excessive draft

I think Berlin may have the winning card, if the liner is in a large clay chimney and there is clear unobstructed air passageway around the outside of the SS liner, then you could have a huge amount of draft pulling room air around the stove and up the chimney.

You can pack fiberglass insulation [insulation only no paper] around the fireplace damper where the liner goes through to block the air. Is there a sealed cap at the top of the liner attaching it to the masonry chimney??

Did you try the cigarette or candle trick yet?? I'm betting on bad gaskets around the front doors and an open fireplace damper around the liner.

The flame on the candle will be pulled sideways near these drafts or the cigarette smoke will disappear through the gaps.

Let us know what you find. Greg L

.

Yes Dave your correct, it is 120 degrees. I have my stove dampered down quite a bit also, but my fan does cycle when it is. Actually it is almost a relief that it does! If I open the damper very much it runs all the time and gets the house pretty warm. Usually if the top temp is over 200 degrees it will run constantly. We really haven't had much cold weather here as of yet so been trying to keep it burning slow and conserve the coal.

Ohio, what season are you in with your 503? How big of a house do you have and does it heat it fairly well??

Well Dave this is my first season with the 503 or with coal for that matter. I have used wood as my primary source of heat for the past 15 years, but this year we looked at other options and coal came in #1 for us. I am heating a 1600 sq ft ranch and it has done a very nice job so far although it really hasn't gotten very cold yet. I do need to invest in a fan to move the air around to other rooms and it would be perfect.

Is your insert in the basement or on the main floor? In my house the perimeter rooms get cool but the center of the house and the upstairs stays warm. My insert is on the main level of a 2 story Cape Cod...1900 SF.

Happy Thanksgiving! Well my stove is on the main floor (I have a ranch) and heats everything but the basement fairly well if you leave the doors open to the bedrooms. I think a fan or two would improve circulation and help even the warmth a little. I saw some little fans that went into the corner of a door once, but can't remember where. I think that something like that would greatly help air flow.