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  1. NextEndeavor Member

    joined: Jan 16, 2011
    196 posts
    Southern Iowa
    It's been extremely foggy here all night and still now in the middle of the afternoon. The house was cooling down (nearly a chilly 68 inside!) so thought I'd warm things up a bit. Besides that, I have too much seasoned wood anyway (according to family/friends who don't realize you can't have too much). This was really just a test to see about draft. Some here have posted about problems when too warm outside. Well it's 50 degrees out there, real foggy heavy air. I lit up the Lopi (from cold start) and wow, not a bit of trouble taking off. A couple stack checks from the outside indicated no more than 5 minutes of heavier smoke that settled in the back yard for a short. Then at 10 minutes, little visible smoke till the 15 minute mark where I couldn't see any. I've got to account the success to my recently insulated flue liner within an outside masonry chimney. First two seasons the liner was not insulated, did ok, but that was before I knew how much better it could be.
    #1

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  2. davmor Member

    joined: Oct 24, 2010
    196 posts
    Northern Michigan
    Fog will affect the draft. My stove will just roar when it is real cold and dry outside.
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  3. Swedishchef Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 17, 2010
    1,454 posts
    Quebec, Canada
    I believe that fog is normally associated with low pressure systems (rain, etc). Low pressure systems will do that to your stack effect especially when it is mild outside...I could be totally wrong but that's my 2 cents worth.

    A
    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  4. corey21 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 28, 2010
    2,208 posts
    Soutwest VA
    Leaving near a lake i get a lot of morning fog never gave it much thought about fog and draft til now.
  5. milliburner New Member

    joined: Oct 6, 2011
    30 posts
    Magic City, Northern Maine
    Those warm, foggy, damp days and nights slow my draft as well. Snowed an inch last night with the temps in the teens and stove was running great. Raining and foggy now and 44 degreees, stove just wants to burn slow. Good thing I guess, its 80 in here now!
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  6. Swedishchef Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 17, 2010
    1,454 posts
    Quebec, Canada
    Wait until it hits -20..the stove will want to roar!
    A
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  7. etiger2007 Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 8, 2012
    1,034 posts
    Clio Michigan
    Fog for sure
  8. Wood Duck Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2009
    3,764 posts
    Central PA
    Fog or damp, rainy, not-too-cold weather is the worst condition here.
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  9. Scotty Overkill firewood hoarder

    joined: Sep 24, 2011
    6,824 posts
    central PA
    The worst conditions for draft that I have found is when the temperature on the inside of your home is close to the temperature of the outside of you home. Heat rises in a cold environment. In other words, when its mild outside you will get a lousy draft. When its downright frigid out, fantastic draft. As others have stated fog is usually a sign of a drop in pressure, which will effect the draft as well.
    Hickorynut and Backwoods Savage like this.
  10. tcassavaugh Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 10, 2010
    594 posts
    Southern Maryland
    i don't miss those days at all......10-15 degrees is enough for me these days.

    cass
    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  11. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Then you have the other side of the spectrum, high winds. If you don't have a proper cap your draft will go crazy.
  12. corey21 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 28, 2010
    2,208 posts
    Soutwest VA
    When the wind picks up my draft becomes super draft.

    I would rather have that rather then down drafts.
  13. wkpoor Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 30, 2008
    1,843 posts
    Amanda, OH
    I agree its both temp differential and baro. Wth 41' from stove to cap I really never see a draft issue, but on cold days with high pressure in control I get the best burns.
  14. etiger2007 Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 8, 2012
    1,034 posts
    Clio Michigan
    I never gave my cap a thought, I used the one that came with the liner. So is there caps that do different things?
  15. corey21 Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 28, 2010
    2,208 posts
    Soutwest VA
    I have seen caps that have flaps that move witch ever direction the wind blows.
  16. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
  17. Sprinter Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 1, 2012
    752 posts
    Western Washington
    Fog occurs when air temp meets dew point. But it also needs nearly calm air. It may be the calm air that makes the draft seem worse than usual. Normally there is a little air movement to help.
  18. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,170 posts
    Michigan
    In addition to foggy days and warm temperatures, during the colder part of winter and the temperature climbs into the 30's, whenever a storm is coming, many times then we notice a big difference in the draft. I have to set the draft a little higher then. Nothing serious though; just a little.

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