I use a stove thermometer to gage where my stove is with respect to temperature and draft control. In the past with other stoves I have always run the stove hot, twice a day, for 15 minutes, in the too hot zone. Not real extra hot but just maybe 100 degrees F, over the line... I did this in an attempt to burn off creosote that would build up during slow night burns. I never had a chimney fire and never had any thing to clean during my fall chimney cleaning. This is the method I used for 10 years of burning. Am I doing damage to the stove using this method? I did crack the door on my first Jotul and made the plastic handles of both Jotuls into crispy char, which makes me believe those hot burns put the stove at risk.
I must say that I don't think plastic handles are a good idea on a wood stove. Both these stoves I did damage were old, bought used, stoves... Would someone care to comment on the proper technique of a hot fire meant to neutralize creosote as much as possible?
I must say that I don't think plastic handles are a good idea on a wood stove. Both these stoves I did damage were old, bought used, stoves... Would someone care to comment on the proper technique of a hot fire meant to neutralize creosote as much as possible?