Overfire - what to do?
- Thread starter Tahoe
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I was concerned the sudden inrush of cold air might crack the cat or a stone so didn't suggest that. For a non-cat that definitely works.
But I rather have a ruined cat (or even better, brick) than a ruined stove...
I.e. if you need to, open the door. Need as defined in otherwise the stove (metal) gets damaged.
It's important to know the difference between overfire and very hot. At 700º SST the stove was hot, but not in danger. It's best to stay calm and not panic.
I know. I was responding only to your "I did not suggest that b/c of damage". Of course one should only act when there is a need. A temp of 700 only creates a need to keep an eye on the stove, and to loose some garments
I am with you Tahoe--so what if the house burns down...lol I am a brand new burner and it can get scary but I am learning as well...So when it gets up there and nothing is glowing I guess it is okay as long as it is about 700 and keeping an eye on the higher temperatures just in case but it is nice to know what to do and what not to do so I am learning from your thread..old clancey
The power was only out for 4 days, but out furnace was out of commission for 2 weeks earlier this year.
We’ve got a nice big honda generator that plugs into a whole-house circuit controlled through the breaker box. I got 13.5 hours of continuous running from 5 gal of gas… got to be expensive after a few fill ups.
I'm not 100% on this, but I can imagine putting pots of water on the stove should act like a radiator, wicking up the heat into the water/pots and releasing it into the room.
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Honestly, maybe I'm an idiot but I often am trying to keep my stove right around 700F STT. It's, according to what I've read, the high end of the "efficient" range and under the "overheat" range. That said, I've accidentally hit 1k here and there (I'm still getting used to this stove) and when I reload it if my STT is going down to 600 within an hour or two then it probably means I have some unburnt smoke going out the chimney.
I'm on, essentially, a hybrid stove. Since you're on a Cat, maybe that's why you're concerned about the 700F?
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Honestly, maybe I'm an idiot but I often am trying to keep my stove right around 700F STT. It's, according to what I've read, the high end of the "efficient" range and under the "overheat" range. That said, I've accidentally hit 1k here and there (I'm still getting used to this stove) and when I reload it if my STT is going down to 600 within an hour or two then it probably means I have some unburnt smoke going out the chimney.
I'm on, essentially, a hybrid stove. Since you're on a Cat, maybe that's why you're concerned about the 700F?
What stove do you have? I don't think I ever heard of anyone hitting near 1K if you mean stovetop.
I'm running an Ashley 3200 (secondary air.) STT is often ~700+ if I'm burning all the smoke and I've reloaded recently. (I jump outside a few times and check if it's translucent.) Just a second ago I loaded up and I'm 800+ (see picture) with front air-slides fully closed.
I'm running a Fresh Air Kit and have used rope-gasket near any places where it could grab extra indoor air that it isn't supposed to, such as at the top of the ash drawer and any pipe connections that a lighter showed that air was being pulled into.
I started a thread (that's gone unanswered so far) about this since I've added a "StoveCat" retrofit Catalytic Converter. It seems to increase draft a bit (it's producing hotter air afterall) and I'm thinking of adding a damper to the system to be able to tame it a bit; if nothing else as an added safety feature.
I've attached a picture in case I'm measuring wrong. I still need to get a few gadgets for better measurement/etc.
![[Hearth.com] Overfire - what to do?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/288/288282-5f1e7c7219a83b6572a1059f5fdf4a0a.jpg?hash=kjZQHt8KN8 "[Hearth.com] Overfire - what to do?")
I may simply be use to the Woodstock Soapstone temperatures instead of the setup you have, which is a steel stove with a Cat.
I get the highest stovetop temperatures when the stove is choked down to a low burn setting with no fire in the box. Opening up the air reduces the stovetop temperature.
1000º on a stovetop is overfiring the stove, regardless of the stove tech. It's ok for the catalyst to be that hot, but not the stove top. In low light, that area would be glowing a dull red.
I should say, I don't intend for it to get that hot and try to make sure that it doesn't. I mostly am bringing it up because the OP is worried about 700 busting his stove.
700º STT on a soapstone stove is about the limit. Hearthstone wants owners to keep their stoves no higher than 600º. A steel stove can go higher, but 800º is pushing it.
Did you ever find a solution to your over firing? I have a Ashley 3200 it does the same thing! Can not keep air out of this thing if I try. It just wants to overfire every time unless I am burning one split at a time. 1000f no problem.
I'm thinking the Ashely 3200 tends to draft really well and in some cases needs a secondary damper. The super cold temps make the draft even stronger.
How tall is your flue?
How tall is your flue?
Never had a secondary flue on our stoves growing up in Northern Michigan. Just was fortunate enough to have the stove dampers close down enough to control stove fire. With the secondary or chimney flue I just wonder if still having that stove that breathes so much will cool down. Just no experience with a secondary damper.
