Basement Woodstove Making the Basement Stink....Please Help!

[shawnswan]

Hi,
I just moved into a house that has a wood stove in the basement. I've noticed that after I have a fire in it, the next day the basement stinks like smoke and won't go away. If I put my hand near the vent in the door when the wood stove isn't running I can feel cold air blowing on my hand. I've done some searching on the internet and realize this is probably due to negative pressure. I have to open my basement window when I start the fire or smoke will go into the basement.
What I need help with is how do I stop the air from blowing into the basement through the wood stove when I'm not using it? The vent is closed but still allows air through. I've got double walled black pipe and where the joints are, a bit of cold air is coming in through those to.

The wood stove works great when it's going!

Thanks.
Shawn

 

[begreen]

Welcome Shawn. It does sound like negative pressure. Are there other appliances in the basement drawing out air? Examples would be a clothes dryer, gas furnace, hw heater and/or dryer, bathroom fan, etc.. But even if not, sometimes it is just the house design. One thing to check is whether there is an open attic ceiling vent. That can turn the house into a chimney stack, so can an open upstairs window. In some cases raising the flue height can help alleviate this problem. How tall is it?

 

[stoveguy2esw]

a trick for reducing negative pressure in basement without cracking a window, may find the stove even performs better.

you will need some 3 inch PVC and a 5 gallon bucket.

run the 3 inch pvc through the sill plate to outside and down the wall into the bucket near the stove. the bucket will act as a cold air well and only allow what air is needed to equalize pressure into the house, the rest is stopped by the bucket walls. acts like an "indirect oak" hookup. this way the negative pressure is negated and you have some control over the air coming in which you do not have with a open window. it actually works quite well.

did it at my dad's house for a similar problem. cold chimney inversion (downdrafting) occurs when a; flue does not have any "standby draft" when not in use, or 2; negative pressure stronger than the standby draft and the house sucks air down the flue bringing that "creosoty" smell with it

 

[LLigetfa]

Like Mike said, the house needs air. The problem is most folk go to extremes to keep cold air out when what they should be doing is keep warm air in.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

If the stove is left cold for longer periods of time you can also stuff some insulation into the flue to stop the downdraft. However, make really sure that you make yourself a note; tie it onto the firebox door handle as a reminder to remove said insulation before lighting the next fire.

For preheating the flue, some Super Cedars would work nicely for that as well as for starting the fire. We have a member on this forum who makes these and you can even get some samples simply by asking.


Someone please check me if I am wrong here but I believe the address is: Super Cedars

(I'll check that address and make a correction if needed.)

 

[Backwoods Savage]

If the stove is left cold for longer periods of time you can also stuff some insulation into the flue to stop the downdraft. However, make really sure that you make yourself a note; tie it onto the firebox door handle as a reminder to remove said insulation before lighting the next fire.

For preheating the flue, some Super Cedars would work nicely for that as well as for starting the fire. We have a member on this forum who makes these and you can even get some samples simply by asking.

EDIT: Information at this address; read the posts Super Cedars

 

[raybonz]

If the stove is left cold for longer periods of time you can also stuff some insulation into the flue to stop the downdraft. However, make really sure that you make yourself a note; tie it onto the firebox door handle as a reminder to remove said insulation before lighting the next fire.

For preheating the flue, some Super Cedars would work nicely for that as well as for starting the fire. We have a member on this forum who makes these and you can even get some samples simply by asking.

EDIT: Information at this address; read the posts Super Cedars

Hi Dennis,
Hope you and Judy had a nice holiday! I have been chatting in the classic stove forum to a guy with a CDW stove and he could use some of your wisdom about wood being dry.. Please drop in there when you have a chance because I can't explain this as good as you can.. I consider you the subject matter expert on wood quality and this guy seems receptive to information..

Thanx,
Ray

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Thanks Ray. I'll have to have a look in there some time.