Drolet HT-3000 burning way too hot

[shutt1988]

I installed the HT-3000 last January and noticed that I cannot control the burn very well. I used to have an Englander stove and when I shut the damper fully on that stove, within 10 minutes of cutting the air supply off, it would calm the stove down and I could readjust. I try to set the damper so that the flue temperature is right around 800. Sometimes it stays there for 30 minutes or more and I'll walk away to do something, come back ten minutes later and the flue temperature will be at 1,000, I'll fully shut the damper and it cuts the air down enough that the wood itself isn't burning after a couple minutes, but the secondary burn tubes just keep rolling up to 45 minutes.

The damper plate from the factory has a 1/2" or 3/4" hold drilled into the middle of it so even when the damper is fully closed, the stove can still get plenty of air. I had seen a couple other forums, that people had covered this hole and had gotten better results. I did that last night and it seemed to help. This morning when I fired the stove back up, the same thing happened. Although, it only took about 20 minutes for the flue to come back down to 800 after I fully closed the damper which is an improvement. There were no flames, no glow coming from the actual wood or anywhere in the bottom of the stove. But those secondary tubes were just rolling away.

Any people deal with this?

 

[Murray01]

Had the same issue, sort of, it was on a diy smoker. I used magnets to cover the holes. The magnets allowed me to adjust the amount of air entering the firebox thru the holes or close them completely.

 

[kborndale]

How tall is your chimney? The drolets are easy breathing stoves, with a tall chimney of 20+ feet you will need one, if not multiple key dampers. Have you done a dollar bill test on the door gasket?

 

[stoveliker]

Try to decrease the primary air sooner; do it in steps and start sooner. Being ("too") late means that so much wood is offgassing that it will provide enough secondary fuel to keep going and keep increasing the flue temp for a significant time.

 

[shutt1988]

How tall is your chimney? The drolets are easy breathing stoves, with a tall chimney of 20+ feet you will need one, if not multiple key dampers. Have you done a dollar bill test on the door gasket?

Chimney is 20+ feet. I don't know the exact amount, but the stove is in my basement, pipe exits through the basement wall and runs up through a masonry chimney via a SS liner. I would estimate about 25 feet. The only place I could install a key damper would be within the first 18" of the stove.

I also reached out to SBI and they responded with the key damper suggestion and alternatively they said since the problem seems centered around the secondary air inlet; I could partially restrict air flow into that to slow down the suction from the chimney.

It passed the dollar bill test; certain spots are tighter than others, but there is resistance when I pull on it all the way around.

 

[Gearhead660]

The HT3000 is a big stove(large firebox). Would recommend a key damper. I have a similar stove, Myriad 2. I would get flue temps over 1000* even after closing off the primary air. Flue damper fixed that. The damper on the stove only restricts the primary air, there is no control for the secondary air.

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, at that height with an easy breathing stove, a key damper is the first thing I'd try.

 

[begreen]

Chimney is 20+ feet. I don't know the exact amount, but the stove is in my basement, pipe exits through the basement wall and runs up through a masonry chimney via a SS liner. I would estimate about 25 feet. The only place I could install a key damper would be within the first 18" of the stove.

A key damper will be ok in that location. This stove is an easier breather than the Englander. It will benefit from reducing the draft after startup.

 

[brenndatomu]

Good relevant info here...
Thread 'Englander 32 Modification' https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/englander-32-modification.206194/

 

[silver78]

I am experiencing the same problem tonight. Too much wood and it's burning hot. My older Vermont Castings stove had a lot more control. For me I will probably just not try to give it the big night long loads and settle for a cooler stove in the morning. Thanks for the explanations regarding why this is happening.