What are these pipes in my Z42 fireplace

[olsonbri]

I have a couple of questions. First, I'm wondering what these 4 tubes, along to top which run paralell to the doors, of inside my Z42 represent. They have holes spaced about 1/2" apart. The manual calls them pipes. But what do they do?

On a related question... how high can I stack the wood in the box? Clear up to the pipes? The manual says don't overfire, and not put wood within 6" of the glass doors. How does one know if I'm overfiring? I don't see anything mentioned about how high the wood can safely be packed in.

Thanks! --Bri

 

[BrowningBAR]

I have a couple of questions. First, I'm wondering what these 4 tubes, along to top which run paralell to the doors, of inside my Z42 represent. They have holes spaced about 1/2" apart. The manual calls them pipes. But what do they do?

On a related question... how high can I stack the wood in the box? Clear up to the pipes? The manual says don't overfire, and not put wood within 6" of the glass doors. How does one know if I'm overfiring? I don't see anything mentioned about how high the wood can safely be packed in.

Thanks! --Bri

Step 1. Buy a stove thermometer.

Step 2. Read the manual thoroughly.

To answer your question: Burn tubes.

 

[olsonbri]

Thanks. Any recommendation for a stove thermometer? I've read the manual thoroughly.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Thanks. Any recommendation for a stove thermometer? I've read the manual thoroughly.

Thermometers are to be used as a guideline. I have four and a infrared thermometer (in my defense, I do have three stoves). They all read a little differently. Just get a magnetic stove thermometer of any brand and it will keep you from over firing the stove.

We all inadvertently get the stove too hot at times. It's the consistent over-firing that will usually cause damage.

 

[Wood Duck]

I am no expert in your stove, or even mine, but I generally leave at least a few inches of space between the burn tubes and the top of the wood. The burn tubes bring in air for secondardy burning of the gases and smoke from the primary burn happening below, and I think you want some space for that to occur in the stove, rather than leaving no space and having secondary burn in the stack or not at all. I don't leave six inches between the wood and the glass, but my stove manual doesn't mention that as far as I know. You want to avoid any wood slipping up against the glass during a burn because that could crack the glass from the impact or blacken the glass because it restricts air wash. If your stove manual says to leave six inches, that is probably what you should do, but definitely avoid having wood fall against the glass during a burn.

 

[DanCorcoran]

BrowningBAR,

If it's a fireplace (insert?), where would you put a thermometer that would do you any good?

 

[olsonbri]

Ok, thanks guys. I just don't want to make any big mistakes.... first season to have this kind of unit. I'm attempting to heat a 3800+ sq ft 2 story house with this thing. So far so good but it's only 44F here now. --Bri

 

[begreen]

When you have below zero temps and winds blowing a gale, consider closing off some areas of the house that have no plumbing in them. And don't be afraid to run the central heating occasionally to keep the pipes from freezing in the far reaches of the house.