Q&A smoke leak in Jotul 602

Question:

We have a new 602, which we love. When starting a fire with the door open, smoke comes out the left back edge from between the double wall it looks like. When we shut the door it stops. Is this normal?



Answer:

Very possible that it is normal. The chimney has not started up drafting yet and therefore cannot completely evacuate the smoke. Try just keeping the door cracked open for a few minutes when starting the fire. Once the flue warms up, this should not happen.

Another test...put a drop light in the stove when it is cold and turn the lights off in the room. You should not be able to see any cracks in the seams of the stove. If you do, place some furnace cement into the seams from the inside of the stove.