Smoke While Starting a Cold Insert

Pre-heat the flu. Propane torch, hair dryer, couple balls of loosely crumpled news paper are a few of the many oft used methods.

I burn a sheet of newspaper if needed. I don't crumple it at all, just whatever it takes to get it in the door. That way it burns hot and fast, and starts the draft going the right way. You could also use a hair dryer/heat gun or propane torch pointed in the direction of the flue. I've heard of people sticking a small electric space heater in it for a few minutes.

Warming the chimney liner is key. You can light some newspaper, to get it started, but I have always had an issue with paper, as it tends to make lots of flakes that are hard to control.
I find that if my wood is dry, as is at least a year cut, split and stacked, I have less issues. A good firestarter such as SuperCedars works well, as well as a top-down fire.
When my wood was less than ideal, I found that top-down fires, meaning the kindling was on top, the big splits on the bottom, worked great for getting that draft going. My house is a single story, so my chimney tends to backpuff when it is either cold started, or under certain meteorological conditions, so I understand.
Try a top down fire and see if that helps. Also, make sure your door is barely cracked open, that will convey the air inside. I cannot say enough good things about SuperCedars, I have tried every imaginable fire starter, and these things are well worth the money. In the long run, they are relatively cheap, as you can cut them up in quarters or more. If you sign up for a free sample (the link is on this site), they will send it out promptly, and let you know when they are running a special.
Good luck!

I've been using a propane torch for a few years now...works great to get the draft going before lighting the fire.

If you do not own one, I would suggest this model.

All those bricks that are around the liner are now cold making the liner cold which will reverse the draft, as already mentioned I have heard good things about doing a top down fire with a super cedar on top to help start the draft, close your door first

HummerBeachBuggy1982 said:

Every single time I start my fireplace insert after letting it sit for a week or so due to warm weather, smoke fills the room for about 5 minutes then the draft picks up and sends it up the chimney. I have a regency R14 with a full liner and never had draft issues while its running. Actually it runs great and once there is a fire going in it the draft is very strong when opening the door to reload and never have any type of smoke come back in. Is there anything I can do upon a cold start up to prevent this from happening? Thanks!

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As some have said a torch or heat gun to warm up the firebox would help. However I tried the torch idea last year. I really did not find it effective unless I spent a long time heating the firebox. This year I am going to get a heat gun with a high volume output. Bosh makes a contractor grade model that is really expensive but it has a 28cfm output as compared to 14-16cfm from most other makers. I feel the volume of the heated air is paramount.
In my case when it is cold out and I open the door on my insert I get a powerful rush of cold air that must be reversed. Without preheating the firebox it is nearly impossible to get the draft moving without the above aids. I would like to hear recomendations on quality strong heat guns. The Bosh is very expensive but well worth it if I can achieve the desired results.

@seabert-
I would try a small just kindling fire to get the draft going. Crack a near by window and see if that works first. Sometimes houses are just too tight to get a draft started on a cold start.

Sconnie Burner said:

@seabert-
I would try a small just kindling fire to get the draft going. Crack a near by window and see if that works first. Sometimes houses are just too tight to get a draft started on a cold start.

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The problem with the powerful downdraft makes it pretty much impossible to use a kindling or newspaper or firestarter because the cold air ruch is just too much. I always have to preheat the firebox so this is why I have used the torch last year and just picked up a HF heat gun(on sale for $9.97!) to see if that is better than the torch. If it does the job and I need a better quality unit I will get the Bosch. All I need is just enough to stop the downdraft and I can easily light a good fire

I always just move one of the baffles, on top of the other one, light a piece of news paper on fire, and stick it up the flue. It literally takes 2-3 seconds to reverse the draft, then I rio the newspaper, replace the baffle, and load the stove for start up.

I had the same problem ,Got help from these guys on this forum. This what I do now with my insert.
TOP DOWN FIRE! Do a crisscross pattern for each row of wood
Bottom layer: A row of bigger size logs
next layer: medium size logs
next layer: smaller size wood
next layer : smaller size wood
Top layer : really small stuff
Very top layer : balls of news paper
Open your damper to fully open
Now crack open a nearby window about a inch
light the news paper , and close the insert door but don't latch it, just ajar a 1/4 inch and let it take off for a few minutes . don't leave it unattended!Thats what works for me . Good luck its worth a shot.

Howdy!

Just suggestions: if you have a downdraft, there's a negative pressure. Sometimes opening a window will help and reverse the effect. I leave a window open (locked) 1 inch beside the stove for 30 minutes before lighting (should I have a negative pressure). If the stack was INSIDE the house you'd likely not have any issues as the warm temps of the house would help the draft immensely.

Sometimes my downdraft is not reversible with a dryer/torch. I simply open a window and come back 45 minutes later and it is normally fixed.

A smoky rooms sucks but happens to us all. Let us know how you make out!

Andrew