US STOVE 2015 MAGNOLIA, sets off fire alarm, help please!

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arty2

New Member
Sep 30, 2010
7
parker County, Texas
I had my first wood-burn stove fire last night, but it set off the carbon monoxide detector and the two smoke/fire detectors.

STOVE AND CHIMNEY SPECS: This is a recent install and I attached pics. The bottom of the stove has two air openings, one can be opened and partially closed, but the other air opening cannot be controlled. There is an opening for the ash plug too. The stove pipe, beginning at the stove, is a single-wall pipe that goes up about 1’, then it has a 90 degree attached to a 24” section (where the Selkirk Class A chimney begins) that goes through the wall and into the T (aka clean out), then the Selkirk Class A chimney (6”) then goes up through the attic about 14’ which includes the T.

Last night I started the first fire, and I have to say I was a bit apprehensive since this was my install and my first wood stove fire in my house. Anyway, I started the fire small as directed by the owner’s manual (good draft). After five hours (and the paint cured) of a small fire, I added three good pieces of seasoned wood (red oak). The temperature shot up to about 450 degrees, all well, but then the Carbon Monoxide (CM) detector sounded and I had to shut the CM detector off, I opened a window to be safe. Later I added more wood, but this time I added three pieces of cedar-elm wood to mix. About thirty minutes later, the two hard-wired smoke/fire detectors sounded and I had to disconnect them. I could not see a lot of smoke only a very slight haze. When this happened I could not see smoke emanating for the stove or the chimney either. Oh, when I reloaded, I opened the door very slow and not much smoke escaped, the air wash system was working well, I guess it is the air opening that can’t be closed that does that.

Either I need to install a double-wall pipe all the way through, the cedar elm is too smoky to burn, or I have a leak in the stove (the door latch seems to be hard to shut properly). How can I figure out what I did wrong and fix it?

Any thoughts are appreciated, thanks in advance.

I hope I used the correct terms and provided enough information.
 

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I'm no expert, but it seems that your door should latch easily...perhaps the manual has some instructions for adjustment? With a cool stove, close and latch the door on a dollar bill(with enough of the bill sticking out that you can grab it and pull it out from behind the door). The bill should give some resistance when you remove it. Try this all the way around the door, if it is easy to remove anywhere, you may need to adjust the door or work on the gaskets. Hope this helps.
 
The paint cures at different temps. Maybe reaching those higher temps it cured a little more. Be safe about it until you get a rock solid answer/fix.
 
This could be the paint curing and baking in. If so it will stop within the next couple fires. Open windows and use a fan if necessary to exhaust the fumes. If it doesn't clear up then, let us know.
 
After repainting my stove, the initial 2-3 fires set off the alarms too. Maybe keep a window cracked for the next fire, and crank up the temp to 500-600.
You'll likely smell the fumes for the next few fires, but it will subside once the paint cures completely.
I like the step top look.
 
I have the same stove no alarms went off when i first started burning. Could be just paint fumes curing and the door latch should close easy.
 
As others have said . . . as your stove reaches higher temps there will be some curing paint and some of the manufacturing oils will be burning off . . . which can easily set off CO and smoke detectors. Best bet . . . open the windows and use fans. If the problem persists then seek additional help.

P.S. The air wash system in a stove does not keep smoke from entering the room . . . a properly drafting chimney should take care of this issue. The air wash system uses directed air to keep the smoke from obscuring the "glass" window in the stove while there is a fire . . . when using properly seasoned wood, running the stove hot enough and maintaining a good air control the air wash system will keep the glass clean.
 
Thanks, I will light a couple more fires soon and open the windows if necessary. I will also try the dollar bill, I did remove the door when I transported the stove at purchase so maybe...

During the design phase, I thought that I may have some draft issues with the T and the 90 degree (pic provided). Somebody, on this forum, responded to my initial post that there should not be any draft issues. Sure enough during my first burn, I was amassed to see the smoke blowing down from the air wash system when I opened the door (no fans blowing anywhere). Yesterday, after reading a prior post on this forum, I recalled that I was provided a gasket/seal (a thin small one, about 11" in length) from US Stove, but the manual makes no mention of where it goes. I thought it was an extra, but not sure. I will call US Stove today and ask, they have promptly answered all my questions pre-purchase.

Thanks again, I may have never installed my wood-burning stove without the luxury of all the information on this forum.
 

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