?What is the small brick in upper left of stove for?

We are new to coal heat and bought an alaska stoker and there is a small brick that can slide back and forth(located in the back upper left wall), which there is an opening behind it. What is this for or what does it do?
Thanks
Rachel

Hi Rachel,
Call the Alaska Co. and ask where that bricks belongs when burning the stove. If you don't have them in the right location, much of your heat will go directly up the pipe. Also, keep the tubes that are behind the bricks clean, or the stove will not vent properly.
Jerry

If my memory is correct you are using a power vent so the brick should be closed except when cleaning out the stove. The whole behind the brick is used to increase the draft during warm weather when the stove is used in conjunction with a chimney as per the Alaska manual.

Rachel,

My Alaska Channing III has one, my instructions say it is opened when lighting the stove if additional draft is needed. My chimney pulls so hard I never have to open mine.

So if your stove smokes up the house when you first light it, slide the brick open, then once the stove is going well and the chimney is drawing good you can slide it closed.

BK