Hitzer Insert...Unburned Coal

Hi guys

I have a small/big problem with my new Hitzer insert. I am able to maintain a nice fire over the day, but I have 2 problems overnight

1. I have loads of unburned coal, mainly in the front part of the stove also in the pan after "rattling"

2. even if I have a fire left in the morning, I am pretty much unable to rekindle without burning a load of wood first.

The stove was installed professionally, I hear a pretty good draft when I fire wood, and a smaller bit still audible draft with coal

Maybe my damper settings are bad?

Any help is very much appreciated!

Sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes....English isnt my first language

Karsten

Where are you located? Are you using Bit or anthricite

Eric

Hi

I am in the corner between Delaware - Jersey and PA SE of Philly. I use the walnut sized Anthrazit coal.
I can look for the maker if needed.

Thank you

Karsten

Can you get a pic of the ash and what you are talking about?
How deep of a bed of coal do you have? Need to be atleast 6-8inches

Sounds like not enough coal and to much air

Eric

Welcome to the forum!!

It sounds like you are getting draft air in over the fire since you describe unburned coal left in the morning.

All your air for a coal fire should come in under the coal bed. Fill the box to the top of the firebrick.

Your grammar/spelling is fine. Probably a lot better than mine, but I only been speeking it for the last 50 years or so!

Hi,

Thank you for the nice welcome.

Hmmm, I have only the air inlets in the door open.

So, I really don't understand where the air could from, it is true tough, I never filled up as high as you mentioned. Maybe 2/3 of the firebox in the back. Wouldnt I kill the fire in the back stuffing as high?

Eric, I can take a picture once its getting dark, I have to mcuh light in that room to get a good picture.

Fill it up!!! Limiting the air coming in under the coal bed is what regulates the fire.

Since your unit is new it is unlikely the gaskets are not sealing properly and if you only have the air entering from under the coal bed, then it is likely your coal bed was not deep enough and that is why you had the unburned coal.

ok, a short update, I am filled up until about half an inch below the stone liner.
one full 50 pound sack.
I have blue and green (very strange) flames over the coal. The amount of coal in the front is less then in the back I am about 1 " below the door in front.
Tough I have a really strong fire going on, I do not have a lot of fire in the front part of the stove (near the door).

I closed the upper hamper since I have a strong fire going on, and the front window dampers are fully closed.
The ash door slide is maybe 5mm open. The fan is running pretty much non stop, as the temperatures seem to be really high inside (blue and green flames)
my infra red thermometer shows more then 550 fahrenheit in the back and 280 in front.still no fire in the front.

Leave things settle in a little, look at your owners manual. you want a good bed of coal burning, then you control the burn by the air below the fire, close the inlet some if your temps are to hi. you do not have to worry about putting out the fire, if you have a good bed established it will run on very little air.

Not familiar with you insert but you probably want a little bit of seconday air over the fire to take care of the gasses.

Eric

Welcome to the FORUM my friend. I'm sure some other Hitzer insert people will jump in this post & get your concerns straightened. Just one old farmers opinion, but I take serious note of the comments left by people that are running the same stove as me. Again, welcome my friend--I wish my spelling & grammer were as good as yours.

Which model insert?...
503 has a hopper...
Once filled to the bricks fill the hopper...
If no hopper fill it level front to back to the top of the fire brick...
The uppermost push pull rod is like a MPD...
Lever by glass is over fire air, slide left to close slide right to open...
Bottom vents on ash door is your main air, under fire...
if you have decent draft the main air should be a circle to slightly oval...

Hi cape coaler

Thx for all the info. Itrs the one without the hopper-
I did fill up in the back until nearly the end of the bricks.
I cant do that in the front, the coal would spill out as the door is a little bit lower then the brick.
Or do you mean I should fill up until the door?
Sorry but was is an MPD`? Once the fire is good the rod should be pushed in all the way, right?
I do understand the levers on the doors. But should they be open or closed?
I also understand the vents on the ash door, so the should be pretty much closed, right?

Thank you for the help!

hugarian wrote:Hi cape coaler

Thx for all the info. Itrs the one without the hopper-
I did fill up in the back until nearly the end of the bricks.
I cant do that in the front, the coal would spill out as the door is a little bit lower then the brick.
Or do you mean I should fill up until the door?
Sorry but was is an MPD`? Once the fire is good the rod should be pushed in all the way, right?
I do understand the levers on the doors. But should they be open or closed?
I also understand the vents on the ash door, so the should be pretty much closed, right?

Thank you for the help!

Karsten - Sounds like you're getting on the right track. When you load up with coal, it will slope down toward the front to be level with the door opening. I load mine up to the top of the fire brick and sometimes mound it up a bit in the center as well. The MPD is the manual pipe damper which is the push/pull bar in the top center of the stove. It is designed so that even when pushed all the way in, it only closes about 80% of the way. Lately, since it's been getting colder, I actually have mine pulled out approximately 1 1/2 inches more. I vary this basds on the temps I'm looking for. The vents on the ash door are really your primary controls to be used in conjunction with the manual pipe damper. The more you open up the ash door vents, the hotter the fire will be. Again, with the colder weather, I've been opening mine up to about 1/2 inch or so. Your results will vary depending on your temps, draft and area you're heating, so experiment with different settings. I don't adjust the over fire vents that are to the right and left of the MPD - they just stay about 1/2 open all the time. Perhaps another member with more experience with this stove could opine more clearly on the benefits and uses of these vents.

As far as you getting unburnt coal in the front of the stove, I'm wondering if you're not shaking out enough ash? When you're shaking out your ash are you making sure that you're getting a consistent orange glow in your ash pan from the fire above? You will get a few coals in your pan while shaking while getting out the ash. Just be careful not to let lots of hot coals drop as that indicates you've shaken too much. Also beware not to tilt your grates too far to the right or left as you will dump that portion of the fire .

You've got a great stove that will serve you well. Just follow the basic rules - load it up, adjust the air and leave it alone - coal does not like to be bothered. Good luck - CW

Someone posted how they raised those front bricks to solve that problem. Hopefully they will chime in. You sure the door is lower then the brick?? If so, fill to the brick. Nothing should fall out. I have a feeling the brick is lower then the door??

An update....

Ok, I have a major seriously beautiful fire going the whole firebox is glowing (maybe there is a cold spot in the back, but I doubt.
A short rattling delivered very little ash and some glowing little pieces.
I can not say anything yes about unburned pieces being left.

The only thing that is strange is that my window is pretty much blacked out... I know I can clean that easily, but I wonder what that means, doesnt that mean I have a cold fire?

Anyway guys.

Thank you all very very much for the input and help, it seems like a full firebox or the opposition of that was my problem.

I do not want to fill tonight, but I will see and fill in the morning

Again you guys here where a great help! Thank you again!

Karsten