Stove temps and creosote

[Welderman85]

I'm about 1 hour into my first insert fire ever. Is a small Avalon with 21' of insulated flex liner. What should I expect to see for stove top temps. I'm around the 300 to 350 mark and it's not really going up. I used a laser temp thing and if I shoot the exposed flex close to the stove it says 350 so its close to the stove top. I'm afraid at these temps I'm make creosote in my flue. Where should i be and how do i fix it. Thank you

 

[begreen]

If you are reading 350 on the flex the actual flue gas temp could be double that which is a bit hot. Ideally you want to see the stove top up around 500º or so, and a cooler liner temp, but maybe not a lot cooler if you are reading just a few inches above the flue collar.

How far closed is the air control?

 

[Welderman85]

If you are reading 350 on the flex the actual flue gas temp could be double that which is a bit hot. Ideally you want to see the stove top up around 500º or so, and a cooler liner temp, but maybe not a lot cooler if you are reading just a few inches above the flue collar.

How far closed is the air control?

That's on the liner just above the applince connector as close to the sove I could get . Air is about a 1/4 to 3/8 open

 

[Welderman85]

This is before I just turned it down a tiny bit. I also have the blower on about half speed

 

[bholler]

That's on the liner just above the applince connector as close to the sove I could get . Air is about a 1/4 to 3/8 open

Close it the rest of the way

 

[Welderman85]

Close it the rest of the way

Ok I have I cracked just a tiny bit dose this look better stove top is 400 or so. Thank you once again sorry for all the dumb questions

 

[bholler]

Ok I have I cracked just a tiny bit dose this look better stove top is 400 or so. Thank you once again sorry for all the dumb questions

Yes much better

 

[Ludlow]

Nice adjustment.

 

[Welderman85]

So how do I get higher stove temps she's just cozy or should I turn it up. I just scared I'm making a chimney full of creosote

 

[Ludlow]

More wood.

 

[bholler]

So how do I get higher stove temps she's just cozy or should I turn it up. I just scared I'm making a chimney full of creosote

What is the stack temp at? That looks like it is burning good for a small load.

 

[Welderman85]

More wood.

Ok is it making bad stuff at this point. Or what what point dose creosote form. I'm probably over thinking this alot

 

[bholler]

Also where you are measuring the stove top temp is it the actual top of the firebox?

 

[Welderman85]

What is the stack temp at? That looks like it is burning good for a small load.

The out side of the liner says 300 ish stove top is 400

 

[bholler]

The out side of the liner says 300 ish

Then you are not making creosote. You can go lower than that.

 

[Welderman85]

So can I just leave it like this and let it go out for the night

 

[bholler]

So can I just leave it like this and let it go out for the night

Sure.

 

[begreen]

So how do I get higher stove temps she's just cozy or should I turn it up. I just scared I'm making a chimney full of creosote

Turn off the blower if you want a hotter stovetop. That cools down the stovetop as air blows across it. On our stove, it drops about 100º.

But so far you are doing fine and shouldn't be creating a lot of creosote.

 

[mar13]

Wouldn't looking at the chimney for smoke be the best indicator of creosote production at various stages of the fire?

 

[bholler]

Wouldn't looking at the chimney for smoke be the best indicator of creosote production at various stages of the fire?

That works during the day. But it's a pain. It is much easier and just effective to check the stack temp

 

[spudman99]

Your doing fine. My BK princess insert will reach up to about 700 deg on the exposed part if run on high and no blower. All temps using laser gauge. I typically cut it back when the top is around 530 deg (3/4 load of mixed soft/hard wood). If I turn the fan on the insert top temp drops just about 100 deg as @begreen said above. I typically run the unit on med fan with the top around 300 deg.

Remember your forced hot air furnace delivers about 125 deg air throughout the house which feels pretty good. If you are pulling off 300 deg air from the insert, that is much better. Major difference is in moving the air around the house. Still a 300 top with the fan on is normal for me and gets me a 10 hour burn.

Never a bad question, hang around and ask more, eventually you will be answering them for the new posters. Enjoy the warmth

 

[maple1]

That works during the day. But it's a pain. It is much easier and just effective to check the stack temp

Might be a bit of a pain but I think I would be doing maybe quite a bit of it if I was just starting out with a new stove setup. Smoke out the top is a pretty easy sign to see. Then once you get a handle on things, you can reduce the amount of things you keep a close eye on. And hardly ever look up after that.

 

[Welderman85]

Then you are not making creosote. You can go lower than that.

On the out side of the liner just after the applince connector what kind temps should I be looking for

 

[bholler]

On the out side of the liner just after the applince connector what kind temps should I be looking for

250 minimum. That close to the stove 300 probably isn't bad

 

[Welderman85]

250 minimum. That close to the stove 300 probably isn't bad

Thank you is that measurement more important than stove top