Need help to figure out what we need to do.

[stoveliker]

3 years in a shed should be fine

 

[vatmark]

Big bummer!

Not having secondaries and having wood that was in a shed since 2021 with a flue that should be reasonable, and with sufficient air supply (OAK not obstructed and not crazy long), is puzzling.

So another thought I had: are you sure the piping of air to your secondary tubes is free from obstructions? (mfg debris, spider nest etc.)
The holes may be free, but is the full pathway in the stove free? I don't know how long the stove sat after it came from the factory for insects to get in, or that there may be some manufacturing debris in there.

I don't know the best way to check that, but it's worth a thought.

I do not think the secondary tubes are blocked. I do vacuum them when I do a stove clean out. I’m going to try packing more in the stove next time and see how that goes. Also gonna check the moisture of the wood again. New pins for my moisture meter are suppose to arrive Friday.

 

[EbS-P]

I have both a stove top thermometer and IR gun. I use both. I use the stove top thermometer for a quick glance and then use the IR gun when the stove gets hotter.

I didnt always use bio bricks. I started using 2 at start up along with oak splits because I was having problems getting things started.

It is very possible I am not loading it enough for secondaries. I’m gonna check wood moisture again once the new pins come for my meter. You would think after 3 years it should be dry. I will try loading the stove as full as I can get it next time I have a fire. It is going to get in the low 50’s the next few days so no fire.

I will look through that thread about removing the OAK. When I realized we had an OAK I thought it was a good thing. Apparently it may not be. We are going to try the least expensive and least destructive things first and then move on to destructive and expensive. LOL

Load it full. I like a top down fire. My kindling is always touching the baffle.

 

[vatmark]

Load it full. I like a top down fire. My kindling is always touching the baffle.

Yup. Gonna load it up next time.

How long does it take you to get secondaries from a cold stove? When you start the fire does it take off?