EastoutWest
ArboristSite Lurker
Hey everyone, I have this cheap wood stove that was in the house when I got it. I've been using it as my primary heat source here in Western NC for 4 years now and am getting pretty fed up with it. It works well to heat the house but the burn times are ridiculously short (like 4 hours, max). I have only had coals in the morning a few times... usually the stove is freezing cold in the morning and I have to start a new fire. It also ALWAYS spills smoke into the house any time I open the firebox door (yes, I open the flue damper before slowly opening the door).
I grew up feeding a Vestal "Papa Bear" style airtight stove and have had to make some adjustments to my habits. Basically smaller fires, smaller wood pieces, and feeding the fire about every hour or two. I also have a harder time starting or stoking fires because I can't open the door and blow on the coals without smoke filling the house.
The way I see it, there are two major design issues with this stove: King EPA (Home Depot's cheapest model).
1. As you can see in the photo, there is no intake air control. Just a line of slots that feed directly into the firebox. So there is no way to slow down the burn except very slightly with the flue damper.
2. As you can maybe see in the photo, there is a big curved baffle above the burn area. It sticks down into the firebox just above the firebrick. I assume this reflects heat and helps create the secondary burn. But this really reduces the firebox volume and I suspect it is the reason for smoke spilling out when I open the door (it's just easier for the smoke to leave the firebox through the door than through the flue). I tried to fix what I thought was a draft issue by installing a 6" insulated chimney liner all the way up the chimney (originally it was straight-piped into the huge chimney). This made no noticeable difference to the smoke problem. However the chimney cap is about level with the roof peak so maybe draft is still an issue. But I'm glad I did that as it is much safer.
So, I am considering a few options:
1. Learn how to use this stove better. I've definitely improved and know my wood needs to be well seasoned but maybe I'm just missing something.
2. Get a different used wood stove. I am strongly compelled to go with an airtight stove because It is usually freezing in the mornings and hard to get out of bed unless I want to spend $10/day on electric space heaters. I guess I could also go with an EPA stove that DOES have an intake damper but after my experience with this stove, I am leary and wonder if they can really burn for 8 hours or more. I have no experience with a catalyst stove and suspect any one I buy used would need the catalyst replaced.
3. Modify this stove. My thought is to permanently block the intake slots and replace the door glass with steel plate with intake dampers (like on the door of an airtight stove). I know this option will not be popular here but I do have the equipment to fabricate something. I would miss being able to see the fire but that is a bonus, overnight heat is my primary goal.
I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!
I grew up feeding a Vestal "Papa Bear" style airtight stove and have had to make some adjustments to my habits. Basically smaller fires, smaller wood pieces, and feeding the fire about every hour or two. I also have a harder time starting or stoking fires because I can't open the door and blow on the coals without smoke filling the house.
The way I see it, there are two major design issues with this stove: King EPA (Home Depot's cheapest model).
1. As you can see in the photo, there is no intake air control. Just a line of slots that feed directly into the firebox. So there is no way to slow down the burn except very slightly with the flue damper.
2. As you can maybe see in the photo, there is a big curved baffle above the burn area. It sticks down into the firebox just above the firebrick. I assume this reflects heat and helps create the secondary burn. But this really reduces the firebox volume and I suspect it is the reason for smoke spilling out when I open the door (it's just easier for the smoke to leave the firebox through the door than through the flue). I tried to fix what I thought was a draft issue by installing a 6" insulated chimney liner all the way up the chimney (originally it was straight-piped into the huge chimney). This made no noticeable difference to the smoke problem. However the chimney cap is about level with the roof peak so maybe draft is still an issue. But I'm glad I did that as it is much safer.
So, I am considering a few options:
1. Learn how to use this stove better. I've definitely improved and know my wood needs to be well seasoned but maybe I'm just missing something.
2. Get a different used wood stove. I am strongly compelled to go with an airtight stove because It is usually freezing in the mornings and hard to get out of bed unless I want to spend $10/day on electric space heaters. I guess I could also go with an EPA stove that DOES have an intake damper but after my experience with this stove, I am leary and wonder if they can really burn for 8 hours or more. I have no experience with a catalyst stove and suspect any one I buy used would need the catalyst replaced.
3. Modify this stove. My thought is to permanently block the intake slots and replace the door glass with steel plate with intake dampers (like on the door of an airtight stove). I know this option will not be popular here but I do have the equipment to fabricate something. I would miss being able to see the fire but that is a bonus, overnight heat is my primary goal.
I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!