Top Down Combo Load Fire. North South East West Load in Jotul f400

With No Paper or other Fire starters.
This has been the best way to load the Jotul F 400 and get excellent burn results. Top Down Start and then a 2 hour full burn with Front to Back pieces below the Side to Side stacked pieces. Fire burns without opening door till reload time.
The increased airflow is the key to how well this combo layout burns hot and clean.
Please comment if you have any thoughts or special tricks of your own.
Happy Burning!

[@wobdeehomestead]

The new Jotul F445 Holiday just came out as the replacement of the F400. It’s a tad larger, has a catalyst and auto secondary air control.

[@italianoav]

I just purchased a used F400 for a decent price. Is there a minimum chimney length for proper draw on these secondary burn stoves? I currently use a Schrader Fireplace with double doors. No issues there with a 13 foot chimney.

[@wobdeehomestead]

15’ is recommended I believe. Draft may be a bit sluggish on warmer days

[@John-wr6yo]

After all these years i am considering a new wood stove and it has come down to three candidates. Blaze king, wood stock soapstone hybrid,or a jotul f series with a catalyst. I need a stove that can hold a healthy amount of wood at least twenty four inches.

[@comonbabylightmyfireburn]

Sounds good, I've heard good things about the BK and Woodstock.

[@siamakga]

What about Vermont Casting, they have one called Defiant which looks awesome.

[@comonbabylightmyfireburn]

I had a VC Defiant 30 years ago. It's a beast. A modern stove with secondary burner tubes or a catalyst will burn thru less wood and keep your chimney cleaner while providing more heat and less smoke.@@siamakga

[@wobdeehomestead]

VC stoves are very finicky to operate. Not many stoves can take a 24” split, take a look at the Jotul F500 Oslo

[@siamakga]

Hey, I heard iif you only half load the stove, the airwash doesn't do its job properly. So, apparently, the glass doesn't stay clean. Is that actually true?"

[@comonbabylightmyfireburn]

It may be to some extent, but what is most important is to burn very well seasoned wood. 20% moisture content or less is the way to go.

[@comonbabylightmyfireburn]

I just did 2 small loads to test your question. The air wash washed the glass just fine, the same as a full load. I did use short pieces of very well seasoned oak splits. Dry very well seasoned wood is the key to getting great burns in all wood stoves.

[@siamakga]

@@comonbabylightmyfireburn Thanks, that debunks the theory that you shouldn't buy an oversized stove because burning half load clouds the glass.

[@comonbabylightmyfireburn]

well it's best not got too oversized, don't really want to be doing 1/2 loads all the time as it won't be as effective as a properly sized stove running on full/ or mostly full loads@@siamakga

[@justinmcmullen1436]

I have the same stove but not hooked it up yet how do u like yours and will it heat 1600sq??

[@comonbabylightmyfireburn]

I like it. Solid and good burner. Got to make sure your wood is very well seasoned, otherwise you will have problems with burning. It could probably heat 1600 sq ft in a well insulated house and not to crazy cold out.