Intolerable smell

You guys aren't paying attention to important issues!

#1 is that these kinds of problems can easily be caused by combustion air contaminated with household chemicals, outgassing of rugs, upholstery or other such materials. Changing out the stove wont change that condition.

So think carefully about any kind of chemical that might be contaminating the combustion air.

Candle flames are an example of what can contaminate combustion air. Lots of subtle, ordinary things you might take for granted.

Household chemicals and detergents too.

This is sounding less like a stove problem and more like it's caused by some kind of chemical in the combustion air. Think carefully about any chemical odors that might be getting in the air stream.

Any changes to carpeting or furniture recently?

MBG said:

I thought the combustion air came from the outside of the house, as we have direct vented stove. If so, only outside air should be entering combustion box, right?

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Yes, that's right. With a direct vent stove or fireplace, you need to be concerned about any chemical odors or contamination that might be entrained in the combustion air going into the direct vent.

Of course, this is just a suspicion on my part. But when a stove has been changed out and the problem persists, I'd be taking a serious look at some problem in the house or environment that's causing the problem.

And I know this can be a problem that is easily overlooked, even by those employed doing repairs or fireplace sales.

In the case of a "vent free" heater, pretty sure the combustion air is comingnfrom the room. If the heater was vented outside you would not be smelling combustion byproducts.

I thought tile was laid with thinset mortar, not glue ??? I can hardly see how it meets the "non combustible" requirement with glue ?

Yes, with an unvented stove you are VERY exposed to any kind of defective combustion, including any contamination of the combustion air.

Seems there must have been multiple threads on odors. I re-read the original posting in this thread and it is vented....

I have built multiple floor protectors for wood stoves using a layer of plywood followed by a layer of cement board and then tile on top with thinset and grout. Never the slightest odor and those things got too hot to touch on tile surface. But of course I never used adhesive....

Ya know I really think that you all are on to something with the tiles being glued in place rather than thinset- All the glues for tile That I looked at had heat rating well below What is possible for the tiles to be exposed to under a stove- so I used thinset on my build- no issues at all my unit I made is steel frame -1/2" plywood base covered with 1" micore ( glued to plywood- construction adhesive) then cement board 1/2" ( screwed down) then the thnset and tile / grout- no issues. Apx 4R . No issues with any type of compression settling from weight of stove.

yahoo, happy it finally worked out

Thanks for the report back, and glad you got the problem solved.

wooduser said:

Sometimes the logs need to be very carefully installed as specified by the manufacturer or they can produce odors including carbon monoxide gas.


Do you have the installation and operating manuals for the fireplace? They should specify how the logs should be arranged. Read those directions over carefully and check to see if your logs conform to the directions of the manufacturer. If they do and you still get an odor, try taking them out and see if that causes the odor to go away.

Another thing that can cause odors is any chemical contamination of the combustion air going into the fireplace to burn the gas. Drying paint, offgassing of new rugs or furniture and other such things can cause this kind of problem. Consider carefully if that might be an issue.

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Make sure lots are stacked according to picture I had the same problem?

Hi MBG. I have had this same problem for years and no one can figure it out!! Can you tell me who your dealer and what manufacturer and what unit you ultimately got that worked. I'm at my wits end. Thanks so much!!

I installed an FV 34 in 2019 and am experiencing the same foul odor. No one wants to hear it.
On top of that, the fireplace blows out quite often and is sometimes difficult to re-start. I think that this happens more often if the fan is on.
My last gripe is that the wall above the unit gets extremely hot. Therefore, I am not able to run it except on lower settings.

I feel that I have made a terrible mistake in my choice of Manufacturers. I was told that Mendota was the best of the best but if that is so I hate to see what the others are like. No one seems to be able to help me and the service man that was recommended has never returned my calls. I tried several times with no luck. What a waste of money and time.