Any insert owners out there?

I want to know what your daily coal consumption averages and whether or not you are using any kind of damper on your flue or are you just adjusting the draft via the stove. Even on my lowest setting, I'm using about 50 to 60 lbs per day. I do not have any damper on the flue at all. I know my draft is too good I suppose. Gonna re-light the stove tonight after a weeks worth being off...starting to get a little colder here in Michigan and the winds of the lake are pretty gusty...

davemich,
Howdy! I too have a Hitzer 503 & am using 40 lbs. per day if it's above 30 degrees & 50-80 lbs. if it's below. Now that's 24 hrs. I may be shaking my stove to hard, I get small ckunks ( 1/2-3/4" ) of coal in my ask. I'm going to try to shake it less & see how that works. I also think I bought substandard coal & that may also contribute to the chunks. If you have no advice about coal purchases you have to get burned to learn.
Mikecarr

Hi mikecarr, you dug up an old post !!
If I remember correctly davemich found that if he shook only once in 24 hours, that the ash accumulation on the grates slowed his burn rate by about 30%,
He also got Hitzer to send him a draft restrictor that installed in the outlet of the stove. Dave's draft was VERY strong, so this worked well for his application, it may not be for yours.

I'll email dave to see if he can respond to your questions.. he's not burning in the Hitzer this year, he has a 16 month old sone with a high degree of curriosity, and Mom won't let dave heat with the stove for fear of their son getting burned.

Take care, greg L

Hi
I use about 50 lbs a day (24hr) ,no damper. I burn a pea-nut mix, 75%pea 25% nut. My insert is similar to Hitzers.

I'm thinking of taking out my insert next year and replace it with a Harmon Mark II, if I take off the legs it should fit on the hearth fine. Anyone out there have a set up like that.

Greg is right...I have a reducer that I received from Hitzer and I only shake 1 time a day with the damper almost closed. Some days it will be more or less than the 40 lb. poly bag that I burn per day. Good coal I'm sure makes a difference. Pretty good efficiency I'd say!

I have a hand damper on my insert, use it all the time to retain heat in the stove, and use about 40lbs a day when it's 30 or above, and up to 80lbs per day when it's really cold.

Dave, use that hand damper to keep the heat in the stove. I can't imagine how much heat I'd be wasting if I didn't use that hand damper.

Dave's stove is an insert, there is no access to the flue pipe or the chimney.
Hitzer makes a piece that inserts in the flue exit, and reduces the area of the flue. It works only for units installed where there is excessive draft.

To bad he can't install a barometric damper, this is what his instalation really needs.. but inserts don't allow it.

Greg L.

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LsFarm wrote:Dave's stove is an insert, there is no access to the flue pipe or the chimney.
Hitzer makes a piece that inserts in the flue exit, and reduces the area of the flue. It works only for units installed where there is excessive draft.

To bad he can't install a barometric damper, this is what his instalation really needs.. but inserts don't allow it.

Greg L.

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Greg,

You described my "hand damper" in your above description. My draft may be a little much as that is the reason I use it all the time, and I may have to replace the hand damper at the end of the season