ST. Croix Problem (Smoky smell)

Could smoke bomb it and see if you have a cracked heat exchanger. Anything change structurally outside the house that could be redirecting wind patterns?

Chris,

Franks is suggesting you buy some smoke bombs and set one off inside the firebox on your stove. They generate enough smoke to allow you to locate leaks in the exhaust system and the heat exchanger.

ETA: Have you added anything in the house that moves a lot of air? This includes a clothes dryer or a replacement clothes dryer.

Csst said:

No i havent added anything at all.. where can I order some smoke bombs? Also I have noticed if I put the heat higher like setting 4 or 5 the smell goes away I drop it to 2 it comes back?

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Please tell us the stove make and model. Where the stove is in the house and every single piece in the venting?

Has your house settled (this could possibly break the seal around the vent on the outside of your house)?

When was the last time you pulled and cleaned the combustion blower?

How many bags of pellets have you burned since you last cleaned the combustion blower?

ETA: I've never had a need for smoke bombs but there are a number of places that sell them online. The usual culprits are all on the pressurized portion of the venting, most of this is on the vent side of the combustion blower. However if the blower is running slow it is possible other things in the house are causing the issue and pulling smoke out of the firebox via any exchanger scraper rod, or through the hopper if not closed and sealed, or through the air wash, and even through where the shaft on the combustion blower is. I've seen seals broken around the venting on the outside also result in this happening. If you are using an OAK and things aren't quite right what was outside can be sucked back inside and if the OAK line isn't sealed exit there.

Csst said:

I want to take a sec to thank all you guy for helping me out!!

Also i have a St Croix its a Prescott EXL it about 1 1/2 years old im very picky with my stove i clean my stove out almost everyday i only use Green team pellets so far nothing else. also i went threw 2 tons of pellets last season and i bought 3 tons this year i have about 15 bags left. out of the 3 tons. I used one of those snake brushes to really clean out the venting really really well and also cleaned the inside and also used the leaf blower to blow it all out (leaf blower did a great job BTW) i can honestly say i haven't cleaned the combustion blower(not even quite sure where that is)lol

Here the good news i know you guys here know your stuff so i made a video and i found the problem but not sure what casing it please check out the video below and tell me what you think the problem could be?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtcAqE_OP6E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thanks
Chris

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You did a good job capturing the problem on video. Looks like an easy fix. I would put metal tape around the connection between the pipe and stove flange end or hi-temp chalk. If there is still smoke after that then the problem is coming from where the flange bolts onto the back of the stove. I have a setup similar to yours and even with chalk on the joints had a smoke smell problem early on...I taped all the joints and don't have that problem anymore.

It's leaking at the stove adapter. That must be sealed with High Temp RTV (anything 500° or greater).
You will need to remove the screws in the adapter, pull stove away from pipe a little, the generously apply the RTV to the exhaust collar on the stove, then push stove back and reinsert on to collar.

Easy Peasy. Thats a very common area for leaks. Either overlooked or not enough goop was applied.

Home depot, Lowes, heating section RTV high temp silcone or high heat alum, tape....

Yes. The screws in the very last piece before the stove. Then apply High Temp Silicone to the collar and maybe some on the inside of the adapter.

There are actually 4 nuts on threaded studs right behind that you need to check also. Remove all 4 and separate the 2 pieces, there may be gasket materials there so scrape it off and apply RTV sealant and reassemble. Then reattach the appliance adapter with a liberal amount of RTV and screw vent pipe back on.

Any silicone sealant that can stand continuous 500°F will do.

I prefer the Rutland line but that is just me.

The metal tape is a 3m product and is a flue tape http://www.amazon.com/3M-2113NA-Hig...Z4DS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331388095&sr=8-1 not duct tape.

Looks like the adapter likely has no sealant on it.

i also had the same problem, what ifound is that were the pipe goes threw the wall thumble the seal broke and the smoke was coming in from there. i got some exhause sealesfrom the auto parts store its rated for 700 deg.sofat my problem is solved.

I would simply place silcone around the app. adapter where it connects to the stove and smooth it all the way around with a wet finger. don't be shywith it apply plenty, when dry cover with alum tape. When restarting stove watch for any smoke leakage
.

Csst said:

Thank you I will try that I think I'll take a ride to the auto parts store to see if they have any high temperature foil tape that has a high rating the one at home depot has a rating of 220 I don't think thats high enough rating?

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That home depot one isn't even in the ball park.

I honestly think you will have to separate the pipe from the stove. Start from scratch.

They sell pliers that go on Oil filters. This works well for twisting off the pipe from the collar. Remember it has Silicone on it now. So its gonna be tough.

Do that and seal the joint from the stove adapter to the first piece of vent (and any other internal joint).

Open up the side of that stove and see if you have a leak on the other side of your goop and taping closer to the combustion blower.