Need help/advice - strong smell coming from 1 year old stove when running ~600 degrees

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joefrompa

Minister of Fire
Sep 7, 2010
810
SE PA
Hi all,

Last October my Lopi Republic 1750 insert was installed last October. It's in an all-brick hearth with a 6" stainless liner insulated in a wrap. The hearth sits in an external chimney. Around the 6" insulated liner is a bunch of roxul stuffed up into the broader chimney to help insulate/slow air movement outside of the liner.

I ran my stove all last year, with exception of a few weeks. The first week of running was accompanied by the usual "curing" smell and then it ran all season with no real smell.

This year, the first time it fired up (November) it had a light smell. No big deal.

Since then, I've run a fire almost everyday and usually running to 650-700 degrees at least once a day. It's not unusual to get a really hot run of 725-750 for 30-60 minutes once or twice a week either.

Recently, when running hot (600-700) I'm getting a very distinct chemical smell. It's not pleasant, but it doesn't force you from the room either. You can smell it coming from the stove through the air coming out from the blower - turning the blower up or down affects the potency of the smell.

Today, I ran it for hours at 400-500 with no smell. I then load it full of oak and get it cranking - 600-650 stove top.

BAM - the smell is the most powerful it's ever been. If I stay in the room, I feel a bit lightheaded from it. Carbon monoxide detector (LED read) isn't showing anything, so I'm not super concerned safety wise.

I have no idea what this could be. I'm burning oak, cherry, and pine and have a good strong draft. I had minor creosote build-up inside the stove from a week of crappier burning, but that' sit.

I'm going to try to get my sweep out here for a mid-winter sweep & inspection, but I'd welcome any advice in the meantime.

Thanks all,

Joe
 
Any dust under the stove..or around it that is getting hot?
You say no CO and the draft is great..no back puffing I guess.
Maybe when the strove gets extra hot a crack is opening up from the flue behind the stove and you're getting the smell..I dunno.
Is your screen on the flue cap open good...not just open?
Door shutting tight on the stove?
 
Sounds like time for some investigation. Have you pulled the surround to see if something has fallen on the stove top? Was the liner adapter resealed after fall cleaning?
 
Hi all,

There is dust/ash/light wood debris sitting nearby (i.e.ash lip) that got hot - this has never been a problem before nor created any smell like this.

This is a distinct chemical smell - it's a "high" smell as in it fades from notice quickly when in the room, isn't distinctly pungent, but IS present and unnatural smelling as soon as you walk into the room. Don't know how else to describe it.

I did no fall cleaning (and I have a bypass lever allowing cleaning from inside the stove), so the adapter has not been disconnected.

I simply peeled back the surround today and got about 1.5-2" of view with a strong flashlight. Nothing has fallen on top of the stove or around it, the adapter looks fine, etc....

I will say that I notice some water has obviously gotten down there to the top of the stove. There's some light rust, some black paint peel in a few spots, and obvious "water rings" where it had pooled and dried.

But, again, why would it be slowly starting and getting stronger and stronger?

Update: At 2:30pm, I stuffed the stove full of oak. Came back home about 9:15 - the stove was at 200 degrees and the smell smacked me in the face when I walked in. Pregnant wife here, not pleased.
 
If it were me, until you know what it was I'd keep the prego wife away. Mine never liked the smell of anything when she was pregnant. Sure its not something dead? Or maybe a pack rat packed some pills in your blower. Sounds to me like its time to take the whole thing apart and do a deep cleaning of blowers etc.
 
Investigate the source of the leak and the sealant used on the cap. Just a guess, but I am wondering if someone used roofing tar up there.
 
We can sit around guessing while the wife is not happy or you can open it up and make her happy.

Matt
 
BeGreen - Stove, liner, cap have not been touched all year. Been burning almost non-stop for 2.5 months - this just started occuring. No signs of anything sitting on the stove top, I looked through all the blower channels/outlets and they are all clear. Next step is to take apart the blower itself but looking into it it remains sealed all around and appears dusty but clean.

Next step for me is getting a professional in to inspect....
 
Posting multiple pictures of the setup might generate more brainstorming and suggestions. Trying to visualize a stove setup no one has actually seen (except you) and generate ideas of what the smell is and where it's coming from is unlikely without seeing what you're working with.
 
joefrompa said:
BeGreen - Stove, liner, cap have not been touched all year. Been burning almost non-stop for 2.5 months - this just started occuring. No signs of anything sitting on the stove top, I looked through all the blower channels/outlets and they are all clear. Next step is to take apart the blower itself but looking into it it remains sealed all around and appears dusty but clean.

Next step for me is getting a professional in to inspect....

I'm just process thinking and wonder what the source of the leakage on the stove top is.
 
so this is crazy-longshot curious, but my chimney cap gets some creosote build-up on it (naturally). If I had, literally, liquid creosote/water-carrying creosote dripping down onto my stovetop, and that's hitting 600 degrees, would that SMELL while not burning?
 
Yes, it would smell both cold and when the stove heated up. There should be nothing dripping on the stove top. There is a cap leak for some reason. Post some pics of the topside so we can see how it was done.
 
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