Ashford 30.1 smoke smell
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Preliminary report:
6 hours into burning a fully loaded chamber. The wood has traversed most of it's burning phases. No smoke/ bacon smell. Yea! In the past it would collect near the ceiling and become a lot stronger, so I got on a chair and checked. No smoke. So far so good. Very faint smell if I hang my nose over the hinge area, but the stove might just be vaporizing leakage of the past. I am very pleased. Again, no smoke anywhere in the house so like somebody else said it is a non-event. After a few days of observation, I will give this a final blessing and pronounce this as being "the fix". I have to disprove my other theory of creosote wicking laterally through the gasket and vaporizing. As far as I am concerned if you have the smoke smell problem, replace the gasket using a continuous bead of high temp RTV. It is not hard or expensive to do. So far it is working very well for me and others before me too.
6 hours into burning a fully loaded chamber. The wood has traversed most of it's burning phases. No smoke/ bacon smell. Yea! In the past it would collect near the ceiling and become a lot stronger, so I got on a chair and checked. No smoke. So far so good. Very faint smell if I hang my nose over the hinge area, but the stove might just be vaporizing leakage of the past. I am very pleased. Again, no smoke anywhere in the house so like somebody else said it is a non-event. After a few days of observation, I will give this a final blessing and pronounce this as being "the fix". I have to disprove my other theory of creosote wicking laterally through the gasket and vaporizing. As far as I am concerned if you have the smoke smell problem, replace the gasket using a continuous bead of high temp RTV. It is not hard or expensive to do. So far it is working very well for me and others before me too.
blueguy
Feeling the Heat
0600, 01-08-2016. Overnight slow burn (flue 250, stove top 220, cat 10:00) No smoke smell in the house at all. Zero.
Calentarse
Feeling the Heat
Very happy to hear! Wondering if that's all I needed
I should have just tried the gasket done by a professional first
Calentarse
Feeling the Heat
Do you get any smoke spillage on hot reloads? And remind me, what's your chimney makeup and height?
Heatsource
Minister of Fire
Chimney makeup: 5' double wall from stove to ceiling then 13' of 8" Metalbestos to the cap. 18' total. No bends. I don't think two 45s will have any significant effect on draft as long as they are not too close to the stove collar. 90s and horizontal runs will. No smoke spillage.
blueguy
Feeling the Heat
The general consensus I have found in all my research is that each 45* = roughly a 1' to 1.5' reduction in effective chimney height. That being said, it is a pretty minimal effect as long as he chimney is already tall enough.
Dieselhead
Minister of Fire
Just curious if you ever used a IR gun to see how hot the face of your door gets. I did mine onetime and it was past the max of 650 degrees on high burn. I think it would eat up that silicone.
Used red RTV on mine two or three seasons back and it's holding the gasket just fine.
Woody Stover
Minister of Fire
The copper RTV at the auto parts store is recommended for auto exhaust systems and is rated 800 intermittent. Or I've seen other silicone rated for 1100. I like to put the door on after placing the gasket so it hardens while conforming to where it has to be. Like begreen said, put a barrier between the gasket and stove body. Waxed paper, etc. I don't put the cement in real thick, maybe 1/4" bead, and haven't been using a barrier. Haven't had much ooze out.
I just had a very long discussion with BKVP. First let me say, he is a very very knowledgeable about every aspect of BK stoves. As it turns out almost all of the stoves that have the "smoke smell" problems have something going on with their chimney system. After replacing my loading door gasket, almost all of the smell problem has vanished. I can easily live with this stove the way it is. Often times I get no smoke smell but at sometimes I do. Let me quantify the problem: my wife remarked we have less odor than with the old stove (would rather not name it as it should not have been put in this house). My chimney, being composed mainly of 8" Metalbestos, is almost high enough. Chris is in the process of investigating an exceptionally dense gasket. The concern is the gasket might be so dense that the door will not shut. He will get back with me in about 2-3 weeks as he will be on the road. Two possible fixes exist for me: 1. Regasketing. 2. Place a 6" stainless steel pipe within my 8" as the 8" is over cooling the stack gasses.
