Been doing a lot of burning 24/7 these days and here is what I notice on my new stove: Air intake full open gives no smoke but I can see some distorted air waves coming from the chimney; air intake half open gives the same results whether the stove has an established fire or after adding new wood to an established fire. Once I close the air intake below about 1/2 open I begin to notice small amounts of smoke. The smoke increases slightly as I close the intake further. When the air intake is fully closed (as far as allowed) I get some smoke even if the fire box is all red embers.
All of the wood is from a 55 year old ash which started dying about 10 years ago and finally stood all dead in my yard for about two years. The tree was felled, cut and split this spring. The approx. 4 cords of wood (1/3 rounds and 2/3 splits) have been stored on open racks 6" off a concrete patio under a 10' roof overhang. The wood gets lots of sun and wind with some rain. It appears to be adequetly seasoned for burning (striking two pieces together sounds like two baseball bats being struck).
Total length of chimney is 18.5' straight run from top of chimney to bottom of stove's fire box and it draws very well.
For two reasons I am concerned about the little smoke visible at the lowest intake setting: 1) environmental pollution; 2) creosote build-up in the chimney and at the chimney cap's screen. For physical reasons I am unable to get up on the roof to inspect the chimney cap but from the ground it appears discolored (black). However, I can see clear blue skies through the screen.
1) Does this amount of smoke seem normal? 2) Do you think the wood is not properly seasoned and could therefore be the cause of the apparent problem?
Should I sit and worry about this "problem" or should I sit and enjoy the warmth and glow of the new stove?
Best Wishes,
John_M
All of the wood is from a 55 year old ash which started dying about 10 years ago and finally stood all dead in my yard for about two years. The tree was felled, cut and split this spring. The approx. 4 cords of wood (1/3 rounds and 2/3 splits) have been stored on open racks 6" off a concrete patio under a 10' roof overhang. The wood gets lots of sun and wind with some rain. It appears to be adequetly seasoned for burning (striking two pieces together sounds like two baseball bats being struck).
Total length of chimney is 18.5' straight run from top of chimney to bottom of stove's fire box and it draws very well.
For two reasons I am concerned about the little smoke visible at the lowest intake setting: 1) environmental pollution; 2) creosote build-up in the chimney and at the chimney cap's screen. For physical reasons I am unable to get up on the roof to inspect the chimney cap but from the ground it appears discolored (black). However, I can see clear blue skies through the screen.
1) Does this amount of smoke seem normal? 2) Do you think the wood is not properly seasoned and could therefore be the cause of the apparent problem?
Should I sit and worry about this "problem" or should I sit and enjoy the warmth and glow of the new stove?
Best Wishes,
John_M
