New Harmon Mark I owner

RePete wrote: My wife loves that the living room should stay cleaner now!! She spent three hours wiping black soot from the wood and plastic items in the stove area last week. Not fun...
Pete..

Hi Pete,

You shouldn't have any "black soot" in the house with Anthracite Coal. When I shovel the coal into the scuttle from my coal bin in the cellar I stop and wet it with water from a spray bottle several times. That way there is no dust from filling the stove. Since to scuttle is next to the stove I do have to spray it again since it dries out quickly there. Also, make sure the blower is off during any shaking or filling of the stove. Careful removal of the ash will also cut down on the dust. I removed the cover on the blower motor intake and inserted a piece of AC filter over the mesh screen, it helps cut down on the dust as well. Since there was a wood stove with no blower in the spot where the Harman is now and since the blower outlets are deflected down towards the floor stirring up some dust is unavoidable. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats here so the blower does stir up some dust. My wife insists it's because of the coal she says it wasn't this way when we were burning wood, but there was no blower running.

RePete wrote:I want to say thanks for every one that posted. I tried this yesterday and today. WOW, what a difference. I keep the round draft control at 3/4 turn. I fill the stove a few more times a day to top it off. That way I don't have to load so much coal in at once and have less of a chance for a gas explosion. When I loaded it before sometimes I would get that gas smell in the house. If I put too much in at once. I now shake it down a few more times. But still only have to empty the ash pan twice a day. Not as much ash either since I'm burning less coal. Temps on the stove are 250* and stove pipe temp of 100*. I'm using much less coal now. I put the blower on a timer and run it most of the day. My wife loves that the living room should stay cleaner now!! She spent three hours wiping black soot from the wood and plastic items in the stove area last week. Not fun...

Warm and toasty on the Cape
Pete..

Glad things are getting better Pete! Not sure if I understand this though: " I fill the stove a few more times a day to top it off. That way I don't have to load so much coal in at once and have less of a chance for a gas explosion. When I loaded it before sometimes I would get that gas smell in the house. If I put too much in at once. I now shake it down a few more times."
You shouldn't have any gas explosions at all if you leave a little section of the fire uncovered to burn off volatils regardless of the amount of coal you are adding. You also should not have to be increasing the number of times you shake the stove down. Just the reverse since you are running the stove cooler than before.
If you are getting any gas smell, I recomend that you open the ash door until you get a nice strong draft running through the coal bed before you shake down or even add coal. Then, any gases should be drawn up the chimney & not back into the house.
Hang in there.....It'll take a little time to get things down pat, but it sounds like you are well on your way!

Ok, I've got to stop shaking it down more then twice a day (got it). My coal is bagged and wet but it does dry out fast when left in my bucket. That spray bottle Idea will surely help there. Now, I do leave a hole open for the blue flames to ignite the gases. But I have to remember to leave the door open and get it hot so the gases go up the chimney. I used to load a whole bucket in one shot before. That was a lot of crackling going on after I put it in. Well, off for more adventures in coal.

PS. That whole wife and black soot stuff that's a different story for another day..

Thanks Guys
Pete..