Corrosion hole in BlazeKing, KEJ1107

Was having trouble with the stove burning hot
Cat chamber/bypass area glowing red.
with thermostat on low.
Was kinda scary that I couldn't turn to low & cool it down.

Found a hole in the back, under the fan channel.

Explains why it was worse with the fan running,
forced air kiln.

 

My fix to get me thru the burn season.

Drilled holes thru 2 pieces of flat stock,
Stove didn't need much drilling.
sandwiched
Gasket on outside piece

 

PS
The other corner has pretty thin metal now too.
Its under the fan chamber,
I think the cool air hitting the back of the stove creates a great spot for creosote to form.
Creosote is corrosive & the back of the stove is pretty thin metal.

Was new 11-18-09 so it lasted 8 -1/2 years.
Not sure how long a stove should last, ??

 

Interesting. Year of Mfg. ?

 

Cant see a data plate.
Guess 2008 ?
Ser # 35306

 

Hole in fire box - bad
Fix - good

 

8 1/2 years the way you run it isn’t too bad. The equivalent of 30-40 years probably for most folks. How many cords been through it?

 

Guessing 45 - 50 cord
Burning 7-8 months per year

 

I know you burn a lot more than most of us here. I would think the stove should give you at least 15 years.

 

Seems for the money you should get more years of service.
Did you contact BlazeKing?

 

Definitely contact them and see what they have to say. From what I've seen, Blaze King customer service is pretty great.

 

Yes
Contacted BK.
They offered to send a new back plate.


That will need welded in
Old one will need cut out
Haven’t check with local weld shops for
cost estimates .
I’m not able to get stove out of basement, will need help there . Then take to a shop.

Concerned that it overheated other parts of the stove that in a couple years other parts may be damaged
could be warped &/or may fail
I mean it was glowing red.
I couldn’t cool it down. (Didn’t know I had a hole under the fan assembly causing it )

What if the side walls , bottom, or behind the fire brick are corroding , damaged.

The BK guy said annually I should remove the fire brick , clean & inspect for damage. (Like maybe they know there’s damage under the brick too?? ) That kinda gave me pause .
Also implied I’m burning “wet wood”
& i’m not burning proper , causing the creosote problem.

Plan to get through burn season, then go talk to
the local BK dealer , see what he says.

Maybe get a good price break on a replacement new stove??

 

Yikes! I have so many thoughts here.

I hope so, but...
for some reason, I don't see this happening...

for reasons you mentioned above.

You fault
wet wood
bad burning practices
lack of maintenance ....

They've already covered their bases...

even offered you a "replacement part"...
(that will cost you hundreds of $$$ to have welded in)

Either way you have to take the stove out of your basement and get a new/repaired one in.
IMO, If you like their stoves, buy a new one

... (and destroy the old one)

 

Shipping may be a bit costly but it would be a good choice

 

guess i better check mine....i think its 7 yr old

 

Gonna shop around.
Stainless steel might handle AK birch
better.

 

I think FHC would come in handy if you needed to disprove this. You have enough posts talking about your wood seasoning and burn patterns.

 

Here is a few thought that cross my mind. I would get the bricks out when you are done burning and get a welding pick hammer or even a ballpeen hammer and do some pounding around on the different panels. It may just play out that the back panel is the only weak spot. If that is the case I would check around for a welder to come to you and do the repair right in the basement. You have good access down the wood shoot for welding cables and weld smoke exhaust. May find one that has a plasma cutter too.
If the stove has other weak panels then say goodbye to an old friend.