I have a Dutch West 3000 wood stove. I'm relatively happy with it's performance, but it's design causes some issues. This particular stove has one door only, it's in the front and is mostly glass. Like many modern design stoves, this one is designed to burn gasses by adding oxygen via perforated tubes that are placed at the top of the chamber. This in fact seems to work as I can adjust the stove such that I see only flames spooking above the wood, but this only happens if the stove is hot enough.
My problem is that the exhausts vent for the combustion chamber is a slot right behind the front opening door. Opening the door at any time when there is even a hint of fire or smoke means smoke inside the house. It simply does not allow opening the door at any time when there is a hot fire or any type of fire without smoking us out.
I've dealt with this by making sure all was ready for a long burn and then lighting it and letting it ignite and generate heat before closing the stove door to allow it to run on the air bled in by the adjustable vent. When I say closing the door what I mean is that in order to get the fire going, the door has to be cracked a bit. It is not wide open. The stove really needs to be cooking before the door can be shut. Too soon, and the fire immediately snuffs out. But let it heat up to about 250F or 300F and you can close the door and run it on the vent.
The problem that I'm faced with occurs when I have hot coals and want to add more wood. I have to have my supply of wood piled right next to the stove and be ready to pile it on with great haste or we are gassed out when the fresh wood is laid on the coals. The amount of smoke and smell can be significant, if I am not quick to load the wood and close the door.
I'm wondering if there is some kind of squirrel cage blower that can be added to the exhaust tubing that might enhance the draft so that I could open the door during those coals, but no flame moments without needing gas masks for my wife and I and our dog.
Additional details, the flue is a metal lined 5" type installed a year ago. I wanted 6", but the mortar in the chimney prevented such installation so 5" it is and no modifications possible unless I knock down the chimney and do it all over again.
The stove otherwise produces lots of heat and stays warm for a long time. I've noticed that I can adjust it to the point where it snuffs out, then spontaneously ignites with over pressure that piffs out of the intake vent and stinks us out. Just one of those things that happens when you burn wood in an airtight stove I guess.
Thanks, Corky Scott
My problem is that the exhausts vent for the combustion chamber is a slot right behind the front opening door. Opening the door at any time when there is even a hint of fire or smoke means smoke inside the house. It simply does not allow opening the door at any time when there is a hot fire or any type of fire without smoking us out.
I've dealt with this by making sure all was ready for a long burn and then lighting it and letting it ignite and generate heat before closing the stove door to allow it to run on the air bled in by the adjustable vent. When I say closing the door what I mean is that in order to get the fire going, the door has to be cracked a bit. It is not wide open. The stove really needs to be cooking before the door can be shut. Too soon, and the fire immediately snuffs out. But let it heat up to about 250F or 300F and you can close the door and run it on the vent.
The problem that I'm faced with occurs when I have hot coals and want to add more wood. I have to have my supply of wood piled right next to the stove and be ready to pile it on with great haste or we are gassed out when the fresh wood is laid on the coals. The amount of smoke and smell can be significant, if I am not quick to load the wood and close the door.
I'm wondering if there is some kind of squirrel cage blower that can be added to the exhaust tubing that might enhance the draft so that I could open the door during those coals, but no flame moments without needing gas masks for my wife and I and our dog.
Additional details, the flue is a metal lined 5" type installed a year ago. I wanted 6", but the mortar in the chimney prevented such installation so 5" it is and no modifications possible unless I knock down the chimney and do it all over again.
The stove otherwise produces lots of heat and stays warm for a long time. I've noticed that I can adjust it to the point where it snuffs out, then spontaneously ignites with over pressure that piffs out of the intake vent and stinks us out. Just one of those things that happens when you burn wood in an airtight stove I guess.
Thanks, Corky Scott