Chilly spring night and just wanted to quickly heat the little Jotul in the living room. Running it wide open, which I normally do without trouble, filled with arbutus (madrona), which I normally do without trouble. But I didn't account for the fact that the wood's been sitting indoors, and was both warmer and dryer than I have before.
Well, I wasn't paying super close attention, trying to get the stove up to about 450 or so on the stovetop thermometer before tamping it down (often it's a struggle to get even there, and even with the arbutus).
Then I get that 'high score' smell from the stove paint. Go to turn it down, and the thermometer reads about 500. But what's that in the corner of the top by the pipe outlet? A dull red glow.
I tamped the stove right down and take a picture:
Then I notice there's a dull glow coming down from up the chimney...
The pic doesn't quite do it justice. It seemed a lot more bright and yellowish than then red on the top of the stove.
Checked outside, no chimney fire. Thankfully the stove began to cool right away and the glow was gone in under a minute.
Lessons Learned
1. Pay attention to your stove, even after you think you've got it dialed in after a whole season with it.
2. Don't trust your thermometer, unless you know its reading accurately, and at the hottest part of the stove. (A quality IR thermometer is on its way, so I can find this spot and make sure the stove-top is accurate).
3. Don't underestimate the power of arbutus.
Anything else I should consider for the future?
Well, I wasn't paying super close attention, trying to get the stove up to about 450 or so on the stovetop thermometer before tamping it down (often it's a struggle to get even there, and even with the arbutus).
Then I get that 'high score' smell from the stove paint. Go to turn it down, and the thermometer reads about 500. But what's that in the corner of the top by the pipe outlet? A dull red glow.
I tamped the stove right down and take a picture:
Then I notice there's a dull glow coming down from up the chimney...
The pic doesn't quite do it justice. It seemed a lot more bright and yellowish than then red on the top of the stove.
Checked outside, no chimney fire. Thankfully the stove began to cool right away and the glow was gone in under a minute.
Lessons Learned
1. Pay attention to your stove, even after you think you've got it dialed in after a whole season with it.
2. Don't trust your thermometer, unless you know its reading accurately, and at the hottest part of the stove. (A quality IR thermometer is on its way, so I can find this spot and make sure the stove-top is accurate).
3. Don't underestimate the power of arbutus.
Anything else I should consider for the future?