Running a bit cool

[jjhof0306]

I've been burning my Napoleon 1400 for a bit over a month now, and I feel I have the general hang of it, and am happy with the stove. What I've been noticing is that it's running a bit cooler than I would like. When I refuel the stove, I leave it wide open until it gets above 500*, sometimes a bit higher if it's cold outside. My instinct has been to close off the primary air, in stages, until it's completely closed, or as far as the control will actually close it. I've noticed that the stovetop temp will cool down toward 400 when I do this, which is a bit cooler than the 500 - 600 the manual reccommends. I was always under the impression that once the primary air was closed down, the internal temp of the stove would actually increase, thus increasing the stovetop temp as well. That has not been the case.

So, I then noticed in the manual that it reccommends that the air be set at "medium-low" to maintain temps. Does this classify as a 'D'oh!' moment for me? Should I not be so quick to shut the air all the way down?

I have noticed that if the stove gets up over 600 and then I choke it back, it loses a bit of altitude, but then cruises at about 550.

I'm going to try leaving the primary open a bit this evening and see what it does.

Comments/advice always welcome! ;-)

 

[Jags]

Some stoves simply cannot be clamped down completely. Try a 5-10% primary air open setting and see how that treats ya.

 

[bokehman]

I don't know about the Napoleon. My stove runs hottest when the primary is shut all the way. Maybe with a couple of feet less chimney though that might not be the case.

 

[begreen]

It sounds like lazy draft from a too cool flue. Frequently we hear the opposite with this stove. With a strong drafting flue folks have to work to keep the top below 700. If there is single wall pipe connecting the stove, that is the first thing I'd replace. If there is a horizontal run after a 90 that can be replaced by a pair of 45s and a diagonal connector, that will also help.

Also, now that a month has gone by, plan on going up and checking the chimney top on a nice day to see how it's burning.

 

[jjhof0306]

OK, so that worked. I stuffed it full and let the stovetop get a bit hotter than usual, around 600*, then shut it down so it was open just a bit. It cruised right on up to 700*. I shut it down and it went up to 750*.

Mission accomplished. I'll be on the porch if you need me....
:coolsmile:

 

[SlyFerret]

I never run with the air closed all the way. Usually run it at about 25% or so.

-SF

 

[RedRanger]

As far as I am concerned these temps mean squat. I have my mag therm on the top of my insert. chit. secondaries can kick in as little as 200F, and the blower not too long after that.

Some of the guys here addressed that=heating up thermal mass. Takes a while.

Most of the time my insert runs between 300 and 450F. No reason to go above that. Why? Only clean the glass once a month.

Clean glass means you are burning nice dry wood--period.

And went on the roof this past weekend and no creosote. Zilch.

Dry your wood in the sun and wind-then move it twice-or even thrice. the effort is well worthwhile.

In a nutshell--if you have glass to view, that will tell you the whole story

CLEAN means you are on the rigtht track. Dirty means your wood simply isn`t ready to burn.

All the wishing in the world isn`t gonna make your wood dry any quicker. Only good planning is gonna help you in that regard.

Get used to being two years ahead.

 

[jjhof0306]

Glass is and has been clean. Clean glass is nice. Heat is nicer. If my house is not warm, what's the point?

 

[Jags]

Johnny - Glad to hear that ya got everything rolling as it should be.

I love wood heat. :coolsmile:

 

[RedRanger]

Glass is and has been clean. Clean glass is nice. Heat is nicer. If my house is not warm, what's the point?

Yes, you are right of course. I`m often forgetting about the low temps you folks get back east. In these parts we only get below freezing temps infrequently. Hence when my insert is cruising at 450 it cooks us out of the room.

Oddly though, still have to run it most of the time during winter because of the dampness in this area.

Oh, well hh:

 

[Constrictor]

If you close the air off completely where does the stove get the air to burn? does it actually pull some air back down the pipe to burn?

 

[bokehman]

If you close the air off completely where does the stove get the air to burn? does it actually pull some air back down the pipe to burn?

EPA approved stoves still let some primary air in even when the lever is set to minimum. Older stove suffocate the fire if completely closed.

 

[Henz]

I have the same situiation with my Olympic. At times my startup fire will reach 700 on the stovetop and once i start shutting it down it will goto 500 and then eventually down to 400-450 for the remainder. I leave my draft open slightly to get efficient burn. but having said that, and having said it in previous posts, it all depends on the wood your burning I think. If you ahve a box full of soft maple your BTU's wont be as high. If you have a box full of oak they will stay higher longer