Hi,
After deciding I needed a wood burner, I found this site and have enjoyed it since. Nervously bought a used Jotul F500, inspected it for cracks and did the dollar bill test as recommended in various places here and made the plunge. Next the install, due to financial concerns I was not able to install as most recommend on this site, with a new liner in my old chimney, so I installed it using the specifications in the Jotul manual, My venting out is like
, the stove pipe vents into the existing clay liner, which is wrapped in Concrete blocks and then with Bricks on 3 sides. The existing chimney is in the middle of the house and extends 22' up. The liner is 13 X 13, which seems to be too big, but again the manual said as long as it is not over 3x the size of the stove pipe, which is 6', then it is OK. Sealed the bottom of the chimney with sheetmetal and rockwool and we are thrilled!
A couple of observations, hopefully some can comment on them,
When starting a fire, I only need a little kindling, because I open the bottom, ash pan door for a few minutes, and the airflow reminds me of a jet engine, the wood starts very easy, then I close the ash pan door, some say if you leave that open, the stove becomes a furnace.
Also, I need to get alot of coals before I can turn it down effectively, and, full open just does not seem to produce enough air, I usually leave the front door slightly cracked until I get real hot.
Using a basic magnetic thermometer, I have never got it over 500 degrees, 400 seems to be the sweet spot, but of course then our 36' x 30' great room, with 18' or so lofted ceilings get too hot. My perpetually cold wife is thrilled.
About the low air flow, I took off the doghouse cover and everything seems fine
, I put a vacumme in the opening and the only air that came out was from the back area where the outside air kit is supposed to attach.
If I am not using the outside air kit, should I try to take that off?
Thanks for your help
Here is the happy stove
After deciding I needed a wood burner, I found this site and have enjoyed it since. Nervously bought a used Jotul F500, inspected it for cracks and did the dollar bill test as recommended in various places here and made the plunge. Next the install, due to financial concerns I was not able to install as most recommend on this site, with a new liner in my old chimney, so I installed it using the specifications in the Jotul manual, My venting out is like
A couple of observations, hopefully some can comment on them,
When starting a fire, I only need a little kindling, because I open the bottom, ash pan door for a few minutes, and the airflow reminds me of a jet engine, the wood starts very easy, then I close the ash pan door, some say if you leave that open, the stove becomes a furnace.
Also, I need to get alot of coals before I can turn it down effectively, and, full open just does not seem to produce enough air, I usually leave the front door slightly cracked until I get real hot.
Using a basic magnetic thermometer, I have never got it over 500 degrees, 400 seems to be the sweet spot, but of course then our 36' x 30' great room, with 18' or so lofted ceilings get too hot. My perpetually cold wife is thrilled.
About the low air flow, I took off the doghouse cover and everything seems fine
If I am not using the outside air kit, should I try to take that off?
Thanks for your help
Here is the happy stove