Newbie Trying to Ignite North Idaho Energy Logs

[KaijuSideQuest]

Hello!

I hope you all are doing well. I am the owner of a new PE Alderlea T5 LE (with external air intake vent) for about four weeks. During that time I was mainly using the Home Fires Prest Logs, but they're hard to come by near me. I switched to North Idaho Energy Logs and while they burn for longer, I'm having a hard time getting them started in the morning.

When using the Home Fires logs, I could put two north/south with a 3" space between them, a third log east/west across them, and then use some kindling teepee against the east/west log with a couple of Lightning Nuggets in the gap to get it all started. Within five minutes, I'd be able to close the door and let them going. Trying this with the North Idaho logs gets the temps way to hot, even when I put the air-flow on low/near off. Using two North Idaho logs takes a long time to get going.

I would greatly appreciate any tips, hints, or tricks to get them going. My wife and I find we can better modulate the heat in our home with the T5 instead of the heat pump. It's also very nice keeping a Granite Wear boiler on top for always ready hot water for tea. My wife has also used it to slow cook a stew and it was fantastic.

Thanks in advance for your help. I wish you a great day!


Kaiju SideQuest

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I routinely close off the air control on my T5. When you do this, the air really doesn’t get cut off. There is still air coming in past the damper, and there is a small hole, about 1/2” in diameter in the front.

What are you considering too hot? What is the stove running at?

 

[KaijuSideQuest]

I routinely close off the air control on my T5. When you do this, the air really doesn’t get cut off. There is still air coming in past the damper, and there is a small hole, about 1/2” in diameter in the front.

What are you considering too hot? What is the stove running at?

Hi, Matt.

When I had three North Idaho logs, the front glass of the T5 would only register as high on my IR thermometer. High means the temperature is above 751° F. With the grates swung open, the solid top read 540° F. The double wall flue read almost 300° F (normally around 220° F). Using two North Idaho logs takes awhile to get going, but they do last a while once that happens. I'm just hoping to find an easier/quicker way to get them going.

I didn't think the air control would completely cut off air flow, but I was expecting it to more drastically reduce the flames in there. I didn't know about the 1/2" hole in the front. Thanks!


KS

 

[stoveliker]

I think all those numbers are perfectly fine... Not too hot at all.
Stove top above 750 is not yet a problem, but something to take action now or soon so that it does not become a problem.
Glass I would not bother measuring.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Yeah, 540 is cruise temp. I wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow until you’re approaching 700.