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[Sluggo]

Has anyone experienced a sweating stove by chance?  I have a 20,000 heating 8,000 sq ft in western Wisconsin.  Just switched to this stove this year and like it but the past month and a half or so it's sweating or leaking or both.  About a month and half ago I noticed clear water dripping from each front corner.  I was getting a crystal clear inverted icicle.  Then I noticed one corner on the rear doing it.  I unscrewed the corner trim and my insulation was soaking wet.  The insulation again the stove has a foil vapor barrier and that was bone dry.  Bone dry.  Now a few weeks ago I go out and hear a dripping noise.  Look under the stove and I'm getting about a drip a second.  This water seems to be dirtier.  I opened the back door and looked and again everything is bone dry.  Open the ash pan and that's bone dry.  By the way the drip is coming from directly in the middle of the bottom of the stove.  Dead ass center there is a seam in the cover metal and that is where the drip is coming thru.  On the bottom side of the firebox/water jacket there is about a six inch air space.  I can see clear as day there is no leaks under there and there is no water jacket under the ash pan.  I go to lift up the insulation on the bottom of my stove and I can't budge it.  It's froze down solid to the metal pan covering the bottom from the elements.  My water indicator varies slightly but not enough compared to what's dripping out.  If no one has experi need this could you guys do me a favor this weekend and go feel around both sides of your insulation and see if it's wet on the cold side?  Heat master says they have never heard of this before.  It's not a huge deal just like to know what's causing it and be damn sure it's not a slow leak.  Thanks a lot.

[slimjim]

Is there a chance snow could be getting behind the siding or under the roof somehow, I have seen what you are taking about in other models when there was a place for the wind to blow drifting snow into the insolation.

[Sluggo]

There's no chance for that,for one I don't think we get snow in Wisconsin anymore and two it's in a covered shed. 

[slimjim]

OK how about the water temps, do they occasionally drop below about 140 degrees F, I have seen sweating occur on other models when the water temps get that low.

[mlappin]

There's no chance for that,for one I don't think we get snow in Wisconsin anymore and two it's in a covered shed.

Covered or enclosed? If it was enclosed maybe enough temperature variation moisture in the air is condensing.

[Sluggo]

Temps are 160-170 any higher and I boil the water,that is a different topic though.  SlimWhen you encounter your first heat master 20,000 I will explain!  She'd is covered and enclosed on three sides.  Temp in the wood shed is same as outside temps.  I'm going to try some charcoal in the back of the stove and see if that helps dehumidify.

[Sluggo]

Cancel the charcoal idea,I'm leaving the back access door open to see if that helps.

[CountryBoyJohn]

I think we may have a more serious concern if you can't run higher than a 170 cutoff without causing a boil over!  Is this what you meant? 

[Sluggo]

Little bit of a design flaw in the stove I believe.  To much volume on the sides and not enough on top.  Sweating problem cured by cracking the door on a side note.  I added a seperate pump strictly to circulate the stove water which helped but still must be a dead spot on top.

[Dan76]

When my 5000e is half way into the cycle and the fire is roaring I often hear the sound of water boiling near and around the extra bypass.  Should I be concerned about this?  It has never boiled over.  My setting is 160 on and 180 off in Jan/Feb when really cold and 170-180 otherwise.

[CountryBoyJohn]

No worries.  The front of the stove is where the first turn is to start heading back.  There is a lot of heat that gets concentrated in that one spot.  It is localized boiling that only occurs right there.  If you watch your water level pipe closely you can see tiny wisps of steam that pops out.  It's minimal and shouldn't affect your water level at all. 

Just as a note, I would bring up your low point a bit.  If you have a 20 degree delta T, you're getting really close to that sweating mark.  I rarely go lower than 170 for my low set.  When it gets cold I bump up to 185 if I'm not burning hedge or coal.  I basically run 170 on and 185 off when cold and 170 on and 177 off when it's more mild.  In October and April I'll bump down to 165 172. 

[Dan76]

Thanks CountryBoy.  I changed my setting to 170-185.

[CountryBoyJohn]

Another thing I do I just remembered, is I don't stack any wood 6"-8" right inside the door. This prevents any direct flame from hitting that portion of the water jacket.

[slimjim]

Way to go CBJ, Great info.

[Dan76]

Never thought of that.  Good idea!