Ashy smell coming from stove.

[eric-holmes]

When I don't have a fire going, I get a real strong ash smell that is almost so bad that you don't want to sit in the chair beside the stove. I understand that a wood stove will smell, but this seems extra strong. I grew up with a wood stove and I don't remember this.

 

[WASP]

When I don't have a fire going, I get a real strong ash smell that is almost so bad that you don't want to sit in the chair beside the stove. I understand that a wood stove will smell, but this seems extra strong. I grew up with a wood stove and I don't remember this.

Maybe you're getting a downdraft of cold air from your chimney coming out of your air intake.

Close the air intake and/or damper if you can. If not, install an outside air kit.

 

[mass_burner]

Does ash have a smell?

 

[eric-holmes]

I kind of assumed it was a cold down draft. I get that a lot when I go to start fires. I have the damper closed as far as it will go unless there's a trick I don't know. I'll look into the outside air kit.

 

[BobUrban]

What are the weather conditions? This is common in damp heavy weather and the smell is creosote coming in with the heavy air. A good cleaning helps and if you can reverse the draft to get it going back up it will solve the problem. Even just burning s candle inside the fire box can help. I do this in the summer at times. Gives the fire glow w/o the heat and reverses the air flow