Tonight we had an "incident".
Whitfield Advantage 2, freestanding, installed with horizontal direct vent thru brickwall. Husband installed this himself, replaced door gasket...it's been running fine nearly 24/7 since early December. Maintained by husband who has cared for our other pellet stove for last 14 yrs.
Hopper empty, auger is shut off, stove shuts down and begins to cool off. A few minutes later, husband notices smoke smell, goes round the corner to find smoke in the room. Smouldering pellets in burn pot, no exhaust fan, so smoke has no where to go 'cept out the front and has begun to fill the room.
DH turns on exhaust fan to clear smoke in the stove.
No damage, stove cools and is cleaned, refilled and relit. Burning fine now (residual smoke smell).
This is #2 pellet stove, other is a Whitfield insert (about 14 yrs old) in a cathedral ceiling living room. The freestanding stove heats the other half of the house (and typically keeps that part of the house very toasty )...incl kids bedrooms, large playroom, bathroom.
Smoke alarm , carbon monoxide detectors did not go off.
He has gone to bed, confident that all is well. Me? I'm worrying.
How can we prevent this from happening again? If we add a rise to the outside vent, would that help?
Never thought twice about leaving the house with both stoves going....
Thanks!!
Kara
Whitfield Advantage 2, freestanding, installed with horizontal direct vent thru brickwall. Husband installed this himself, replaced door gasket...it's been running fine nearly 24/7 since early December. Maintained by husband who has cared for our other pellet stove for last 14 yrs.
Hopper empty, auger is shut off, stove shuts down and begins to cool off. A few minutes later, husband notices smoke smell, goes round the corner to find smoke in the room. Smouldering pellets in burn pot, no exhaust fan, so smoke has no where to go 'cept out the front and has begun to fill the room.
DH turns on exhaust fan to clear smoke in the stove.
No damage, stove cools and is cleaned, refilled and relit. Burning fine now (residual smoke smell).
This is #2 pellet stove, other is a Whitfield insert (about 14 yrs old) in a cathedral ceiling living room. The freestanding stove heats the other half of the house (and typically keeps that part of the house very toasty )...incl kids bedrooms, large playroom, bathroom.
Smoke alarm , carbon monoxide detectors did not go off.
He has gone to bed, confident that all is well. Me? I'm worrying.
How can we prevent this from happening again? If we add a rise to the outside vent, would that help?
Never thought twice about leaving the house with both stoves going....
Thanks!!
Kara