open" secondary air inlet on the Endeavors. I've got one that's probably about an '01 or '02. I'd have to look to make sure.
Have they always been unregulated? I've had a few of those "nuclear" loads but have always been able to kill them pretty quickly with the draft control.Really dry elm seems to be the worst culprit for me.
My chimney is masonry with a clay liner. It starts in the basement and goes straight through the roof, probably 30' overall. Single wall black pipe straight up out of the stove for 2', 90 to the right and about 2' into the chimney. The stove seems pretty happy with the end of the draft control rod itself (not the coiley heat spring handle) about 1/4" out past the ash lip on the front of the stove.
Have they always been unregulated? I've had a few of those "nuclear" loads but have always been able to kill them pretty quickly with the draft control.Really dry elm seems to be the worst culprit for me.
My chimney is masonry with a clay liner. It starts in the basement and goes straight through the roof, probably 30' overall. Single wall black pipe straight up out of the stove for 2', 90 to the right and about 2' into the chimney. The stove seems pretty happy with the end of the draft control rod itself (not the coiley heat spring handle) about 1/4" out past the ash lip on the front of the stove.
Plenty of threads on here about runaway stoves. Experienced it myself several times with my first EPA stove. I understand why they limit how far down the primary can go but it just doesn't seem safe or mfg need to make people very aware certain chimney installs are going to need a damper. Below 30 outside it is standard ops for me to have the primary full shut and the damper full shut on my Elm and still at times have a cruising temp 700-800 degrees on reload.
loudog
Member
I've experienced similar, but less severe, issues with my Clydesdale (EPA). If I light her up and keep the primary open so there is good secondary burn and no smoke coming out of the chimney it wants to run right around 600-650...where the manufacturer says anything over 600 should be short lived. Seems happiest around and above 600, but the stove is new to me...I'll have to learn how to work around that.
Cold pot of water. Good thought I'll keep in mind.
Cold pot of water. Good thought I'll keep in mind.
600 Stove top temp should be OK but 900 like my stove hit this morning is not.
loudog
Member
Yowsa! 900 is steep. Did you make it through unscathed?
Is there a number where damage typically occurs, or is it a huge spread specific to each stove?
That's my thinking, it obviously doesn't calm the fire but pulls some of the heat off the stove top while you wait for the fire to calm down.
gtjohn
Member
That is what i done this morning i think opening the door when it is like that just creats a whole different risk of something going bad.
etiger2007
Minister of Fire
That dosent always work in my opinion because the fire is still getting air for the secondaries, not to mention it could take along time for the stove to calm down and during this time damage could be happening. Im suprised that with EPA stoves theres not a lever to shut down the air completely instead of using foil balls to plug holes. How hard is it to over fire a cat stove? I run my fan on high all the time.
- Status
Similar threads
