Hi guys, first time poster, but daily reader of the forums. I have learned multitudes of useful information by reading and searching the past couple months.
We installed a Drolet 1400i this fall in our fireplace to supplement and/or replace our natural gas usage. We absolutely love the stove/insert and so long as the temps are 20 degrees or so we can keep the furnace off and the house nice and comfortable. Comparing our gas bills to last winters usage we have at least cut a third off(closer to halved our useage) our monthly useage and this winter has been much colder for much longer. We still have our hot water and dryer so there is still a bill, but that's fine with me when I seen $60 for December vs $125ish last winter.
Now here is my question for you, what is a safe maximum stove top temp that I should keep it under. I have a magnetic thermometer placed centered side to side and as centered from the front lip to the stack as I can. I have found this to be the warmest portion of the unit, and it also is in a location where it gets the least amount of blower air on it. I have searched to no end and have read a hundred opinions. I have been shooting for nothing over 600 since fall and our install. If she's up around 600 I start to get some decent action off the secondary tubes. I just don't want to over fire the thing. I had a couple "scares" where she went up close to 700, but then the tubes were going crazy and the flame off the wood was nice and lazy(how I hear it should be). Also have read about glowing secondary tubes, now that makes me nervous, but I admit to being pretty green to the wood heat. The wifes grandfather and uncle only heat with wood, but their advise is well...I'll pass coming from the guys that clog their chimney every other year.
Sorry for the novel, and thank you for all your knowledge and help even though ya never knew you helped so much. I'll try to post when and where I am knowledgeable.
We installed a Drolet 1400i this fall in our fireplace to supplement and/or replace our natural gas usage. We absolutely love the stove/insert and so long as the temps are 20 degrees or so we can keep the furnace off and the house nice and comfortable. Comparing our gas bills to last winters usage we have at least cut a third off(closer to halved our useage) our monthly useage and this winter has been much colder for much longer. We still have our hot water and dryer so there is still a bill, but that's fine with me when I seen $60 for December vs $125ish last winter.
Now here is my question for you, what is a safe maximum stove top temp that I should keep it under. I have a magnetic thermometer placed centered side to side and as centered from the front lip to the stack as I can. I have found this to be the warmest portion of the unit, and it also is in a location where it gets the least amount of blower air on it. I have searched to no end and have read a hundred opinions. I have been shooting for nothing over 600 since fall and our install. If she's up around 600 I start to get some decent action off the secondary tubes. I just don't want to over fire the thing. I had a couple "scares" where she went up close to 700, but then the tubes were going crazy and the flame off the wood was nice and lazy(how I hear it should be). Also have read about glowing secondary tubes, now that makes me nervous, but I admit to being pretty green to the wood heat. The wifes grandfather and uncle only heat with wood, but their advise is well...I'll pass coming from the guys that clog their chimney every other year.
Sorry for the novel, and thank you for all your knowledge and help even though ya never knew you helped so much. I'll try to post when and where I am knowledgeable.
