Hitzer 503 Coal Insert Running Temp Question

Gian4 · Post by **Gian4** » Wed. Dec. 14, 2011 10:16 am

Hi all
This is my 4th year heating with coal. Bought my insert when heating oil prices went nuts and haven't looked back since. This site has been very helpful and I have a question. I read on here about people running stove temps of 400 and 500 degrees. With my insert I rarely get to 400 degrees esp. if I have the blower fans on. My fire beds look good, no dead spots plenty of blue ladies. My draft is good, when temps rose into the 50s and 60s I had no problem keeping a fire. I know this is a double walled design verses a radiant design. I measure the temp. with a standard stove magnetic thermometer placed on the stove top. It doesn't seem to make a difference where on the stove I place it. Maybe my thermometer is not reading correctly?? Just wondering if any other 503 insert owners could pipe in with their running temp experiences. I'm just wondering if I should be able to reach higher temperatures?
Thanks
Gian4

Post by **franco b** » Wed. Dec. 14, 2011 10:53 am

You can't compare your double wall design with a single wall radiant design. I think you also have a hopper which tends to insulate the top.

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Wed. Dec. 14, 2011 11:34 am

The 'rents have the thermo just above the front loading door...

CT coal burner · Post by **CT coal burner** » Wed. Dec. 14, 2011 1:08 pm

Without the fans running, my temperature on the stove top is typically around 400`F. With the fans running, the temp is about 250`F. You will get a higher temperature reading on the stove front, and on the cast hopper lid. A point to note is my slider on the ash door is normally open about 1/8". I am sure I could get the stove top temperature higher by opening the slider more; but it would be a waste, as I don't need to heat the house over 70`.
Hope this helps.

Gian4 · Post by **Gian4** » Wed. Dec. 14, 2011 6:33 pm

Thanks all
CT I'm originally from Stamford but now live in Central NY. I have to keep my ash door vents open about .5in. to keep my house at 70.
Gian4

CT coal burner · Post by **CT coal burner** » Thu. Dec. 15, 2011 9:05 am

I am no expert, but it sounds to me like you are losing heat out your chimney, and it is not staying in your stove.
I have read that others here installed a restrictor plate, supplied by Hitzer, to reduce the flow to the chimney. Perhaps a call to Dean, and installing a restrictor is worth a shot.
Good luck!

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Thu. Dec. 15, 2011 11:20 am

Gian4,

Have a look here: **Broken Link(s) Removed**

Gian4 · Post by **Gian4** » Thu. Dec. 15, 2011 11:30 am

I thought the newer models were designed with a restrictor plate. I know when I brake down the stove for spring cleaning there is a plate behind the damper that I remove,clean and paint. My house is a 1860s vintage farm house approx. 2500 sq. feet 2 levels. This may be the reason my settings are different from yours. I use about 5 tons a season (mid Oct to early April) and almost no oil to heat my house an avg. 70-74 downstairs 70-68 upstairs. Do these numbers sound ball park to you??
Thanks for your help
Gian4

CT coal burner · Post by **CT coal burner** » Thu. Dec. 15, 2011 11:51 am

It is my first season with the Hitzer, so I only have two months of experience under my belt. The temperatures in that size and vintage house seem pretty reasonable. As for coal burned, if I spread the usage from the past two months over a season, and assume an increase in Jan, Feb, and March, I will be burning around 3-1/2 tons. My house is a 1950's cape, heating about 1800 sq ft.