Considering switching to sweeping every other year?

[EbS-P]

And two years later……. Not bad, not great. I’m ok with every other year.
Left box the the primary stove F400 on14’. I’m guess this is about 2.5 cords of pine. Right box is first sweep ever for the 1800i 23’’. I’m guessing 50 loads..

I may try running 1800i more this winter and see what it’s like. Longer burn times will be nice.

 

[begreen]

That's a lot of sote for the F400. It might be running cool due to the short flue. Might b worth trying 2-3 ft additional chimney to strengthen draft.

 

[EbS-P]

That's a lot of sote for the F400. It might be running cool due to the short flue. Might b worth trying 2-3 ft additional chimney to strengthen draft.

I air sealed the house better, new windows and fixed an ash pan leak. I think all that added up to less air and cooler burn. I’m going to run hotter this year. It used to be it would cruise with the air lever full closed. Now not so much. 1/4 will be my minimum setting this winter.

 

[begreen]

This sounds like it might benefit from an outside air connection. Try opening a nearby window an inch and see if the improves the burn and allows the air control to be closed further. Or perhaps the wood needs to be seasoned a bit more?
I seem to recall that our F400 with a straight-up, 20ft flue ran with the air control slightly open until outdoor temps dropped below around 35º. It ran pretty cleanly producing less than 1/4 the amount of sote shown burning 2.5 cords wood. I would get about 3 cups in a cleaning.

 

[stoveliker]

The equilibrium moisture content for a relative humidity of 90 % only really gets below 20 for temps above 100 F.

I think due to that his wood may be a few percent more wet than us farther up north. And that's precisely the few percent that are noticeable.

 

[BigJ273]

I do a mid season cleaning myself with the sooteater. I have my chimney guy come out and do the end of season cleaning so he can inspect everything real good. Gives me peace of mind and to me it’s worth the money. Never had any real build up. Last year during my mid season I pretty much saw nothing