Techniques to measure draft

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Sully

Sully

Feeling the Heat
Oct 28, 2013
408
Delaware
I searched for this and could not really find anything. If this is all ready been a big topic delete post. Lol.
What are the signs of a good draft ? Low draft , and high draft. Aside from burn time which has many factors, what are the best signs while fire is active.
 
Also I remember installer doing something with a match, what was he looking for.

Are there tricks aside from meters to checking draft conditions that some of you experienced burners use to check draft with no fire in box
 
Long, tall flues will generally have good drafts. I have a 26' flue run and have always had a good draft, lately too good. The shorter flues will usually have weaker drafts and may need help with firestarting.
The match your installer was using could have been to check for air leaks around any gaskets on your stove.

edit: I also added a flue damper because my draft was so good. My burn times suffered because the draft was so strong. I'm in better control now, feels good
 
With a match or lit newspaper pointed towards the flue, if the flame is wafting or getting sucked towards the pipe it is a sign of good start up draft. If the flame points down, that means you have a flue reversal. If there is no change marginal to no draft.

With good dry wood, a smokey and hard to start fire is a sign of poor draft. If the door is opened smoke escapes.

Good draft, the fire takes right off and when opening the door minimal to no smoke rolls out.

I have a manometer mounted on my chimney with a steel probe to measure draft. It comes in handy to see how hard my tall stack is pulling in high winds with low temps. I have seen measurements as high as .25" of mercury. .06-.08" is a normal reading. The damper and making sure all gaskets and air control are tight gets by just fine. I also found to save the largest splits and rounds for high draft days helps keep things in check too.

Hope this helps.
 
jdonna said:
With a match or lit newspaper pointed towards the flue, if the flame is wafting or getting sucked towards the pipe it is a sign of good start up draft. If the flame points down, that means you have a flue reversal. If there is no change marginal to no draft.

With good dry wood, a smokey and hard to start fire is a sign of poor draft. If the door is opened smoke escapes.

Good draft, the fire takes right off and when opening the door minimal to no smoke rolls out.

I have a manometer mounted on my chimney with a steel probe to measure draft. It comes in handy to see how hard my tall stack is pulling in high winds with low temps. I have seen measurements as high as .25" of mercury. .06-.08" is a normal reading. The damper and making sure all gaskets and air control are tight gets by just fine. I also found to save the largest splits and rounds for high draft days helps keep things in check too.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
That's actually a pretty awesome answer. Thanks.
 
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