Last year I installed a Hitzer 354 stove. Being late in the season and no plan for stockpiling wood, I planned to burn hard coal. What a disaster! difficult to start, difficult to maintain, tons of ash and my wife would fight it all day when I was at work. We shut it down for Christmas and never lit it (on coal) again.
This season I'm burning wood... what a joy; things seem to be going well, but I have a few questions.
1. My dealer touted the stove as a coal or wood unit, but the manufacturer states it's for coal only. Whats the difference and should I be concerned? I read somewhere that it has something to do with sales in Canada?
2. With a new fire or a reload about the best I do for an extended burn is 4-5 hours. I must admit as a newcomer to burning wood, I'm fairly cautious about loading the firebox, typically loading 5-6 medium size splits angled up toward the back and extending only slightly above the firebrick. Does this sound right, should I expect longer burns, any suggestions?
3. Last question... The glass door is a devil to keep clean. Some burns do better than others, but each cycle leaves a light brown to sometimes (when my wife's tending) a blackish film. I find myself cleaning it often using hot soapy water, glass cleaner and sometimes a razor blade. After good ignition I do damper down, but always maintaining flame (not smoldering), until I'm down to a coal bed. Any thoughts on preventing or reducing the build up or a better way of cleaning the glass?
This season I'm burning wood... what a joy; things seem to be going well, but I have a few questions.
1. My dealer touted the stove as a coal or wood unit, but the manufacturer states it's for coal only. Whats the difference and should I be concerned? I read somewhere that it has something to do with sales in Canada?
2. With a new fire or a reload about the best I do for an extended burn is 4-5 hours. I must admit as a newcomer to burning wood, I'm fairly cautious about loading the firebox, typically loading 5-6 medium size splits angled up toward the back and extending only slightly above the firebrick. Does this sound right, should I expect longer burns, any suggestions?
3. Last question... The glass door is a devil to keep clean. Some burns do better than others, but each cycle leaves a light brown to sometimes (when my wife's tending) a blackish film. I find myself cleaning it often using hot soapy water, glass cleaner and sometimes a razor blade. After good ignition I do damper down, but always maintaining flame (not smoldering), until I'm down to a coal bed. Any thoughts on preventing or reducing the build up or a better way of cleaning the glass?