One Week In and Progress

 
musikfan1968
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Post by musikfan1968 » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 6:14 pm

Hey Stove colleagues!

Well, today is a little over one week since I lit the stove. We are still burning consistently, but I had a few thoughts and wanted to bounce them off y'all and see what you think.

So I've been able to maintain at best about 73 degrees in my living room (which measures 14x30). However, that's when the temps outside are in the low to mid 30's. We had a few evenings where it went down in the 20's and I was able to maintain maybe 70 or 71 degrees, but only when the stove has just been shaken down. I have found that I need to shake down every five hours. As the five hour time period lapses, the temps slowly start to decrease and then after five hours the temp will be around 68. After I shake down, it goes back up to 70 or a little better depending on the outside weather. My two story house is over 100 years old with very little insulation but does have all new windows.

I had these grand visions of my living room being 80 degrees and having to open the windows, but I fear that the stove will not perform nearly at that level. It is about 55,000 BTU which I felt would be sufficient for a 1700 square foot house.

My concern is how this stove is going to do when it's down in the teens at night. If I'm going down to 68 inside when it's 30 degrees outside, how bad is it going to be when I'm in the teens or even single digits at night (which will happen in January and February for sure)?? At this rate, I'll be lucky to get the room up to 68 degrees in the middle of the day.

Is my stove too small for my house? I'm stuck with it this winter, but just not sure how it's going to perform if this is any indication.

What are your thoughts, folks??


 
waytomany?s
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Post by waytomany?s » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 6:51 pm

What is the stove? The Franco in your profile? I believe my Mark II is rated 65,000 btu. It's in the basement and maintaining 73 in room directly above it as long as the winds are low and night time temps don't go to far below 30. 1500 square ft upstairs. Same in basement, but roughly a third closed off. I run coal opposite everyone else. Shoulder seasons, then wood oil combo when cold. Helps me stretch the firewood. So, my long story to tell you that you better have some form of backup or something to assist your stove.

 
nut
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Post by nut » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 8:41 pm

Where is your stove located? If it is in the basement it will take a few days for all the masonry to warm up before you start feeling the full affects. Even if it is insulated.

 
musikfan1968
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Franco Belge 144.08.02

Post by musikfan1968 » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 9:22 pm

Hey folks. The stove is in my living room. It's a Franco Belge and is rated at 55,000 BTU's.

 
waytomany?s
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Post by waytomany?s » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 9:42 pm

It can only keep a 400 square ft room 73? 8' ceilings?

 
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ShawnLiNy
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Post by ShawnLiNy » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 9:50 pm

Have you checked all gaskets ( something is definitely wrong 55k btu should heat that space nicely ) unless it’s all glass or something

 
musikfan1968
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Post by musikfan1968 » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 9:52 pm

waytomany?s wrote:
Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 9:42 pm
It can only keep a 400 square ft room 73? 8' ceilings?
My living room is 14x30 with 8 foot ceilings, yes. Currently I'm at 74 degrees and it's 36 degrees outside.

I did mention that I don't have any insulation in my house, just new windows. I'm sure that has something to do with it, maybe... but it's not that cold outside in my opinion.


 
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ShawnLiNy
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Post by ShawnLiNy » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 10:10 pm

When was the last time you cleared the entire grate ? Some stoves will get ash bound in 1-2 days unless you are clearing the corners ,

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 10:19 pm

Just about all the distributors lie about output which they might achieve during UL testing by firing the hell out of it for a short period. 55000 BTU per hour would need over 100 pounds per day. Look for a plate on the back for true output.

 
musikfan1968
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Post by musikfan1968 » Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 12:03 pm

ShawnLiNy wrote:
Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 10:10 pm
When was the last time you cleared the entire grate ? Some stoves will get ash bound in 1-2 days unless you are clearing the corners ,
I'll have to check on that. The Franco Belge has a small fire grate. I use a slicing tool to get in under the coals and I try to slice on the sides and front of the grate whenever I shake down. I'm usually shaking down every five hours or so.

 
musikfan1968
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Franco Belge 144.08.02

Post by musikfan1968 » Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 12:05 pm

franco b wrote:
Wed. Nov. 16, 2022 10:19 pm
Just about all the distributors lie about output which they might achieve during UL testing by firing the hell out of it for a short period. 55000 BTU per hour would need over 100 pounds per day. Look for a plate on the back for true output.
If that's the case, then that would definitely explain why I'm not getting the heat output that I was expecting. I'm trying to heat 1700 square feet, so the stove is actually doing a pretty good job considering ....

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 12:44 pm

What temp is the stove with an IR gun or magnet thermometer near the top on the front (not the door, side if the door is in the way)?

Whatever you do, dont overfire it much or you soon wont have a heat source at all. You can probably run it 400 degrees all the time I would think, but I could be wrong.

 
Qtown1835
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Post by Qtown1835 » Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 1:00 pm

How much coal do you burn per day? What are your drafting? Do you have a baro and manual pipe damper installed?

 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 1:20 pm

warminmn wrote:
Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 12:44 pm
What temp is the stove with an IR gun or magnet thermometer near the top on the front (not the door, side if the door is in the way)?

Whatever you do, dont overfire it much or you soon wont have a heat source at all. You can probably run it 400 degrees all the time I would think, but I could be wrong.
This is a convection stove and coal in hopper blocks accurate reading at top. Really no good way to measure temp except pipe temp.

 
KingCoal
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Post by KingCoal » Thu. Nov. 17, 2022 1:30 pm

Is this a 1700 sf single story ? Or a two story of 850 sf each ?
Either way the biggest help you will get short of a bigger stove is to get 40-60R of insulation in the attic asap. Pay attention to get it clear out to the eaves above the soffits.
I’ve dealt with this problem both ways. Use stoves big enough to simply overpower the cold trying to come thru the walls and ceiling and pay the premium in fuel
Or, as you have done, put in new windows and doors and put in the best insulation you can afford. Then use a nice moderate size stove and reap the fuel savings
Either works, insulation will pay for itself faster then keep on saving you money all year round


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