Recently ( late 2024) installed an Intrepid 2115. Easily starts with a nice draw, almost no smoke. STT easily climbs to 600 to 700. ( Condar magnetic guage) No combustor as of now ( waiting) and burning straight through. Rear exit never gets much more than 400 to 500 at best. ( SBI probe through double wall several inches outside of stove collar) Exterior stack seems clean, no accumlation of creasote at top. Interior of stove nice and white after a burn Question: Is smoke temp too low? Seems like a struggle to get to 400. I would like 600 if i could get it I have experience with early resolute and always kept mid to high temps to control creasote. Sandy currently using Super Classic Le (2023)
There is no need to keep flue temps high, in fact that is wasting BTUs. There is one big caveat though, the top of the flue should stay above condensation temperature. So strictly above 212 F, but I would say above 300 is safer. (And temps should make you have enough draft.) This is to avoid creosote accumulation there. Beyond that is not needed imo. So, how tall is the flue the stack? And is it class A pipe? Or a masonry? If the latter, insulated or not?
The total length is about 16 ft. New SS 6" liner in a (not insulated ) masonary chimney passing through the center of the house.
400* (internal) is plenty once the burn is settled in, 600-700* is not out of the safe range, but I'd not make it a habit to go much higher...its certainly not efficient to run that way for long!
Is this (flue) measured on the outside with a magnetic thermometer on single wall stove pipe? Or with a probe thermometer inside the exhaust gases?
With 16 ft (not very tall, so not much cool down on the way to the cap), and not very cold for the majority because inside the house, 400 internally is fine. I'd be happy that I'm not needing to send more BTUs up the flue for the stove to work well. You're burning efficiently this way by getting the heat in your home rather than up the flue.
Thanks for all the input. This is definitely a parlour stove and I havent tried to run it 24/7 yet. I am guessing that the combustor would be needed to get the max time of burn. It is on order. Thanks