What's your swing setting ?

Swing is the amount of temperature variation from start up to shut down.

The amount depends on the stat and the way they describe it. For example, some stats with a 2° swing may mean that at 70° the stat calls for heat and it will heat until 72° and then stop the call for heat. Then restart again at 70°.

Others could be 1° each way. Or stat calls for heat at 69° and shuts down at 71°. Still 2° total, but 1° on each side of the set point.

 

Basically it spreads out the heat cycle. If you had 1 degree of swing and temp on stat set at 72. The stove would cycle on at at 71 degrees and cycle off at 73 degrees. Move the swing up to 2 and the stove cycles on at 70 degrees and cycles of at 74 degrees.

I think my stat has a default of .5 degrees of swing. So it would cycle the stove on at 71.5 degrees and off at 72.5 degrees. That would keep the temp more consistent in the house, But it will also cycle the stove more often.

 

Auto/Off I have mine set on 1.5 degrees of swing. Lets my stove run about 2 to 3 hours before cycling off. I get about 1.5 degree's of rise on a normal fall/spring day. About 1 degrees of drop. So its off about 3 hours. All rough as the lower the temp the longer it takes to warm up and the quicker it takes to cool back down.

Once the night temps stay below 25 to 30 degrees. I switch to hi/lo and drop the swing to 1 degree to keep a more even temp. Once it really gets cold(negatives) I drop the swing as low as she goes(.5 degree). I also raise the temp up from 73 to 74 degree's. I like to keep but not exceed 74 degree's in the house. With a lower swing setting I don't see 74 degree's, So I have to change the stat to see it get to 74 degrees.

I don't just watch how fast the temps rise, But also how fast they fall. If they fall too fast(less than 1.5 hours) is the main reason I switch to hi/lo. Having the stove switch to low mode or maintain saves the igniter. The reason I don't just go to hi/lo sooner is, Even the maintain fire raises the house temps and I would over ride the stats mean setting. So I usually just switch the stove to auto/off most days when its above freezin or expect a bit of solar gain.....

I also set the stat back to 68 degree's during the day and when we are sleeping to save some fuel. I shaved about at least 1/4(more like 1/2) ton off my fuel usage over the season. I have the stove start about 2 hours before we come home or wake up. Thats about 3 degrees of temp rise so its usually up to at least 71 degree's. I'll start it a bit sooner once it gets really cold to ensure that temps are comfy.

Lots to keep track of, But heck I am usually inside playin anyway unless I'm out shoveling the Err, not gonna mention that word just yet!! Out fishin, Ya thats it!!

 

All good info Jay

 

This is the exact same feature as High/Low in other stoves. I know a lot of Harman owners love this setting. It keeps a more comfortable temp throughout because you are always producing a little heat. Slower heat loss in the house and less wear and tear on the ignitor.

It's really only a good function when it's cold (below freezing is what I save it for).

 

Yep. It would be in Auto mode (for ignitor) on a Harman. Where it just shuts off and on.

When it's colder, I like the stove to run constantly. I still feel like I save pellets because it's idling. Where a start requires a full bore/huge flame amd lots of pellets.

 

3 Modes. Auto/Off-Hi/Lo-Manual.

I never use manual unless I want to turn it off for cleanings. But some just put them in manual and run it slow and steady all winter long. To risky for me, I'd forget something and the seems to happen! Stat and hi/lo seems to work best for me in the cold. Plus having the programmable stat for setting setback temps is priceless. Helps the old guy who often forgets things!!