Just had a wood insert installed (Lopi Revere) and I'm still learning to use it. After a few reloads the coal bed is 4-6" thick and chunky (about the size of lava rocks in a gas grill, or maybe a bit bigger) and I can't put as much wood in it to burn overnight. I have to stop loading every few days and let the coals burn up. The coals alone don't seem to make much heat. Also, It seems like I'm making some charcoal in there too -- mostly in the back of the stove. Some coals are just black chunks that look like charcoal.
I tend to stack it full and then let it burn slowly. However, the first load of the day I let burn hot and fast.
Also, when I adjust it for slow burn, I let the wood get charred and the stove heated up and then make it so that there is just a very small amount of flame -- usually just thin blue whisps here and there. There are some coals left in the morning, but no wood burning. The coals alone don't seem to make much heat.
Any suggestions? Is there a better way to operate it?
I tend to stack it full and then let it burn slowly. However, the first load of the day I let burn hot and fast.
Also, when I adjust it for slow burn, I let the wood get charred and the stove heated up and then make it so that there is just a very small amount of flame -- usually just thin blue whisps here and there. There are some coals left in the morning, but no wood burning. The coals alone don't seem to make much heat.
Any suggestions? Is there a better way to operate it?