On the first two start ups this year smoke came pouring out of the stove. Once the fire starts there is no problem. Chimney was cleaned in the summer. Temperature outside was about 40 degrees. Stove is only 3 years old. It really concerns me because this has never happened before. Should I call the stove store or the chimney sweep.
A LOT OF SMOKE on start up of Regency F3100
- Thread starter boxerdogheidi
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Easy first step is to check the cap. I assume that it'll be clear since the stove is fine once it's going.
Then I'd check the wood.
Then I'd check the wood.
brenndatomu
Minister of Fire
Do you have a clothes dryer, kitchen/bath vent fan running when this happens?
Will probably happen less as the weather gets colder...but in the meantime you can pre warm the chimney with a hairdryer pointed toward the flue in the top of the stove...careful you don't blow ashes all over.
You could use a low smoke fire starter like half a SuperCedar to warm things up too...
Will probably happen less as the weather gets colder...but in the meantime you can pre warm the chimney with a hairdryer pointed toward the flue in the top of the stove...careful you don't blow ashes all over.
You could use a low smoke fire starter like half a SuperCedar to warm things up too...
I can't get up high enough to examine the cap but from the ground it looks the same as it always has. And we are using the same kindling and wood as every year. Nothing different than any other year. Wood is dry. Fire burns good once it starts.
No. We have never prewarmed the chimney any other year and never had this smoke before.
It's called a backdraft caused by negative pressure in the house. Try opening a window near the stove to alleviate this.
One rare occasion I get the same, I use a plumbers propane torch to light my stove, in these instances I can feel the cold air coming out the stove, I then stick the torch up the flue through the stove door and preheat the chimney to initiate the draft.
One rare occasion I get the same, I use a plumbers propane torch to light my stove, in these instances I can feel the cold air coming out the stove, I then stick the torch up the flue through the stove door and preheat the chimney to initiate the draft.
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Did you check whether the space above the baffle (I think this stove has one?) is clear (or has accumulated gunk from burning and sweeping, restricting flow)?
Another thing that can cause this is an upstairs window or attic door or vent being open. That can create a stack effect.
Also, get some binoculars or a spotting scope to examine the cap. If it has a screen, it may be getting plugged.
No dryer or fan running. No window or door open. Can't see anything plugging the top of the chimney with my binoculars. Will try the hair dryer on it tomorrow. It will be a real nuisance if I have to heat it up every time I start the stove.
I don't really know how to get to the baffle.
You can either drop the baffle into the stove, or remove the stove pipe above it. I suppose it's possible when they cleaned the chimney they just knocked stuff down onto the baffle and left it.
All I do to prewarm my flue is light a piece of newspaper on fire and hold it up by the flue. In the 10 seconds it takes to burn I normally have a draft established. Only necessary on cold starts.
Forgot to update earlier, but chimney sweep didn't properly replace the cap on the bottom of the chimney cleanout. That seemed to be the problem.
