Hi Steve, temps in my hood average approx. 30s for the highs, and 20s for the lows, but the past few days were a bit warmer on the highs. A few weeks ago it was colder, about 20s high, and teens low. I've only been burning this past month, how 'bout you?
My house is relatively small, about 1500, sq., but I don't run my stove wide open to heat the whole thing. Even on low, my living area is comfortable, and so is the up-stairs close to the stairwell. I've mentioned B4, a bigger stove wouldn't heat the house better, because of the location of the stove. But a bigger stove might be better, because maybe it'll go longer between tending, cause of bigger pots, and ash pans.
If you have a G6 that only uses less than 30 lbs a day, I'll bet you've tightened it up yourself. I haven't really weighed my refills, so I might be off a bit. Most of the time, I'll open a bag a day, but not always. Sometimes it'll go longer. My 111 leaks air like a sub with screen doors. I've never taken the time to do the dollar bill test on the doors, and mine not only has the lower pan door, but also has the transparent clinker door, that I sometimes use for riddling the grate. I'm sure they breath well. When it's on low speed, (which is a lot of the time), I close my primary damper completely, and also shut the MPD close to the "off" position, and the coal will continue to slowly burn. It'll never die out. I call it "idling", and it seems to do OK. I also know the 2 cleanout covers in the back, for the outer lower chambers aren't super tight, but that's on the exhaust side.
Someday, I might do some more work on it, and maybe finish those brick molds too, but for some reason the government won't increase the hours in the day. There just aren't enuff , so it's tough to get everything done, when I want. It sucks having to work for a living, ya know Steve? Such a waste of precious time. Hope you and yours have a profitable, and prosperous New Year.
