Weird woodstove behavior

[westcliffe01]

The hydrocarbon vapors occur in the first 1/3 of the burn. After that it is just carbon burning to produce CO and CO2. So the latter part of the burn only matters in that you do not want a CO producing device in your home. If there is enough air flow, you will be getting CO2.

For northerly lattitudes there is little that can beat a proper catalytic stove like the Blaze King. Particularly when you have only softwood with a lot of resin content.

 

[Scooby074]

Ive read good things on the Blaze king, particularly that it produces lots of heat... But i wonder if the catalitic converters and other high tech add ons are overcomplicating what should be a simple woodstove?

Im likely going to upgrade next year, and im looking at models. Currently im leaning towards the Jotul F600, but i kinda wont something top load which the Jotul doesnt have.

 

[westcliffe01]

Catalytic stoves have the highest efficiency, best reliability, longest burn times and they save your back. Seriously, compared to an old "airtight" stove, you could easily halve your firewood consumption with a Blaze King. And have a LOT less work to do.

 

[clemsonfor]

Think they call it back puffing.

It will ignite and then blow out?

I get them everynow and then on my insert on a low burn damped way down. I have a cat model as well, it being an isert though i never get smoke in the house, if it do happen when the stove does it. It rarely happens a real big one a few times a season maybe.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have a 3.5 cuft firebox Highvalley wood stove. it has catalysts in it. I would not go other way. if i had the cash i would go blaze king king all the way. Get 40+ hr cruise burns on a load of wood. Mine will go 24+ on a low burn in shoulder temps. But usually bursn 10-12 hours on a full load and if your really racing it you will get mega heat on 8 hr loads.

I would not own a non catalyst stove. YOU MUST have DRY SEASONED wood.

 

[Scooby074]

I have a 3.5 cuft firebox Highvalley wood stove. it has catalysts in it. I would not go other way. if i had the cash i would go blaze king king all the way. Get 40+ hr cruise burns on a load of wood. Mine will go 24+ on a low burn in shoulder temps. But usually bursn 10-12 hours on a full load and if your really racing it you will get mega heat on 8 hr loads.

I would not own a non catalyst stove. YOU MUST have DRY SEASONED wood.

Those burn times seem incredible. I get overnight (8 hr) on a full load, damped down to say 25%

Are you saying that Dry wood is required for the cat stoves? Or can you get away with damp wood? That could make a difference to me as my wood is typically 1yr old, so not the driest.

 

[clemsonfor]

Those burn times seem incredible. I get overnight (8 hr) on a full load, damped down to say 25%

Are you saying that Dry wood is required for the cat stoves? Or can you get away with damp wood? That could make a difference to me as my wood is typically 1yr old, so not the driest.

If your burning 1 yr old aspen elm ash or any pine species your fine. Those of yall north of say virginia or illinois say oak takes 3 yrs to dry. Im burning some that was cut in july 2011. Its say 25% moisture content which is borderline of burable in a cat stove per advice andthe manual. Im only able to get away with it as SC was like a kiln this last summer. Dry burns way better and can be damped down faster and get longer burntimes because of it as well as more heat.

NO you dont want wet wood or green in anyway, if you get to much steam on a hot CAT you can crack it from the moisture, or just plug it up eary with all the wet smoke you put out. The cats are in the $100 to $200 dollar range depending upon size. I have 2 in my stove and think there right aroung $90 a piece, i dont want to gunk them up, im hoping they last the 4-5 yrs they say you can get out of them.

I can burn 24/7 easy loading once around say 6pm ish or earlier or bit later and then once in the am when i get up round 6:30-7am before work. When i get home i have about a 1-2 gallon bucket full of HOT coals that easily start the next load. This keeps about 2000 of my 2500sqft home warm down to days in the highs of 40s easy no other heat. For you this does not seem cold i know, but i have nothing but r19 attic insulation in my home so its not the best insulated home. I do have new efficient windows and doors though.

 

[forgeblast]

Seeing the smoke come back is similar to what was happening with my stove, but my issue was the chimney was too short and I would have back pressure coming off my roof forcing the smoke back down into the house.
We went with an lp stove up stairs, looks like a wood burner but with remote control and has thermo, and put the wood stove in the basement, and had the chimney from the basement cleaned and extended.

 

[MotorSeven]

I agree with the others. It's building up combustable gasses, and eventually they hit the right O2/ gas combination and go poof. Not enough air, poor design, too short chimney, etc.

--->Paul

Agreed. I think it might be a candidate for an OAK system...Outside Air Kit.


You guys with Cat's when you say a 10-12 hr burn, are we talking a hot bed of coals? My vintage('86) Hearthstone will do that every night but the beast can hold 6- 24" splits of wood. 24 hr burn...no way, not with my stove.

 

[Oaktree]

I have the same stove, and mine will occasionally do that as well, though as others have noted it's usually when I turn the air down too soon. 99% of the time it's just fine. Considering my house is 180 years old, I don't think "too airtight" is anything I have to worry about!
I'd wondered what caused this...I'd only ever seen back puffing before when it was windy.

If your burning 1 yr old aspen elm ash or any pine species your fine. Those of yall north of say virginia or illinois say oak takes 3 yrs to dry. Im burning some that was cut in july 2011.

Pine? Ugh, I only use that for kindling. Aspen's not much better IMHO.
While I think 3 years is a bit overkill, I always cut one year ahead....6 months drying isn't enough.