New and trying to get educated. Fire seemed such a simple affair until I got a wood stove.
Starting to get the hang of my VC Aspen, I bought one of those magnetic thermometers so I could monitor the pipe temperatures and get a more accurate idea of what is going on. If I get a real good burn going with the tubes on top firing away the stack temp. climbs to about 350, which is about the best I've managed thus far. The thermometer is 18 in. above the stove. With a nice full load of my most prime fuel it will hold the temp. at around 300 for maybe an hour, and then the temperature drops off quickly. Sometimes I have had it burning well and come back an hour later to find the temp. at 150. Fire seems to be burn well in the stove and responds when I close down the air intake to slow the burn. I am concerned about creosote buildup with the temps. often falling into the "creosote zone" on my gauge.
(1) the vent stack is 16 ft. single wall pipe into 6 ft. triple wall through and above the roof. It is a cathedral ceiling so the pipe doesn't pass through any floors or anything. I was not trying to be cheap (well maybe a little) but thought the single wall would be better inside to aid in releasing heat. Could this contribute to any problems?
(2) Would the fact that my place is of yet uninsulated and very leaky drastically affect the stoves ability to maintain temps?
(3) Is this just the nature of the beast ?
(4) I don't have a moisture meter but I'm pretty sure the wood is good and dry. Most was cut 2 years ago and although not split the average diameters were only 3 to 5 inches. The humidity is so low here that if you spill water it never makes it to the ground! Most is juniper, could the fuel be a problem? It does burn longer using the scrub oak I have here, but still no more than a hour or so at proper operating temps.
(5) Other?
Thanks for your patience.
Starting to get the hang of my VC Aspen, I bought one of those magnetic thermometers so I could monitor the pipe temperatures and get a more accurate idea of what is going on. If I get a real good burn going with the tubes on top firing away the stack temp. climbs to about 350, which is about the best I've managed thus far. The thermometer is 18 in. above the stove. With a nice full load of my most prime fuel it will hold the temp. at around 300 for maybe an hour, and then the temperature drops off quickly. Sometimes I have had it burning well and come back an hour later to find the temp. at 150. Fire seems to be burn well in the stove and responds when I close down the air intake to slow the burn. I am concerned about creosote buildup with the temps. often falling into the "creosote zone" on my gauge.
(1) the vent stack is 16 ft. single wall pipe into 6 ft. triple wall through and above the roof. It is a cathedral ceiling so the pipe doesn't pass through any floors or anything. I was not trying to be cheap (well maybe a little) but thought the single wall would be better inside to aid in releasing heat. Could this contribute to any problems?
(2) Would the fact that my place is of yet uninsulated and very leaky drastically affect the stoves ability to maintain temps?
(3) Is this just the nature of the beast ?
(4) I don't have a moisture meter but I'm pretty sure the wood is good and dry. Most was cut 2 years ago and although not split the average diameters were only 3 to 5 inches. The humidity is so low here that if you spill water it never makes it to the ground! Most is juniper, could the fuel be a problem? It does burn longer using the scrub oak I have here, but still no more than a hour or so at proper operating temps.
(5) Other?
Thanks for your patience.
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