BK Ashford smoke smell discovery

[alforit]

I think I discovered the source of the smoke smell on the Ashford and possibly other Bk's.
I believe the smell is coming from behind and out underneath the metal Door gasket retainer brackets. (These brackets also hold the glass in place.)

I found this out because after cleaning my chimney , I decided to replace my door gasket and found 3 spots of dried creosote drip stains on the bottom of the door... After I removed the the door gasket the source of the drip was still not visible. So I took off the metal Door gasket retainer bracket and found the source of the the drip. It was
coming from behind the retainer bracket.

I concluded that if creo is getting behind and coming out underneath that bracket then smoke is finding its way through it also.

I have been burning some center core doug fir. It has a very low moisture content ( 13%) , but is pitchy and is creating a higher than normal creostote buildup. Also burning low on days that get to 60 f during the day. All of that was creating the perfect environment for the smoke smell.

As some of you know I seal my stove pipe to help get a better quality burn and draft . And it removed the smoke smell on my stove by accident . But after recently replacing my door gasket and burning pitchy wood very low on warmer days , the smoke smell returned . .............BUT.....

After seeing the creo drip stains coming out from behind the Door gasket retainer bracket , I decided to seal around the outside of all four retainer brackets all the way around the seam where the bracket meets the body of the door , using stove vent sealant.
What I found out is that the smoke smell immediately decreased by 90 %.....So I put more sealant on again after seeing that some of it had cracked from the heat . The smoke smell is gone . It has been a week and a half and still no smoke smell. Not sure if the sealant I am using is the best for this purpose but its showing good results.

Also , and this is pretty awesome: The creo buildup that normally occurs on the glass has decreased substantially . And the wood is burning more completely on low burns. This is a bonus. ...........This also points to the door as being the source.

i'm not sure the existing retainer bracket bolts are affecting the seal.

 

[Highbeam]

We need pics. Too many gaskets, channels, retainers, and bolts to follow. I can't tell if mean the metal window retainer. Even liquid creosote or water that drips out will stink like smoke.

Many folks will want specifics.

 

[begreen]

Interesting info. Why were you replacing the door gasket on a new stove? Was it replaced with an OEM gasket from BK?

 

[alforit]

We need pics. Too many gaskets, channels, retainers, and bolts to follow. I can't tell if mean the metal window retainer. Even liquid creosote or water that drips out will stink like smoke.

Many folks will want specifics.

The smoke smell occurred after I cleaned it up and replaced the door gasket.........this is a previous issue that is common to the ashford and Chinook etc.
The smell is a sweet smell coming from the top corners and or middle top of door.

I was just thinking about posting pics but didn't take any when I was replacing the gasket.......will see If I can find some other pics to post.

 

[alforit]

Interesting info. Why were you replacing the door gasket on a new stove? Was it replaced with an OEM gasket from BK?

I was getting a buildup on the gasket from this center core doug fir I have been burning.......So I decided to replace it.

I haven't used the oem gasket since I first replaced the gasket when I was trying to solve the smoke smell issue........I had tried several different brands.........currently I am using the meeco brand 7/8 gasket. I have had the best luck with that so far.

 

[rdust]

The smoke smell occurred after I cleaned it up and replaced the door gasket.........this is a previous issue that is common to the ashford and Chinook etc.
The smell is a sweet smell coming from the top corners and or middle top of door.

I was just thinking about posting pics but didn't take any when I was replacing the gasket.......will see If I can find some other pics to post.

I would think a sweet smell is after the cat not before.

I haven't used the oem gasket since I first replaced the gasket when I was trying to solve the smoke smell issue........I had tried several different brands.........currently I am using the meeco brand 7/8 gasket. I have had the best luck with that so far.

I'd recommend the OE gasket or a similar high density gasket. Doesn't look like the meeco stuff(at least the stuff that came up in a quick search) is a high density gasket.

 

[alforit]

Click to expand...
I'd recommend the OE gasket or a similar high density gasket. Doesn't look like the meeco stuff(at least the stuff that came up in a quick search) is a high density gasket.

It came with the OEM gasket when I purchased the stove .....And the smoke smell was happening with that gasket ...........Also had the same smoke smell with the OEM gasket on my Chinook 30.

I found that the meeco works better...........Don't know why.........Its thicker and feels about the same as the oem gasket.

would think a sweet smell is after the cat not before.

Who knows............But its coming from the door.

 

[alforit]

I lifted the Door gasket to show the gasket retainer bracket underneath. The creo was leaking behind the bracket , which reveals the leak potential. You can also see underneath the bracket where a dried creo stain is . And you can see where I sealed , all along the seam line where the bracket meets the body of the door.

 

[webby3650]

It came with the OEM gasket when I purchased the stove .....And the smoke smell was happening with that gasket ...........Also had the same smoke smell with the OEM gasket on my Chinook 30.

I found that the meeco works better...........Don't know why.........Its thicker and feels about the same as the oem gasket.




Who knows............But its coming from the door.

So you were having this smoke smell problem with your Chinook, Progress Hybrid, and now the Ashford? What about your Lennox?

 

[Highbeam]

So this metal bracket which needed to be sealed. This is the door glass retainer bracket no? There are studs and nuts holding this bracket and the glass to the door?

