So here goes.
Renting a property. Ranch home with finished basement.
Property owner has a Quadrafire 4100 Insert in the basement.
The company who installed the unit came out here recently to put a new liner in the chimney and a new cap.
They checked everything out and told my wife "You're all set", of course I wasn't here during the work.
I came home that night and left the door open for a while and still had cold air blowing in. I tried opening the window in the room to let air in, put a fan in to blow in, blow out, anything. Still have cold air roaring in. Cant light any paper to try to get some heat up as it blows right back in, smokes, no go.
Called the company and the guy is yelling at me asking if I know what "barometric" pressure is. I answered Yes and then he asks what is my current pressure. At this point I couldn't help respond with "What am I the weather man?" He informs me I need to open a door, window. Which I have already done!
I am familiar with wood stoves and have used them in the past with no issues. Never in a basement though. My one concern is that the lever for the bypass is difficult to move at times. I addressed that and was told by the company "Its fine, I moved it myself" Like it moves with a lot of effort or sticks and just don't feel right, but maybe its me and I'm not used to that type of unit.
I've tried putting cardboard around the opening and put a heat gun in a hole and let that go for quite a while and still have cold air pouring down the chimney.
I'm out of ideas and I have this feeling the property owner never used the stove much or the prior tenants. The glass was blackened really bad, thick crud on it when I first cleaned it and just looked really greasy and dirty inside like they never had a hot fire going. Some bricks were replaced during the recent service. So lots of things screaming at me that it wasn't used or maintained.
As I said its an insert, in the basement. One small typical basement window is on the other side of the room that can be opened. Basement is fully finished. Stove runs out to a chimney that the property owner put river rock all around. I'd estimate it goes up about 35 feet, screen type cap. Furnace is on the other side of the basement in a separate room, own chimney. There is a full bath down there with an exhaust vent that only goes to the laundry room with the furnace. We are on top of a hill from a river. I'm not 100% sure the chimney clears the peak of the house.
If this is the cause, I'm bothered then that the company installed it in the first place and let it be.
I've looked up everything and anything about backdraft, negative pressures, and my only next guess is I'll have to sacrifice a chicken or something to get this to light properly without smoking out the basement and house.
So if anyone has any input to what I can look into doing or what needs to be done would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Renting a property. Ranch home with finished basement.
Property owner has a Quadrafire 4100 Insert in the basement.
The company who installed the unit came out here recently to put a new liner in the chimney and a new cap.
They checked everything out and told my wife "You're all set", of course I wasn't here during the work.
I came home that night and left the door open for a while and still had cold air blowing in. I tried opening the window in the room to let air in, put a fan in to blow in, blow out, anything. Still have cold air roaring in. Cant light any paper to try to get some heat up as it blows right back in, smokes, no go.
Called the company and the guy is yelling at me asking if I know what "barometric" pressure is. I answered Yes and then he asks what is my current pressure. At this point I couldn't help respond with "What am I the weather man?" He informs me I need to open a door, window. Which I have already done!
I am familiar with wood stoves and have used them in the past with no issues. Never in a basement though. My one concern is that the lever for the bypass is difficult to move at times. I addressed that and was told by the company "Its fine, I moved it myself" Like it moves with a lot of effort or sticks and just don't feel right, but maybe its me and I'm not used to that type of unit.
I've tried putting cardboard around the opening and put a heat gun in a hole and let that go for quite a while and still have cold air pouring down the chimney.
I'm out of ideas and I have this feeling the property owner never used the stove much or the prior tenants. The glass was blackened really bad, thick crud on it when I first cleaned it and just looked really greasy and dirty inside like they never had a hot fire going. Some bricks were replaced during the recent service. So lots of things screaming at me that it wasn't used or maintained.
As I said its an insert, in the basement. One small typical basement window is on the other side of the room that can be opened. Basement is fully finished. Stove runs out to a chimney that the property owner put river rock all around. I'd estimate it goes up about 35 feet, screen type cap. Furnace is on the other side of the basement in a separate room, own chimney. There is a full bath down there with an exhaust vent that only goes to the laundry room with the furnace. We are on top of a hill from a river. I'm not 100% sure the chimney clears the peak of the house.
If this is the cause, I'm bothered then that the company installed it in the first place and let it be.
I've looked up everything and anything about backdraft, negative pressures, and my only next guess is I'll have to sacrifice a chicken or something to get this to light properly without smoking out the basement and house.
So if anyone has any input to what I can look into doing or what needs to be done would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
, it's unusual for us to hear of a poor draft with a 35' flue length (no bends I presume). You did mention that the flue may not be above the roof peak. Here is a link to one of many sites that describe the recommended clearances in case it helps. There are others. If the situation is somewhat intermittent, something like this may be at least part of the problem besides the basement installation issues.
