October 2024, we had an Ashford 25 insert installed in our home. We had around a 30 year old Green Earth? brand Woodstove insert, that nobody would work on for us. I was and still am relatively new to the whole woodstove world as I moved into the home to help out family. (Family passed and so did any knowledge on the existing stove and operation).
What I now have come to understand is that we have a zero clearance here. the wall the fireplace is built into is all faux stone and basically in a huge cavity with sheet metal alcove so to speak. There are two seperate room air circulators with in line fans. I can stand in the “dead space” so to speak via a hatch. The new Ashford is on the main floor of a maybe 700sf home. Pretty poor general air flow/circulation between the basement to second floor. Pellet stove in basement.
First year of new install really had few issues. Seemed to run well.
This second year i keep running into backdraft and smoking the house out any time the loading door is opened. I also really struggle to get the stove ripping and keep the cat in the active zone very long if at all.
Woodstove is vented up through I believe is the zc sheet metal from main floor up to second floor, through attic and roof. Over the roof ridge. Probably around 25’ total. This was installed with 6” insulated SS liner down through the sheet metal zc (I think that’s what I call it).
Installer cleaned woodstove before burning this season but never checked roof/chimney cap. I had them cleaning pellet and woodstove at the time and I didn’t watch guy doing woodstove as I was working…So I called them back to check that this year due to the backdrafts. They found the screen on the chimney cap to be extremely lined with soot/creosote.. maybe 1” thick all around. They removed screen and reminded me I need to burn way hotter. I’m running out of ideas here. I really need to run the temp setting at full to even get it going at all or stay going. It tends to go right out on me. I rarely ever can see flames without keeping door open, this year seems the door is always black, can’t get it good and hot.
I did just purchase moisture meter to check wood mc but wood was all CSS early in the spring this year, set in the sun kept covered, good airflow throughout etc so I’m confident it is ok but will check mc soon to confirm.
As I read more it sounds like this insert being placed into ZC without specified listed enclosure, was a huge no no. Which I had no clue on at the time. Went with who I thought was reputable installer and price tag to match. Trying to do everything as by the books as we could by using reputable installer (was recommended by a few people and not too many options around) however we didn’t get inspected or permit…. (Didn’t consider that part till after)
So I guess my question is what’s with all the back draft/smoke..
How does air flow on these in general? I know the temp flap responds to turning rod but is almost always at full bore or it goes out completely.
Do I need the fan running to help air flow entering underside of the stove?
How does air flow from under stove, where the temp coil and flapper is.. to the heating chamber?
Cat temp rarely reaches active zone.. can I use an IR gun to read temp at the coal bed or door or anywhere on the unit as an indication of cat being ready?
Cat looked ok, I don’t brush it off a bit but didn’t seem terrible..
Was I totally shafted by this install going into existing zc and now don’t have the air flow needed in general? Liner seems attached and seated, however I plan to let stove cool this week and pull it out and really check it all over for being sealed and at least connected to best of my knowledge and understanding of manual.
I’d appreciate any help and input and can take or send photos of any or all components
What I now have come to understand is that we have a zero clearance here. the wall the fireplace is built into is all faux stone and basically in a huge cavity with sheet metal alcove so to speak. There are two seperate room air circulators with in line fans. I can stand in the “dead space” so to speak via a hatch. The new Ashford is on the main floor of a maybe 700sf home. Pretty poor general air flow/circulation between the basement to second floor. Pellet stove in basement.
First year of new install really had few issues. Seemed to run well.
This second year i keep running into backdraft and smoking the house out any time the loading door is opened. I also really struggle to get the stove ripping and keep the cat in the active zone very long if at all.
Woodstove is vented up through I believe is the zc sheet metal from main floor up to second floor, through attic and roof. Over the roof ridge. Probably around 25’ total. This was installed with 6” insulated SS liner down through the sheet metal zc (I think that’s what I call it).
Installer cleaned woodstove before burning this season but never checked roof/chimney cap. I had them cleaning pellet and woodstove at the time and I didn’t watch guy doing woodstove as I was working…So I called them back to check that this year due to the backdrafts. They found the screen on the chimney cap to be extremely lined with soot/creosote.. maybe 1” thick all around. They removed screen and reminded me I need to burn way hotter. I’m running out of ideas here. I really need to run the temp setting at full to even get it going at all or stay going. It tends to go right out on me. I rarely ever can see flames without keeping door open, this year seems the door is always black, can’t get it good and hot.
I did just purchase moisture meter to check wood mc but wood was all CSS early in the spring this year, set in the sun kept covered, good airflow throughout etc so I’m confident it is ok but will check mc soon to confirm.
As I read more it sounds like this insert being placed into ZC without specified listed enclosure, was a huge no no. Which I had no clue on at the time. Went with who I thought was reputable installer and price tag to match. Trying to do everything as by the books as we could by using reputable installer (was recommended by a few people and not too many options around) however we didn’t get inspected or permit…. (Didn’t consider that part till after)
So I guess my question is what’s with all the back draft/smoke..
How does air flow on these in general? I know the temp flap responds to turning rod but is almost always at full bore or it goes out completely.
Do I need the fan running to help air flow entering underside of the stove?
How does air flow from under stove, where the temp coil and flapper is.. to the heating chamber?
Cat temp rarely reaches active zone.. can I use an IR gun to read temp at the coal bed or door or anywhere on the unit as an indication of cat being ready?
Cat looked ok, I don’t brush it off a bit but didn’t seem terrible..
Was I totally shafted by this install going into existing zc and now don’t have the air flow needed in general? Liner seems attached and seated, however I plan to let stove cool this week and pull it out and really check it all over for being sealed and at least connected to best of my knowledge and understanding of manual.
I’d appreciate any help and input and can take or send photos of any or all components
