With temps from mid teen lows to low 30s highs for past several days I've been burning pretty much 'round the clock. Last night it was all loaded up for the overnight burn. I was letting it rage on in vertical burn for a while to get the new load lit. I decided to turn off all the lights and have a look for leaks.
Almost right away I noticed a significant one on the back. There is a piece that lies between the angled back of the stove and the oval connector to the flue. A clear line of "light" was visible along the bottom half of where this piece connects to the stove back. A very small gap also exists on the opposite side. I could not tell, because of the heat shield, if there is also a gap running along the back. Here is a picture. The area in question is within the thin white circle. The gap runs from the center screw down toward the back.
I assume that this is merely a case of needing some stove cement? The rest of the stove looks to be in good shape. It burns very well and I've never felt like it was overheating or burning too much wood when I have it closed up at night for the overnight burn. So, I have a couple of questions.
1) Is this gap, which is on the 'exhaust' side of the system inherently dangerous? I have a pretty good fire going right now. I struck a match and held it next to this gap and the flame was sucked into the gap, if that means anything to you. Obviously it's sucking air out of the room but I assume this goes right up the flue. Cooling of the flue with this room temperature air should be minimal. I wouldn't expect it to have much of an effect on the burning of the wood and production of heat. Am I wrong?
2) Repair: I have never had to seal gaps with stove cement before. Do I have to disassemble the parts to be recemented or can I use the regular caulking method of just forcing the cement into the gap?
By the way, though the stove could use a little dressing, it is not NEARLY as rusty looking as this pic makes it out to be. Blame most of that on the iPhone flash.
Thanks!
Almost right away I noticed a significant one on the back. There is a piece that lies between the angled back of the stove and the oval connector to the flue. A clear line of "light" was visible along the bottom half of where this piece connects to the stove back. A very small gap also exists on the opposite side. I could not tell, because of the heat shield, if there is also a gap running along the back. Here is a picture. The area in question is within the thin white circle. The gap runs from the center screw down toward the back.
I assume that this is merely a case of needing some stove cement? The rest of the stove looks to be in good shape. It burns very well and I've never felt like it was overheating or burning too much wood when I have it closed up at night for the overnight burn. So, I have a couple of questions.
1) Is this gap, which is on the 'exhaust' side of the system inherently dangerous? I have a pretty good fire going right now. I struck a match and held it next to this gap and the flame was sucked into the gap, if that means anything to you. Obviously it's sucking air out of the room but I assume this goes right up the flue. Cooling of the flue with this room temperature air should be minimal. I wouldn't expect it to have much of an effect on the burning of the wood and production of heat. Am I wrong?
2) Repair: I have never had to seal gaps with stove cement before. Do I have to disassemble the parts to be recemented or can I use the regular caulking method of just forcing the cement into the gap?
By the way, though the stove could use a little dressing, it is not NEARLY as rusty looking as this pic makes it out to be. Blame most of that on the iPhone flash.
Thanks!