Wood stove and backdraft

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It looks like they didn't cap the tee and it's an 8x8 flue tile. The uncapped tee is hurting the draft. It's possible, you may not need an ERV or outside air, just a different stove. If you close the damper on the stovepipe. Then open the cleanout door and hold a burning incense stick or cigarette by the cleanout door opening, does the smoke get pulled up into the chimney? If so the draft is present, just leaky.

We're not going to answer all questions tonight. I'll pick this up in the morning. @bholler may have some thoughts on this too.
I just held up an incence stick and the smoke was blowing back at me. When I open the door I can immediately feel wind blowing at me

what does capping the tee mean, would soot still fall down to the door and how would I go about doing that?

Have a good and look forward to chatting more. We really appreciate it.
 
I just held up an incence stick and the smoke was blowing back at me. When I open the door I can immediately feel wind blowing at me

what does capping the tee mean, would soot still fall down to the door and how would I go about doing that?

Have a good and look forward to chatting more. We really appreciate it.
The liner needs to be a sealed system where the only air going through it comes through the stove. That means either the tee needs a bottom cap or the liner needs to extend down to the cleanout and be sealed there as well as any gaps in the masonry going through the wall to the cleanout.

That won't fix your reverse draft but will make it easier to preheat the liner and establish draft pulling up the chimney
 
Yes, especially if the ERV is user-controllable for setting the air balance. Panasonic makes models that have this option.

Sorry, I thought you were also looking for alternatives. An OAK is an outside air kit.
And all these years I thought that ERV's only replaced what ever amount of air they removed.

There must be two blowers in some models....one for intake and one for exhaust?
 
And all these years I thought that ERV's only replaced what ever amount of air they removed.

There must be two blowers in some models....one for intake and one for exhaust?
They definitely can be used to balance pressure in the home. But I have never looked into. How it's done
 
That won't fix your reverse draft but will make it easier to preheat the liner and establish draft pulling up the chimney
Given that there is a cleanout below the thimble, it makes sense to extend the tee with a length of liner down to the cleanout door and cap it there. A nice way to finish the end is to put a second tee at the cleanout door and that second tee gets a cap on its bottom and the tee snout facing the cleanout door.
 
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The liner needs to be a sealed system where the only air going through it comes through the stove. That means either the tee needs a bottom cap or the liner needs to extend down to the cleanout and be sealed there as well as any gaps in the masonry going through the wall to the cleanout.

That won't fix your reverse draft but will make it easier to preheat the liner and establish draft pulling up the chimney
Okay so how about this for my game plan

1) Have them come back and install a Tee end cap
2) Get the ERV installed (already paid a deposit plus I want the ventilation since I have toddlers)
3) Get a new stove that matches the appropriate diameter of my liner (I’m going to get a regency I found at a store near me)
4) Consider removing damper on the pipe dependent on my stove model
5) if I still get a little drawback install an OAK

Anything else I missed? Honestly I feel like I learned so much about the mechanics of my stove and house now, thanks to you.
 
Okay so how about this for my game plan

1) Have them come back and install a Tee end cap
2) Get the ERV installed (already paid a deposit plus I want the ventilation since I have toddlers)
3) Get a new stove that matches the appropriate diameter of my liner (I’m going to get a regency I found at a store near me)
4) Consider removing damper on the pipe dependent on my stove model
5) if I still get a little drawback install an OAK

Anything else I missed? Honestly I feel like I learned so much about the mechanics of my stove and house now, thanks to you.
The liner should really be insulated as well. But you may still need to preheat the chimney
 
The liner is insulated I believe. The chimney guys came back to install my top chimney cap and told me they put in more insulation
Can they do that from the clean out door or will they have to remove the whole liner? I’m not handy so it’s hard to imagine how they’d even fix that
 
The liner is insulated I believe. The chimney guys came back to install my top chimney cap and told me they put in more insulation
That does not mean the liner is insulated. They may have just packed insulation around the top of the liner.
Ask them if the liner has a full-length insulation jacket or is a double-layer, insulated liner.
 
Can they do that from the clean out door or will they have to remove the whole liner? I’m not handy so it’s hard to imagine how they’d even fix that
The liner will need to be pulled.
 
2) Get the ERV installed (already paid a deposit plus I want the ventilation since I have toddlers)
Learn about them. Some only supply fresh air and lack the more sophisticated balancing options of a two-motor system like the Panasonic ERV mentioned earlier.
 
3) Get a new stove that matches the appropriate diameter of my liner (I’m going to get a regency I found at a store near me)
What other brands do the local stores carry? A big Jotul F55 or Lopi Liberty might be a good fit if the area to be heated is large.

What is the firewood supply like? Stoves require fully seasoned wood to burn properly.
 
I suppose choking down the dampers on either the intake or discharge of them would help to balance.
Yes that is usually how you would adjust airflow amounts in conjunction with a magnehelic gauge to read pressure differential between fresh air and stale air ducts.
 
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HRV (heat recovery ventilator) and ERV (energy recovery ventilator) are designed to exhaust as much air out as they bring in when “properly” balanced. When a HRV/ERV is put into an unbalanced negative state, exhausting more air than bring in the home envelope will in theory draw unheated cold air into the home where ever it can. In the opposite scenario the HRV/ERV placed in an unbalanced positive state, warm heated air will be forced into the home envelope. The problem with this in cold climates would be moisture condensing inside the wall cavities, vapor barrier, attics etc.
 
I get standard bundles of firewood from Ace
That is a hugely expensive way to buy firewood. It's ok for the occasional holiday burning, but not if one plans on heating with wood on a regular basis. A big stove can consume a store bundle of wood in one filling.
 
That is a hugely expensive way to buy firewood. It's ok for the occasional holiday burning, but not if one plans on heating with wood on a regular basis. A big stove can consume a store bundle of wood in one filling.
Where do folks usually get theirs? The stove is only for my finished basement which is my office I work in 5 days a week
 
HRV (heat recovery ventilator) and ERV (energy recovery ventilator) are designed to exhaust as much air out as they bring in when “properly” balanced. When a HRV/ERV is put into an unbalanced negative state, exhausting more air than bring in the home envelope will in theory draw unheated cold air into the home where ever it can. In the opposite scenario the HRV/ERV placed in an unbalanced positive state, warm heated air will be forced into the home envelope. The problem with this in cold climates would be moisture condensing inside the wall cavities, vapor barrier, attics etc.
I got a renewaire ERV, what things should I be aware of when they’re installing it?
 
I got the Renewaire EV-Premium M I was told it should balance the air
I'm not familiar with this unit, but the specs show it is a dual-motor design that will permit proper balancing.