First Few Overnite Burns -Failures

First time coal burner here- using Kimmel's nuts (all that's available) in a Weso 020. The first nite the fire was still burning in the morning. The last 3 nites- no! There are quite a few unburned nuts and a lot of grayish white nuts-some hard and some soft in the box and of course ash in the pan. After the first failure I opened both the prim. and sec. from the recommended 1 to 3 to see if that would allow a more complete burn- still out after 6-7 unattended hours. I give it a good shake b4 the final bedtime load. Any sugesstions?

Sounds like possible ash build up. Need a good glow in the ash pan area all across the grate area.

Need pics, too many possibilities.

To make guesses is not going to get you good answers here.

Do you have any sort of damper in the flue pipe?

Along with too much ash in the bed of burning coal opening the secondary air too much might be killing the draft. With a well established fire very little secondary air is needed. You might also use less primary air for lower output and gradually work up to higher as you learn how stove behaves.

How big as in how much coal does it hold ?

SWPaDon wrote:Sounds like possible ash build up. Need a good glow in the ash pan area all across the grate area.

Well, I see other's have beat me to most of these question! The hazards of a long post, but what the heck - I already typed it all!
Do you have CO detectors? Don't burn coal unless you have them.

Ash is suspect as SWPaDon suggests if the fire went out on the second day after a successful 24 hr burn. Signs of a complete ash shake is an even red glow across the top of the ash pit below the grates and there might be a few red coals in the ash pan.

After your first out fire, did you clean out the firebox completely, down to bare grates? Please tell us how many pounds of coal you're using at night when you find the fire struggling or out in the morning. How deep is your night time coalbed?

The fact that there is still black pieces of coal after your out fires suggests you might have too much secondary air. Secondary air is air introduced to the area above the grates and the mass of burning coal. Very little secondary air, if any at all, is necessary for anthracite combustion. I'd suggest you completely close the secondary air so you are not blowing the exhaust up the chimney and wasting the heat. The longer the combustion gasses stay in your stove, the longer it has a chance to heat the stove and thus your room. Too much secondary air also robbs draft that would normally pull the primary air up thru the burning anthracite.

Once you close the secondary inlet, you will likely find you'll need less primary opening too. Make small adjustments to the primary air, coal responds slowly so allow an hour between adjustment. Watch your fire over several hours.

ddahlgren wrote:How big as in how much coal does it hold ?

Good point...a common cause of short burn times is not enough coal in the firebox. 6-8" deep is about right for nut coal.

McGiever wrote:Need pics, too many possibilities.

To make guesses is not going to get you good answers here.

Exactly, How full are you filling it?
Are you using a manual or barometric damper?
How hot are you running the stove?
Pics help too..

Guys- Thanks for all the response and suggestions.
Yes I have a CO detector.
damper in flu wide open
6"-8" of coal up to the top of the crib -maybe 10#'s ??
Did not clean out completely first time but today YES down to bare grate and vacuumed.
I'll go back to recommended setting for sec. and primary.
Not running today-chimney sweep tamara early morn.
I'll let you know when I fire it up on Tuesday.
Flu temp about 180-200.
Box is about 14" wide (sloping) x 9 front to back and 8 deep.

sav wrote:Guys- Thanks for all the response and suggestions.
Yes I have a CO detector.
damper in flu wide open
6"-8" of coal up to the top of the crib -maybe 10#'s ??
Did not clean out completely first time but today YES down to bare grate and vacuumed.
I'll go back to recommended setting for sec. and primary.
Not running today-chimney sweep tamara early morn.
I'll let you know when I fire it up on Tuesday.
Flu temp about 180-200.
Box is about 14" wide (sloping) x 9 front to back and 8 deep.

The first fire was a "clinker maker", now this one burns then goes out...somewhere in between is where you want to be.

Here are some earlier pics.: Here is the earlier post from the OP...

Post by sav - Weso 020 Question