 

[webby3650]

So this metal bracket which needed to be sealed. This is the door glass retainer bracket no? There are studs and nuts holding this bracket and the glass to the door?

From what I gathered, the studs are suspect here, not the bracket. Shorter studs have been tried by some to see if that fixes the issue.

 

[pdxdave]

I love burning center core doug fir. Put it on a hot fire and it damn near explodes.

 

[Highbeam]

I love burning center core doug fir. Put it on a hot fire and it damn near explodes.

You mean the redder heartwood or the fatwood from the stump with all the embedded pitch?

 

[blueguy]

I would think a sweet smell is after the cat not before.

Nope, it's a sweet smell before

I'd recommend the OE gasket or a similar high density gasket. Doesn't look like the meeco stuff(at least the stuff that came up in a quick search) is a high density gasket.

The door gasket on my Sirocco, and the OEM replacement door gasket I got with the stove are not high density. They are run of the mill door gasket. The only high density gasket on my stove is the bypass gasket. There's most definitely a difference in the two

 

[begreen]

I thought the OEM gasket was dual density, soft on the outside but with a firmer core.

 

[rdust]

I thought the OEM gasket was dual density, soft on the outside but with a firmer core.

This is how Chris described the Princess gasket to me a couple years back. " Our rope gasket is from the company Mid Mountain. It is very dense (three ropes inside one another)."

 

[pdxdave]

You mean the redder heartwood or the fatwood from the stump with all the embedded pitch?

Well.. Both I think? The center cylindrical part that pops out when you split it, I think mostly from the larger rounds down low. Yes extremely pitchy and emits harsh black smoke even when fully engulfed in flame, fun to watch!

 

[alforit]

So this metal bracket which needed to be sealed. This is the door glass retainer bracket no? There are studs and nuts holding this bracket and the glass to the door?

Correct........its the door glass retainer bracket , which is also the Gasket retainer bracket.....Same thing.
And yes , there are studs holding this bracket to the door and securing the glass.

 

[alforit]

So you were having this smoke smell problem with your Chinook, Progress Hybrid, and now the Ashford? What about your Lennox?

Yes , I had the same smoke smell with the Chinook.The Progress Hybrid had the smoke smell too. And it was also coming from the door , until Woodstock sent an updated door gasket to me and it corrected the problem. They were aware of the problem and found the fix......... No smoke smell from the Lennox.

 

[alforit]

From what I gathered, the studs are suspect here, not the bracket. Shorter studs have been tried by some to see if that fixes the issue.

I tried the shorter stud fix and noticed no difference.

If creo is getting behind the brackets then so is smoke...... ( spock logic )

 

[Highbeam]

I tried the shorter stud fix and noticed no difference.

If creo is getting behind the brackets then so is smoke...... ( spock logic )

Well creo just condensed smoke so it will stink the same.

 

[webby3650]

Yes , I had the same smoke smell with the Chinook.The Progress Hybrid had the smoke smell too. And it was also coming from the door , until Woodstock sent an updated door gasket to me and it corrected the problem. They were aware of the problem and found the fix......... No smoke smell from the Lennox.

Did you sell these stoves with the smoke issues? Seems like it would have been hard to sell if they were having issues.
This smoke smell issue is very isolated, very few out of thousands. I have no issues at all, nor do the dozen or so I've installed.
I promise, you Blaze King is working to find the issue, and will resolve it.

 

[Highbeam]

Did you sell these stoves with the smoke issues? Seems like it would have been hard to sell if they were having issues.
This smoke smell issue is very isolated, very few out of thousands. I have no issues at all, nor do the dozen or so I've installed.
I promise, you Blaze King is working to find the issue, and will resolve it.

When I've sold stoves, the buyer doesn't test burn them. That would make them too hot to load. They would never know unless you told them.

 

[webby3650]

When I've sold stoves, the buyer doesn't test burn them. That would make them too hot to load. They would never know unless you told them.

That's what I mean. In good conscious, it would be hard to sell until the issue is resolved.

 

[alforit]

Did you sell these stoves with the smoke issues? Seems like it would have been hard to sell if they were having issues.
This smoke smell issue is very isolated, very few out of thousands. I have no issues at all, nor do the dozen or so I've installed.
I promise, you Blaze King is working to find the issue, and will resolve it.

No I did not sell the stoves.....And would not do that unless I had fixed the issue first.

The Chinook was returned shortly after it was purchased from the dealer....And the main reason was because I was having the smoke issue coming from the door and the dealer and Blaze King refused to troubleshoot it or fix it. The dealer gave me the choice of either returning it and getting my money back or living with it. I felt that was a very poor customer service decision and didn't feel confident in having that dealer warrantee my stove in any possible future issues .So I reluctantly returned it.

I don't like talking negative about others . I'm just trying to be clear about what occurred. I wish more people had come forward with this issue back then because I think Blaze King would have acted on it quicker and this was going on two years ago when I had the Chinook. I also agree with you and have no doubt that Blaze King is working hard on it , now that it has come to more light, and will resolve it.

The Progress Hybrid was returned also, under Woodstock's amazing return policy. But it was done mainly because of a safety issue ....There were many other smaller issues that contributed to returning it. I won't go into them because I've posted about them before and don't feel it needs to be said again. But they did resolve the smoke smell issue coming from the door. Which was good.