New Guy With New VC Vigilant Stove

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 7:58 am

Rich W. wrote:Are you shaking with the damper open (direct flow)? I clean mine once midwinter, and it barely needs it. If your damper is closed (indirect) when you shake, you will send ash into the sides of the stove. I also learned on this forum that you can tell when it's filling with ash by using your infrared thermometer to measure the side temps over time. As the sides fill they will be cooler.

This made a big difference in the cleaning process and also keeping the dust down. Stove has been running like a champ for about a month. I think we have only put the heat on a couple times just for 20-30 minutes. The house is staying at 69-72 in the upstairs and 72 in the downstairs. Still locating drafts in this old house and taking care of them. Looks like I am burning about 60 lbs a day.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 9:47 am

tjfslaughter wrote:
Rich W. wrote:Are you shaking with the damper open (direct flow)? I clean mine once midwinter, and it barely needs it. If your damper is closed (indirect) when you shake, you will send ash into the sides of the stove. I also learned on this forum that you can tell when it's filling with ash by using your infrared thermometer to measure the side temps over time. As the sides fill they will be cooler.
This made a big difference in the cleaning process and also keeping the dust down. Stove has been running like a champ for about a month. I think we have only put the heat on a couple times just for 20-30 minutes. The house is staying at 69-72 in the upstairs and 72 in the downstairs. Still locating drafts in this old house and taking care of them. Looks like I am burning about 60 lbs a day.

What are the temps you're running both stove and pipe? The reason I ask I am heating an 1100 sq ft ranch up here in Maine and I'm only burning about 30 lbs / day with outside temps 20 - 30ish. Do you have a manometer to measure your draft? I do understand chasing a drafty house could mean burning additional coal.

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 11:24 am

30's at night and low 40's in the day. About 2,000 square feet (two stories). 15% of the house is not insulated and wont be until I gut the kitchen.

I am fabricating a plate to block off the chimney above the stove tonight. I am taking a piece of 14 gauge and cutting it to slide in and sit on top of angle iron. I will have a tight fitting cut out to allow the 6" pipe to still pass through. I bet quite a bit of heat is going straight up the chimney since the stove sits half way in.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 11:33 am

tjfslaughter wrote:30's at night and low 40's in the day. About 2,000 square feet (two stories). 15% of the house is not insulated and wont be until I gut the kitchen.

I am fabricating a plate to block off the chimney above the stove tonight. I am taking a piece of 14 gauge and cutting it to slide in and sit on top of angle iron. I will have a tight fitting cut out to allow the 6" pipe to still pass through. I bet quite a bit of heat is going straight up the chimney since the stove sits half way in.

Sorry bro,

I misread your post that stated 1100 sq ft PER floor, my bad. Your usage seems on track given the work you are doing.

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 11:48 am

each floor is about 1100... so 2200 total not including walk up attic or full basement...

Rich W. · Post by **Rich W.** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 11:54 am

Re "I am fabricating a plate to block off the chimney above the stove tonight."

This should help tremendously, especially if you do not have the top of the chimney closed off around the pipe. Please keep us posted.

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 7:32 pm

Rich W. wrote:Re "I am fabricating a plate to block off the chimney above the stove tonight."

This should help tremendously, especially if you do not have the top of the chimney closed off around the pipe. Please keep us posted.

Got the plate rough fabbed tonight. In the next couple days I will file it and paint it. Pic shows the idea. Once I get the center stone in I will put it in the final location. This should make a difference.

Rich W. · Post by **Rich W.** » Mon. Dec. 15, 2014 10:25 pm

Looking good. Is the top of the chimney sealed? That would keep the pipe hot and keep the draft strong.

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Tue. Dec. 16, 2014 7:57 am

That plate should help push much of the rising heat out into the room

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Wed. Dec. 17, 2014 8:24 am

michaelanthony wrote:That plate should help push much of the rising heat out into the room

It has made a noticeable difference. There is a 3 degree temp increase in the upstairs and it is on the border of me adjusting the flapper to the right, which should result in less coal usage. Once the temps really drop it will be interesting.

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Wed. Dec. 17, 2014 8:03 pm

Got a new toy. Just reloaded the stove.

VigIIPeaBurner · Post by **VigIIPeaBurner** » Wed. Dec. 17, 2014 8:40 pm

tjfslaughter wrote:Got a new toy. Just reloaded the stove.

You mispelled the word "toy". The proper spelling is ...

TOOL

Looks good, hitting the high temp and stretching its legs

michaelanthony · Post by **michaelanthony** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 8:42 am

Wow 722* - 730* that baby rocks and like VigllPeaBurner says stretching her legs. whenn I hit 600* the heat waves produced distort my vision and cause my pets to stop, drop, and roll...over

tjfslaughter · Post by **tjfslaughter** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 10:38 am

michaelanthony wrote:Wow 722* - 730* that baby rocks and like VigllPeaBurner says stretching her legs. whenn I hit 600* the heat waves produced distort my vision and cause my pets to stop, drop, and roll...over

Last night it got up to 73 upstairs, I prefer 68-69.... I am trying to keep track of the overnight lows. I wish real winter would show up.

Rich W. · Post by **Rich W.** » Thu. Dec. 18, 2014 11:18 am

My manual suggests operating temps at 400-600*. Here along the coast I've been running 275-350* (it's been mild). I'm interested to know if there are any problems running well above or well below the recommended range. Any thoughts?

New Guy With New VC Vigilant Stove

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