That was weird.

[BrianN]

Got up this morning to an 18 house. So, the wife asked me to start a fire.
I happily obliged
I got the wood stacked in the stove, put the lighter to it, and smoke started coming out the door. For a moment, I thought the bypass was closed, but, it was not.
Then, smoke started coming out of the flu right at the 90 (2 - 45's) going out the wall to the Tee.
I then thought that there may be an animal taking up residence in the chimney. So, I went to the Tee and looked up, nothing. All clean and clear.
Back in the house, in the stove, the fire had gone out, so, I took a chance and started it again. All went well this time, smoke went where it was supposed to go, fire is burning hot and house is getting warm.
Just another weird thing that happened to me this morning.
Oh, and the smoke that came out, didn't rise to the ceiling. In fact, it all sank to the floor, and hovered down there. I had about a foot of smoke billowing on the floor. Looked kind of cool, in a scary sort of way.

 

[chimneylinerjames]

Just seems like the flue needed warmed up. Probably wasn't that cold outside, so next time try lighting a piece op rolled up newspaper first to warm up the flue, get the draft going, then start your wood.

 

[BrianN]

It was about 6 out.
Makes sense. I will do that next time.

 

[chimneylinerjames]

Yeah, 6 isn't that cold for a wood stove. That was almost definitely your issue. You can even put a blow dryer up the chimney flue to warm it up and start the draft.

 

[begreen]

Good suggestions. Top down lighting of the fire helps get draft going in mild weather too.

 

[bag of hammers]

Good suggestions. Top down lighting of the fire helps get draft going in mild weather too.

Good tip - I'll have to try that - I had a similar experience a couple times in the past, and again this past weekend - definitely not a lot of smoke but it did start to creep out the door a bit when I lit it before it got sucked up the chimney). I'll try the top down next time (but I'm hoping it's too warm next weekend to even worry about heat....)

 

[WES999]

Need to establish draft,try a propane torch, direct the flame upwards to preheat the flue, then use it to light your fire starter, paper, kindling etc. Nothing better IMO.

 

[ScotO]

Mine did the same thing last night, and I expected it to. What I do is go outside to the clean-out, take off the cleanout stub, put a propane torch in the flue at the Tee, and hold it there for 20 seconds. Works like a charm. I've only ever had to do this a handful of times. Come to think of it, I've only started a cold stove in this house probably 20-30 times EVER. Once she is going, we keep it going except for extreme warm-ups outside.....

 

[bag of hammers]

I've only started a cold stove in this house probably 20-30 times EVER

Being a weekend burner (with a few weekdays tossed in) and with the long heating season, I do 30 - 40 cold starts every season.

In a few years on this stove, maybe 3 or 4 starts produced a bit of smoke, with the draft taking a minute to get moving. Conditions as described above, a bit milder, and/or the air is a bit "heavy" that day. It does kinda sit you back a bit, when the last 30 starts were non-issues, then 1 decides to be a bit stubborn.

 

[Holiday]

That happened to me once and then I realized I had the dryer going. Opened the window and it started drafting right away. It's a leaky house so I wasn't expecting it at all. I also use a propane torch for some quick heat and lighting.

 

[BrotherBart]

Top down forever! It was 68 in the house and 68 outside last night when I lit the stove as a sympathy fire for all of those still burning. And because the temp outside was falling fast at sundown. Top down heated the pipe fast as usual and draft kicked off in minutes.

Quick draft is the best part of top down and the next best thing is any smoke has to pass up through flame and burn.

 

[fossil]

Stop loading the stove with dry ice. Use firewood.

 

[etiger2007]

I had this happen before as well with my insert, I took my chunk of fire starter and put it on my shovel lit and held it towards the top of the insert on the inside once the draft pulled the flame towards the liner all was good.

 

[Jon1270]

Like Holiday suggested, I've found that cracking a nearby window open helps get things started when it's not that cold out.

 

[Jags]

Last night was the first time in 3 years that I had an issue. Some wadded up newspaper on top fixed that reverse draft. House was 62.

 

[Highbeam]

All vertical inside flue here and last night I lit the fire when it was 60 degrees outside and 60 degrees inside. No problems with backdrafting flue. I do believe that a good OAK feeding from below the house helps with this.

80 degrees inside before bed but the concrete floors, insulated from below, were still chilly. Stinks to take vacations away from home during the burn season.