I started to use an automatic coffee maker a friend left at my house to brew my Bengal spice (chai with roasted chicory instead of black tea). I put my tea bags in the glass pot.
I began setting it so it sat for an hour. Then for my birthday my son got me a new coffee machine that keeps the pot hot for 4 hours, now I steep my tea for about 2 hours.
(Preface: I embrace and support the “you do you” attitude I’ve found among Tea People. So I won’t say anything you’re enjoying is wrong even when I wouldn’t do it that way myself!)
Steeps are traditionally short to avoid extracting unwanted flavors that come out of the leaves more slowly. I suggest preparing two smaller pots steeped for different times and taste-test them side by side, to know what difference time makes and which you like better.
Before i started to use the automatic coffee maker to brew my tea I would brew it while cooking my dog’s breakfast. It got to brew 5-15 minutes usual and it always felt weak. I found myself using more and more tea bags to get enough flavor for me.