This was going to be "my most bone-headed" move, but truly it isn't, it's just the latest. I seem to have them often enough, mostly due to constant distraction with other thoughts, that I suspect I can't be the only one.
After a pretty good snowstorm over the weekend, yesterday was warm and sunny, and the house was still holding 73 at bedtime. So, for the first time since October, I let the stove go cold overnight. Down to 70F inside this morning, I decided it was time for a re-light on a half load.
In goes one quarter of a SuperCedar and five medium-large splits of hickory. Light, and set timer for 10 minutes, which is usually about when I'd have to close the key damper 50%.
End of 10 minutes, flames are still small and lazy, chimney still not warm enough to need any key damper. A little slower than usual, but nothing entirely shocking for a warm and wet day. Set another 10 minute timer.
At 20 minutes, flames are still small and lazy, draft is just barely coming up to spec, no need to turn the key damper yet. Here's where I should've caught something was wrong, if I hadn't been distracted with work.
At 40 minutes, half the load is lit, but flames are still small and lazy. What the hell?
Finally, I break my brain away from my work enough to look things over, and find the air control was still turned down to the point used for ~16 hour burns. I had opened the bypass and key damper, but forgot the air control.
Not my worst offense as an operator, no real damage done, other than a lot more creo than usual going up the chimney. It's just this week's bone headed move.
After a pretty good snowstorm over the weekend, yesterday was warm and sunny, and the house was still holding 73 at bedtime. So, for the first time since October, I let the stove go cold overnight. Down to 70F inside this morning, I decided it was time for a re-light on a half load.
In goes one quarter of a SuperCedar and five medium-large splits of hickory. Light, and set timer for 10 minutes, which is usually about when I'd have to close the key damper 50%.
End of 10 minutes, flames are still small and lazy, chimney still not warm enough to need any key damper. A little slower than usual, but nothing entirely shocking for a warm and wet day. Set another 10 minute timer.
At 20 minutes, flames are still small and lazy, draft is just barely coming up to spec, no need to turn the key damper yet. Here's where I should've caught something was wrong, if I hadn't been distracted with work.
At 40 minutes, half the load is lit, but flames are still small and lazy. What the hell?
Finally, I break my brain away from my work enough to look things over, and find the air control was still turned down to the point used for ~16 hour burns. I had opened the bypass and key damper, but forgot the air control.
Not my worst offense as an operator, no real damage done, other than a lot more creo than usual going up the chimney. It's just this week's bone headed move.