villager stove help

squigglebit

I have a villager multi fuel stove that we burn coal in with reasonable success.
However being completely new to any sort of stove I'm a bit confused with the controls and terminology and want to use the stove as best as possible.

In terms of air flow we have the door, a control on the flue and the part at the bottom of the stove which holds the ash drawer. This can be open or closed.

A lot of the how to's I read refer to primary and secondary air flows, ash drawers and loading doors and I just get confused.

Any help greatly appreciated as I'm never sure what to close or leave open once we have a fire going.

Currently we shut the door and leave flue and ash drawer bit open.

This is the stove villager stove controls - Google Search - https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=villager+stove+controls&client=ms-android-orange-gb&espv=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sboxchip=Images&sa=X&ei=TgAzVP27PM7naoe0gJAI&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg#facrc=_&imgrc=Ds6dj2vjk5BqMM%253A%3B8QF3BnocomxfdM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fthumbs1.ebaystatic.com%252Fd%252Fl225%252Fm%252FmQRHK6a_t05CZBVcjJvTHJw.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fbhp%252Fvillager-stove%3B225%3B169

A._Badger

squigglebit wrote: »

I have a villager multi fuel stove that we burn coal in with reasonable success.
However being completely new to any sort of stove I'm a bit confused with the controls and terminology and want to use the stove as best as possible.

In terms of air flow we have the door, a control on the flue and the part at the bottom of the stove which holds the ash drawer. This can be open or closed.

A lot of the how to's I read refer to primary and secondary air flows, ash drawers and loading doors and I just get confused.

Any help greatly appreciated as I'm never sure what to close or leave open once we have a fire going.

Currently we shut the door and leave flue and ash drawer bit open.

This is the stove villager stove controls - Google Search - https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=villager+stove+controls&client=ms-android-orange-gb&espv=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sboxchip=Images&sa=X&ei=TgAzVP27PM7naoe0gJAI&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg#facrc=_&imgrc=Ds6dj2vjk5BqMM%253A%3B8QF3BnocomxfdM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fthumbs1.ebaystatic.com%252Fd%252Fl225%252Fm%252FmQRHK6a_t05CZBVcjJvTHJw.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fbhp%252Fvillager-stove%3B225%3B169

If you Google it, you will almost certainly find a manual available. Not having that exact stove means anyone else's advice is going to be subjective and the first place to start should be with the manufacturer's manual.

That said, as a general rule, if you are burning smokless fuel (not coal - that will clog your flue and lead to a chimney fire) you shut or almost shut the top vents above the door and control the burn from the bottom vents. Never adjust the throttle on the pipe leading to the chimney and/or liner if you have one. That is only for use when burning wood. Always leave that wide open.

Hope that helps.

squigglebit

I can't find a manual online hence why I'm asking for advice.

My stove doesn't have a top vent, only what I listed.

suki1964

squigglebit wrote: »

I can't find a manual online hence why I'm asking for advice.

My stove doesn't have a top vent, only what I listed.

As it's a stove I hope it's smokeless you are burning and not coal?


So here's how's it works


Start your fire. Open all vents, even the door if need be

Once it's taken, close the top vent


Once you have a good glow on your smokeless , slowly close your bottom vent


Solid fuel needs air from the bottom, wood from the top

Never burn coal on a stove

squigglebit

Yep burning smokeless, use maxbrite

It doesn't have a top vent. Only thing at the top is a control on flue that opens or closes it?

suki1964

squigglebit wrote: »

Yep burning smokeless, use maxbrite

It doesn't have a top vent. Only thing at the top is a control on flue that opens or closes it?

Is that below the flue, on the stove itself?

I can't visualise a vent on the flue



Mostly the two vents are for air wash, to keep the glass clean.


I'm no expert with termaology so bare with me

My stove has a vent at the top, and one around the ash pan

My stove works best as explained above.


If I shut the top vent too early I get a black glass. What I aim for is a good heat and burn then shut the top.. The bottom vent I may take up to an hour to get the best burn setting


Stoves are organic. It really is trial and error

squigglebit

It's not on the actual stove but the pipe coming out of the top, it's like a handle you turn.

suki1964

squigglebit wrote: »

It's not on the actual stove but the pipe coming out of the top, it's like a handle you turn.

Can you link to a picture or model?

Someone with more experience may be able to help further

squigglebit

I've linked a picture, sadly I can't find model online. Only discovered it was a villager via eBay!

suki1964

Can't see top vents on that picture

However I've not known vent on flues


Try burning as I suggested.

I shut my top flow off completely once I've a good red hot burn with flame

Then I slowly close the bottom till I get a good slow burn with a touch of haze

Too little then I've a stove full of clinkers to clean out. A good burn for me is when a scuttle of coal lasts a day and all I'm left with is a pan of ash

Greenfires

Sounds like a very old stove and a flue damper. I'm not keen on flue dampers personally - but leave that wide open in any case. Too much risk of fumes leaking back into the room otherwise.

Basically if you're burning smokeless then you want to be keeping the grate fairly clean so the air can get through the fuel. It's dirty stuff to use though and you'll probably have to remove a load of ash every day to keep the grate clear. The burning rate should be controlled with whatever control you have on the ash door - but the door itself should be shut when the stove is in use.