I installed a Hearthstone Heritage this fall and cannot get it to stay burning unless I leave the side door unsecured. The fire dies down and eventually goes out. The same thing happens when I close the bypass door, combustion lessens and the stovepipe and top stones cool down and so I leave it bypass all the time. Opening an exterior door does not help. It gets good and hot as long as the side door is not tight against the body. It's a through-the- roof stovepipe and chimney. I've added a chimney section so the top is about 8' above the roof and about 1' above the roof ridge and about 10'away - we have a low sloped roof. Anybody have similar problems that they fixed?
Insufficient Air Problem
- Thread starter Hiker's Dad
- Start date
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It sounds like either a draft issue or wood that isn't fully dry and seasoned inside.
What is the total height of the flue system from stove top to chimney top? Are there any 90º turns in the flue path?
If possible, post a picture of the stove + stovepipe inside and the chimney outside.
What is the total height of the flue system from stove top to chimney top? Are there any 90º turns in the flue path?
If possible, post a picture of the stove + stovepipe inside and the chimney outside.
It's a straight vertical run somewhere around 18 feet. As far as the wood goes you can't throw a rock anywhere on our property without hitting either a beetle-killed pine or drought -killed cedar so our wood supply is bone-dry. We don't cut anything except standing wood that's been dead for at least a couple of years.
18 ft should be close to adequate, though there are circumstances where it may not be, especially if this is a one story addition to a 2 story home. This together with a 7,000 ft elevation can weaken draft.
Hi, Hikers dad,
I purchased a Hearthstone heritage 28 days ago. I had all kinds of problems when I first started using my stove even though I have been heating with wood for 45 years. I called the folks who installed my stove, and they told me that it takes about a month to get this stove to start behaving well. I asked quite a few questions on this forum previously. This is what is happening now:
I have been lighting daily fires every day for the last four weeks. I had days during the first few weeks when it took an hour and a half before I could close the door without the fire going out. But I just kept with it and I am not having any trouble with the stove now. Tonight I could close the door after 20 minutes and engage the cat after another 20 minutes. It still takes 20 minutes after that before I have nice rolling flames. I keep about an or two of ashes in the bottom of the stove as insulation for the stove. I use a top-down burn. I load from the side door, and load two larger logs in the bottom of the stove. I make sure the one in front of the center air intake is not plugging the air intake and I put a small stick between those two logs so there is an air gap. Then I lay smaller 3-in pieces on top with even smaller kindling on top of that then multiple pieces of tightly twisted plain newsprint, no ink. If necessary, I lay a stick on top to keep the newsprint from falling out when it starts to burn. That nearly fills the firebox. Only one of the largest pieces on the bottom layer is hardwood. I don't load more hardwood until I have a full rolling fire going. I think the real thing to keep in mind is that you have to just allow the stove time to settle down. All of the suggestions above seem wonderful to me. I will actually be getting a stainless steel 6-in pipe inside my large flue in a few weeks and I'm sure that will cut down the length of time it takes to heat that column of air.
Someone else posted here about his problem with smoke. I think that also is a problem that will disappear if you just keep making daily fires.
I like that I have a stove that doesn't make me super hot but creates a more gentle heat.
I wish you well
I purchased a Hearthstone heritage 28 days ago. I had all kinds of problems when I first started using my stove even though I have been heating with wood for 45 years. I called the folks who installed my stove, and they told me that it takes about a month to get this stove to start behaving well. I asked quite a few questions on this forum previously. This is what is happening now:
I have been lighting daily fires every day for the last four weeks. I had days during the first few weeks when it took an hour and a half before I could close the door without the fire going out. But I just kept with it and I am not having any trouble with the stove now. Tonight I could close the door after 20 minutes and engage the cat after another 20 minutes. It still takes 20 minutes after that before I have nice rolling flames. I keep about an or two of ashes in the bottom of the stove as insulation for the stove. I use a top-down burn. I load from the side door, and load two larger logs in the bottom of the stove. I make sure the one in front of the center air intake is not plugging the air intake and I put a small stick between those two logs so there is an air gap. Then I lay smaller 3-in pieces on top with even smaller kindling on top of that then multiple pieces of tightly twisted plain newsprint, no ink. If necessary, I lay a stick on top to keep the newsprint from falling out when it starts to burn. That nearly fills the firebox. Only one of the largest pieces on the bottom layer is hardwood. I don't load more hardwood until I have a full rolling fire going. I think the real thing to keep in mind is that you have to just allow the stove time to settle down. All of the suggestions above seem wonderful to me. I will actually be getting a stainless steel 6-in pipe inside my large flue in a few weeks and I'm sure that will cut down the length of time it takes to heat that column of air.
Someone else posted here about his problem with smoke. I think that also is a problem that will disappear if you just keep making daily fires.
I like that I have a stove that doesn't make me super hot but creates a more gentle heat.
I wish you well
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