to open door or not to open door?

[topcat]

hi everyone, i got a quad 4100i it burns very well. i usually max out at 700 or above for at least two hours usually 3 which is great.my question is : when it starts to tame down usually around 400-450 with just left over coals i open the door and put the blower on high.which this goes for another 2 hrs I feel i'm getting more heat output than just leaving the door closed with a temp of 400.does anyone else do this? and is this ok.
thanks,
tom

 

[littlesmokey]

Not familiar with that particular stove, but seems to me you have just exceeded the 35 to 1 ratio for an uncertified stove. I really think you are losing a lot of heat potential up the stack. By not limiting the air, you are generating an air stream that is not only taking the stove heat, but the room heat.

Just my thoughts, maybe leaving it damped down would give you not as much heat, but for a much longer time?

 

[topcat]

I have a big house.1800 sq.ft. colonial.I need as much heat as i can generate.when the temp goes low in the stove so does the house.Therefore i feel keeping the heat output at it's maximum is very important.Especially where i live.It get's very cold outside.I'm not shure if this is very good procedure though just looking for opinions.I thank you for yours.

 

[Sandor]

Am I missing something?

Why not reload the stove and keep the door shut? I will also suggest you read the manual on how to operate the stove.

 

[elkbelch]

I do this for instant heating of the room but only for a few minutes.
It is a large ammount of heat comming out of those coals, I can raise the room about 2 degrees doing this for a few minutes.
I sit right there and watch it though, as I do not want any surprises.
After the room warms up a bit I load her up and shut the door.
If you really want instant heat pile those coals up in front of the primary air supply. As you sit there.
I am trying to heat 2600 ft with my 4100i, it does pretty good but I have trouble hanging on to 70 when it gets below 20 outside.

Elkbelch

 

[paulie]

I 'm with Sandor.....PUT SOME MORE WOOD IN !

 

[Mike Wilson]

Keep the door closed, and if you have to, throw three more splits in for a quick flash. What I will do sometimes towards the end of a burn cycle where I want a little more heat, is to open the door, rake the coals in front of the primary air inlet, close the door, and open the damper from about 1/4 to 1/2 or so. It creates a stream of air onto the coals, heats up the stove, and burns down my coals for the next load.

-- Mike