Secondary air inlets

[brad wilton]

Hi me again, just wondering if ash might be hampering my intake.i have three pins shaped a bit like the eiffel tower that i assume are for secondary air but with the ash it covers the base of them.would the air still be able to get in from there? I'm thinking thats why when i completly close air fire dies?

 

[begreen]

Usually the secondary and primary air intakes are external to the firebox. On some stoves with certain chimney configurations or partially seasoned wood, one can not close the air all the way and maintain a fire. Is this a new development?

 

[Mattawan]

Hi me again, just wondering if ash might be hampering my intake.i have three pins shaped a bit like the eiffel tower that i assume are for secondary air but with the ash it covers the base of them.would the air still be able to get in from there? I'm thinking thats why when i completly close air fire dies?

Exactly what do you mean when you say "completely close air"? Because of course, no air -- no fire.

 

[begreen]

On most modern stoves closing the air control to the stop does not completely close off the air. The air valve is still open enough to supply minimal air to the airwash and fire.

 

[Mattawan]

Begreen: thank you -- I didn't know that.

 

[begreen]

No problem. also, the secondary air supply to tube stoves is rarely regulated at all.

 

[brad wilton]

Hi bg,no not really just keep reading about how everybody seems to be able to shut down their air completly and still burn.have the slits for secondary air but also have three hollow steel tubes that on a cold start sometimes let out a small trail of smoke thought maybe they allow air in to help burn when primary air closed,just smolders when closed completly.

 

[begreen]

Sounds like the wood still has some residual moisture or the draft is not strong. A couple years back I was burning some less than ideal maple and I needed to keep the air open about 1/4.

 

[brad wilton]

30ft flue probably not draft,have burnt eco logs with same results,like everybody else just trying to extend burn times as much as possible ,other wise stove burns quite nicely

 

[begreen]

Might be just the design of the stove. If the routing for the air into the firebox is circuitous and long and if the air control closes off more than some stoves, then it might just need more air. No harm if the stove is burning well.