High winds -

Last night was warm, rainy, and mostly WINDY! We had gusts of 81mph logged at a station nearby. That wind did some damage around but luckily the only 'damage' to my place was that the tarp on my wood pile for this winter blew off one corner and pulled up one side.

Anyway - stove wasn't burning but at 3am when I was woken up by the wind shaking the house (felt worse than the last time we had a tropical storm come through) the stove was whistling due to all the wind pulling and pushing through the chimney. I am not sure if it was pushing down or not, but it seems possible.

My question is - had I been burning at the time might it have been an issue? Is burning in such high winds likely to cause downdrafts powerful enough to push smoke into the house?

When I had the old dutchwest stove, when the wind would blow right it would blow smoke back down the chimney and it would come out of every nook and cranny it could find on the stove. Since installing the liberty I have had no downdrafts. To answer your question, yes it is very possible for the wind to blow the smoke back down the flue and into the house

I burned through Sandy's 80mph and last night's 45 mph gusts. Never smelled smoke in the house.

I look at Bogydave and Nate up in Alaska and they get those winds pretty regularly. Seems they don't have a big problem. I don't think we've burned with winds greater than 55 mph, thank God! Usually we don't get super strong wind in the winter here.

Wind can cause increased draft or decreased draft, or worst, down draft. It just depends on your setup. There are lots of variables. When the wind blows here, both mine draft harder.

I have found over the years, whether in the mountains Maine or back at home in Westport, MA, you learn to adjust your air and your damper depending on conditons. For each hourse and each condition, different methods are needed. That is why I always say know your stove.

I had that sometimes loud whistle sound in mine yesterday with no fire (40-50 mph gusts) pretty loud at times with the air closed (air sucking through the back of stove damper) I held the door cracked open last night for while to see if there was any back draft before starting a fire (never felt it puff any air out just pulling the door closed from cracked a little) Same gusts last night and today- fire flairs up sometimes a little with the strong gusts but no back puffs. I don't know if 80 mph gusts changes the ball game or not. I'd say if you have burnt in lower gusts with no problems, higher ones might just make her burn a little hotter, as long as the wind is out of the same direction as before. That stove is sealed pretty darn tight and the air inlet has to zig zag up through it with the bypass closed so with a warm stove and chimney it would seem harder to have happen. I would say your wind direction with past experience with gusts would be your best answer on being OK.

Todd2

It was warm last night but if you need to fire up, that's a no brainer. Just do it. I've experienced the high winds like most. You adjust your stove accordingly to which ever works for you.

My chimneys draft so well I get that whistle in the stove all the time even when its dead calm. Both dampers are full closed all the time also.

Tonight is the first night I have burned since last Sunday, needed a break and it was warm. It is windy today, we shale see how it goes.

Hi Topoftheriver, These are new stoves for both of us, alot different from my old one, just trying to gather some good advice before smoking the house out. Welcome to the site by the way.

Todd2

Thanks, Todd 2. For the record, I'm Charlie. I've been burning over 40 years. Each time can bring on a new challenge given todays environment and weather conditions. When you think you have it all figured out, you don't. Just trying something different. Thanks for the come back. Trying to make my contribution to the combined effort.

I get winds like that daily in the wintertime round here. dont much worry bout it cuz we gotta keep warm.

With my setup the wind makes the draft stronger.

I'll never get that four minutes back, lol

Hay Butcher, Gotta ask how them there goat burgers taste

I used to live in Champaign. Used to shop at the outlets in Tuscola

Funny, it is a small world. Ever back down this way, look me up.

Usually high winds cause a mega draft for us. Small loads damped down is the only way we can run over 30/40 mph. Even now in the 20's it drafting pretty well, but it also depends on the wind direction. I can actually tell when a gust comes through from the right direction, it'll suck the flames right up for a short bit.

Was just there last May. Drove to Kentucky and went right through there. Stopped off at the Nike store and got some running shoes cheap!

I burned very low through the wind. Did not engage the cat, had the draft at about point 5. Just enough to keep the FV warm. I had no back drafting untl this afternoon when I opened the stove to stoke at the wrong time...

My neighbor has a woodstock with a cat. I have a Jotul oslo 500 with burning tubes. I don't notice much difference between the two during high winds except that when he engages the cat, the surface temperature rises 20-25%. However, if I open more air, the burning tubes raise the surface temp considerably. The ironic part is I have always had a lot less creosote when cleaning. Back to the wind, we have high winds near the ocean. I haven't noticed anything significant. My chimney cap is 35' above the height of the first floor so I'd say it is almost 40' and the wind has generally helped the draft. I do admit that even when limiting air, when needed, I have had to also close the stove pipe damper a bit sometimes. The balance helps.

i was born in Decatur, grew up in Clinton til we moved to Ohio in 1986.... small world indeed

High wind causes mine to draft like mad and burns up my wood.

It is indeed. You ever make it back here, look me up. I am not hard to find, just ask for the fire chief.