Once again, the gasket replacement with a continuous 3/8" bead of RTV is well worth doing but if you can wait, more gasket information is forthcoming.
I might not post for a while but if I get any information I will.
Blaze King is absolutely concerned with the end user of their products. This is a very rare thing these days. I am truly pleased.
Once again, the gasket replacement with a continuous 3/8" bead of RTV is well worth doing but if you can wait, more gasket information is forthcoming.
I might not post for a while but if I get any information I will.
Blaze King is absolutely concerned with the end user of their products. This is a very rare thing these days. I am truly pleased.
Highbeam
Minister of Fire
I'm working on a princess and am ordering the BK OEM gasket now. On the 3/8" bead of RTV, did you get a feeling that ultra black RTV is acceptable vs. the slightly higher temp rated red or copper? 3/8" bead is a lot. Did you get it done with one toothpaste tube or was a caulking tube required or a second toothpaste tube?
I also spoke with BKVP about these ashfords and most of the problem stoves have been resolved.
I still think the door gasket is weak, as you found, but that a strong enough draft can overcome it. The stronger draft has additional benefits with regards to turn down rates and smoke rollout so getting a proper chimney is a higher priority than a super door seal.
My vendor, A-1 Stoves in Grass Valley, Ca. used red hi-temp RTV from a caulk tube. Sorry, I don't know the brand but if it is rated 600F (like his), it should work. I don't know about the copper. If it actually has copper in it this might possibly be bad for the cat. I don't think color matters as long as it takes the heat. Yes, the 3/8 bead is kind of thick but it worked for me and others too. As for the stove operation I can run the stove top (thermometer just forward of the cat thermometer) at 225F and keep the cat lit at 9:00. That is barely running at all as the sides and stove top edges are only warm to the touch. Keeping a continuous burn, I get no spillage at reload. From this, I think my chimney system is, at least, close to being what it should be.
From Chris, many of these stoves with "smoke smell" are actually on the verge of being smell free with just a little more draw. A few feet might do. I would also check for flue joint leaks as the admission of a very small amount of air can easily spoil the draw. I suspect a gasket change-out might resolve an issue if your stove is just on the edge or, like me, make the situation very livable. This can make adding a few more feet of flue next year a reasonable thing.
I have been burning since '71 and with the Ashford for 28 days and am extremely pleased with her operation. Best stove ever. New burners won't know how good they have it. My old Franklin had a pension for glowing red and turning the key damper just meant the smoke was going into the house instead of up the flue. I even installed a 1/4HP exhaust fan (back in '73) in the ceiling. Just don't forget to open the front door first or it suck the flames right out of the fire box. Most people that visit see it and say oh-how nice a whole house fan for the summer. Never get a smoke spill with the BK.
Even if I don't do another thing the Ashford is here to stay. Just trying to perfect things.
From Chris, many of these stoves with "smoke smell" are actually on the verge of being smell free with just a little more draw. A few feet might do. I would also check for flue joint leaks as the admission of a very small amount of air can easily spoil the draw. I suspect a gasket change-out might resolve an issue if your stove is just on the edge or, like me, make the situation very livable. This can make adding a few more feet of flue next year a reasonable thing.
I have been burning since '71 and with the Ashford for 28 days and am extremely pleased with her operation. Best stove ever. New burners won't know how good they have it. My old Franklin had a pension for glowing red and turning the key damper just meant the smoke was going into the house instead of up the flue. I even installed a 1/4HP exhaust fan (back in '73) in the ceiling. Just don't forget to open the front door first or it suck the flames right out of the fire box. Most people that visit see it and say oh-how nice a whole house fan for the summer. Never get a smoke spill with the BK.
Even if I don't do another thing the Ashford is here to stay. Just trying to perfect things.
Woody Stover
Minister of Fire
Any update from anyone? Wife says it smells like a camp fire when she walks into stove room. I'm hoping something gets figured out.
Not yet. Waiting on materials. BKVP said they ordered some 7/8 gasket and would send me the gasket and the proper adhesive.
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