Would it be possible that running the fan on the stove has promoted the coaling process? Not only did I see the increase in coals during the cold snap (like many others), but I saw other oddities. I found a stove at 300 degrees with no visible flame, minimal red coals showing and main air wide open. Under the ash was coals that were laying on top of unburned wood. I could lift the logs up and get immediate fire. Logs against the walls of the stove were completely intact, the next ones in were 70% there. Almost like they were not getting any oxygen. Puzzled.
Stove? I really have nothing to add. I get coals a foot deep all the time. With cold weather like we just had, I burn them down to door level, then fill it back up. If it gets too cool in here, I have a hard time catching up. Spent most today burning them up. I'm sure some of those coals were from wood I loaded a week ago. Does that make seven day burn?
I can go about 3 days burning hot, then there's lots of charcoal I know I'm loading wood on top of some un-burned stuff but got other thing to do than burn down the coals. I wait till I have 6" or so. I rake coals to the top of the ashes & put a small split or 2 on top sot I'm still getting good heat. I burn on the hottest air setting Takes a few times & several hours , the charcoal gives off lots of heat & I get good clean burns & still keep the house warm.
I don't think there would be any difference at all. The best way for me to reduce coaling is to open the air up as soon as i can towards the end of the load to keep it burning hot. if I open my primary up at about a third of a load of wood left it will burn down to a tiny amount of coals in the same amount of time it would have otherwise burnt down to a huge amount of coals. It also puts more heat in the house quicker for the last portion of the load with the air opened.
I have done that when I was around to do so. Now it seems the air control does not have much of an affect. Starting to wonder if the stack is getting tight.
You are partially right in that the cooler stove walls can't radiate the heat back to the burning fire so the outside logs will not burn quite as good as the more interior logs can. For an analogy, it is like when cooking something, especially over charcoal, that which is on the outside won't cook as well as that which is more in the center. Still, opening that draft sooner will be the best bet to burn the coals down.
