FYI, Englander 30NC on sale $519

Im throwing my arms up a little here. Suppose they are just starting the stove and completely shut down the air at startup? Too much paper and cardboard??
3 weeks out on an EPA and I think I’m listening. My glass isn’t perfect but I maintain it every 3-4 fires. Worst its been is corners get browned.

 

I am fortunate to have what looks like a good draft. I also start a fire with kindling going hot after a few minutes and by then things have caught pretty well. I just don’t have a flue thermometer in yet.

I’ve been good about maintaining a hot fire afterwards, in fact the stove seems to do that on its own with a slight bit of allowing air on my part. 3 weeks of burning inside so far, its probably the most fun I have had in terms of fire.

Some of these fires I feel they have run away on me but having been burning doug fir, the sap pocket opens up and creates that high heat flare. Had one side of my stove 650+F while the rest is only reaching 400-500, just a weird deal but i let it burn down and watch it closely as it doesn’t seem to last for long if Im burning hardwood.

 

Sometimes, parts of my NC30 are over 700 and I can touch other parts so they must be at 200 or less. Usually the lower parts are cool of course. Non-cats like to and must run hot in order to burn clean.

 

I think they are not letting it get up to temp before cutting the air back...trying to run like their old school stoves of the past. Like I said, I could tell they weren't listening when I was showing them how to run it...I actually built a fire and showed them what its supposed to look like, but I think all they heard was blah blah blah

 

That's the mistake people make most often with a tube stove , cutting the air back, to fast , to far

 

Yeah no kidding. Im not getting the same thing but sometimes i just kill the fire as it really does get going very quickly! Takes care of itself very well.

 

Cutting back too soon is almost certainly the problem.

 

Running a wood stove (no matter what kind it is, cat, non cat, pre EPA) should not be difficult what so ever as long as you have a good draft and dry wood and a little knowledge. The flue and stove top thermometers make it easier especially for the newbie. Seems like it gets over thought sometimes.

 

Yup, as evidenced by some posts on this site!

One can beat themselves silly/senseless sometimes.

Ya gotta start with dry wood!

 

I agree that is not difficult, but every stove and setup requires some practice to run it.
Some newbies overthink it, but that is to be expected

 

Yup on that, HDRock !!

 

I agree but no reason to learn how to run your stove in a unsafe manner, which happens a lot.

 

So a little update here...I was over at their house Saturday evening...I decided to build a small fire just to make sure there weren't other factors at work here. I just used the wood that was up on the porch, which I assume is the dead EAB Ash limbs that I gave them, but I don't know that for sure. Anyways, I had a hard time keeping the fire going once the air was cut back much at all. Firebox temp was struggling. I tried cracking the window, no difference. I did end up getting the firebox up to 400* after a lot of screwing around and a bunch of time. Seems like the wood isn't dry enough.
Also I found out from MIL later on that FIL is not letting the stove get hot before cutting it back. So between that and the wood, I guess that explains the black window...and I mean black...I had a heck of a time even seeing what was going on in there! Hopefully I burnt some of that off for them...dunno though, it wasn't really a huge fire...I guess I should have just cleaned it before I started...

 

Weird that these issues are coming up, not for judgement just makes me one to wonder why it’s difficult. Sorry for the trouble. Hopefully you get back over there with dry wood but also getting that fire GOING! If you can get the fire to clean the glass, then they might figure out how much more heat is involved in it but Im not a cat runner. Last night the fire I had was very warm. Much something Id want during the freezes that happen for a week around here. Cleaned the glass up so much I was surprised. Barely anything in the corners.

 

The NC30 is a no cat stove too...that's what the NC stands for...

 

I just meant your in laws. But hey if we non cat runners try to run a cat, do we try or do we end up chitting on ourselves? I know my Timberwolf is incredible at getting temps well and holding them with good wood. Not one to compare, just making sense that once I get the fire going, its off to the races. Cat stove on the other hand has temper issues with moisture more so.

 

I have both cat and noncat so I can compare. The cat stove uses the same wood. All stoves should burn seasoned wood, and there is nothing special about cat stoves in this regard. Plenty of folks have burned cords of wet wood in both technologies and lost efficiency but stayed warm. The cats just aren’t that fragile.

For me the difference is the cat stove sips wood for 24 hours per fill and gets dirtier glass while keeping the house a steady temp. The noncat burns hot to warm up the shop asap, more wood, shorter burns and clean glass. Both technologies are good at what they’re built for. In a pinch I could swap stoves and survive just fine.

 

I like looking at the fire too much, its just more entertaining than tv to me. I could run a cat if I wanted to but then long burn vs a dark screen. Hm I’d really have to get tired of looking at flame and I’ve been addicted to it since inception.

 

If I ever want to look at the flames, just turn up the air! It’s not either or. Lots of people spend time with flames and then close down overnight and then wake up to the warm house.