Does anyone else push the coals to the BACK on a reload?

[KG19]

For the last few years since I started using a wood stove, I’ve always followed the “standard” advice of raking the coals to the front when reloading. Today I read some advice on Reddit that in a square shaped stove, there will be a cool spot in the back middle, and that it’s better to push the coals to the back of the stove when reloading… I decided to try this on my Alderlea T6 and it seems like it has provided a more steady, longer lasting flame. It could just be coincidence as I’ve only done it once so far. But I’m at 3 hours right now of active flame with good secondary combustion. Typically I’m getting somewhere between 2-3 hours of active flame but it’s usually pretty well died down by the 3 hour mark, followed by several hours of coaling.

I’m wondering if anyone else does this or has tried this? Any potential reason not to push the coals to the back? Just thought this was interesting

 

[Murray01]

With my Blaze King I’ve been spreading the coals around the entire firebox. In my case I find I get a quicker relight both in the front and back of the stove. In the shoulder season I let the coals burn down way more than in the winter and will pull the coals forward, mainly to get enough coals to relight. I load north/south if that makes a difference?

 

[NickW]

I rake forward if they need firing up, then spread evenly; unless they are really weak, then they stay in front where the incoming air hits them and helps the load light.

 

[BKVP]

I would think think the location of air entry to the firebox would play a significant factor. I've been burning a King model (1102/1107/40) for 30 years.

When I burn hardwoods, I rake coals forward and stack some softwood on top. The added fuel cooks the coals down nicely.

This year and last year, I've been burning softwood fuels only. Coals are an issue. In fact, I've been burning since late October and have yet to empty ashes from firebox.

Of course I load more often due to diminished space for fuel. I'm going for 1/1/2025 and boy it will be lots of ashes.

Experiment a bit for your setup and see what happens. Report back...

BKVP

 

[all night moe]

I'm burning ia a furnace but my results mirror regular stove usage. On the cold snaps I have plenty of coals. This is from all hardwoods and an occasional split of a softwood or two. I'll rake my coals evenly but favor the front. My exhaust exits bottom rear save the bypass mode. With this factor, I keep the very rear of the stove clear .... usually. I also put an excess of colas up front for the reload.

For shoulder season loads, there isn't many coals left due to extended reloading intervals. Here, I rake them all to the front after stirring them out of the ashes.

Fire box is 24''W x 4'D. When it's cold and I load heavy, I can achieve a mountain of coals no matter the wood species. With the air wash across the floor, these coals will continue to heat the house on their own.

 

[Todd]

My stove burns front to back so it’s best to rake most of the coals forward. If I have a coaling problem I just open up the air more toward the end of the burn.

 

[bcar]

I just spread them out evenly in my FP30