smoke ain't supposed to come out here?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Black Jaque Janaviac

Feeling the Heat
Dec 17, 2009
451
Ouisconsin
The photo shows a wisp of smoke coming out of the blower duct on top of a VC Montpelier.

This only happens during a cold start. The door is wide open and there is little draft. The smoke goes away as soon as I close the door, or even if the door is open just a crack.

The smoke by itself is not a problem. Just gives a slight smoke odor in the room when lighting the stove, then once the draft is going I never see it again.

I'm just wondering if it is an indicator that the stove has an air leak that isn't supposed to be there. I can't quite fathom how the burn box would be connected to the blower "duct".
 

Attachments

  • DSC03161b.jpg
    DSC03161b.jpg
    47.6 KB · Views: 387
I have a similar problem sometimes where smoke comes out of the stove anywhere it can on startup. Usually insuffecient draft due to cold chimney, or even certain weather conditions (causing downward pressure) will cause that to happen. Trying to light wood that is too large (causing a lot of smoke) can excascerbate the problem. You can try to establish draft by lighting the top of a tightly rolled newspaper and holding it up the flue for a minute. That little bit of heat should be enough to warm the chimney and establish a draft.
 
Yes. It pretty much has always done this.

Like I said by itself it isn't a problem. I'm just curious if it could be an indicator of a problem.

Yes. I tried making a surround that is cut to the dimensions of the opening. I never liked the look of surrounds. However, one of these days I am going to re-install this. Only then I will chip out more of the old damper ledge so the insert can be pushed farther back. My original plans were to have the surround countersunk just a tad - if even just an inch.

This was my plan to help seal out heat-robbing draft. Also during my install I will put in a properly done block-off plate.
 
Looks like the smoke is creeping out right by the air intake control. If its anything like mine, if I don't have a draft the smoke will start coming out of the air inlet and then any other cracks like the door if left to smoke. To stop that I light a super cedar by itself, let that go for a couple minutes to get the draft started, then start adding wood. Haven't had any smoke into house since.
 
When I first start up my jotul and it has not got really hot smoke sometimes comes from the back when door is open, Jotul told me this is just small holes in the back panel to suck in air when secondary comes in and is normal, whe I shut the door the smoke is not there, when the fire is hot and I open the door there is no smoke, I only get a bit of smoke when stove is not up to temp.
 
Mine has done that a few times when I start from a cold stove. It just takes a little heat to get the draft going, so it's not a problem.
 
My VC Montpelier does the about the same thing under the same conditions. Only difference is the smoke on mine will come out of the top right vent, where your picture is of the top left. There must be some kind of air intake somewhere up there, maybe for the secondaries or air wash for the door. I have only seen this a few times, and like you it stops when the door is closed. I dunno, but after hearing that I'm not the only one with this issue, I am not worried about it.
 
That is just smoke taking the path of least resistance. As soon as your draft gets established it usually goes away. Heating the flue before starting the wood burning will usually take care of this problem.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.