BK Princess Insert Smoke in the Room

[SeattleRider]

So folks this is my first winter fully heating with my Princess insert. From the past couple of days when I open the door the smoke starts coming in the room even though I have the flue handle set to open.

This problem only started recently, any ideas what could be causing it?

thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Tenn Dave]

So folks this is my first winter fully heating with my Princess insert. From the past couple of days when I open the door the smoke starts coming in the room even though I have the flue handle set to open.

This problem only started recently, any ideas what could be causing it?

thanks for your help in advance.

Could warmer weather be decreasing your draft? Have you changed your wood supply?

 

[SeattleRider]

Could warmer weather be decreasing your draft? Have you changed your wood supply?

Well the weather has been pretty much the same, this current wood supply does have a higher moisture content than before. I just want to make sure I don't need to clean the flue pipe or any other steps.

 

[Tenn Dave]

Cat stoves like dry wood......ideally less then 20% moisture. Also, it would never hurt to check your chimney and cap to make sure their is no partial blockage. But if your weather has been on the mild side, and your wood somewhat wet, I bet that is your problem.

 

[webby3650]

If it just started, I would put money on the cap being clogged.

 

[BKVP]

Webby is correct!

 

[Tenn Dave]

Webby is correct!

that sounds like a guarantee.

 

[webby3650]

that sounds like a guarantee.

Theres no guarantees, from experience this is usually the issue mid season.
It's typically from under seasoned wood, often it's user error. On occasion it's simply a cap that is just too restrictive.

 

[SeattleRider]

Theres no guarantees, from experience this is usually the issue mid season.
It's typically from under seasoned wood, often it's user error. On occasion it's simply a cap that is just too restrictive.

Webby, I will try the more seasoned wood first thing tomorrow. I got the rotary chimney cleaning system: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010H5JXA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 So would this work to clear any blockage?


Thanks for your help.

 

[Highbeam]

Our weather here in the pnw is about to get cold, for us. Draft will improve.

I notice a big difference in smoke spillage between reloading on a hot partial load vs much less smoke from reloading on a nearly dead fire.

 

[begreen]

Webby, I will try the more seasoned wood first thing tomorrow. I got the rotary chimney cleaning system: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010H5JXA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 So would this work to clear any blockage?


Thanks for your help.

I'm not sure how well bottom up brushing works on a chimney cap screen. Worth a try I suppose. Is it possible to do a good visual check on it from the roof?

 

[Tenn Dave]

Webby is correct!

A clogged chimney cap is seldom the problem 'in and of' itself. It is most likely a symptom of an underlying problem. The assumption here is that this BK stove has been the sole stove in use when the smoke problem started. I still think the most common variables that cause smoke spillage into a room are poor draft, wet wood, or perhaps a cat failure which is allowing a lot of crap to flow up the chimney to the cap and thus causing a partial blockage. Of course it could also be a design flaw in the stove (unlikely), and /or a leaking gasket problem. And lets not forget a negative pressure issue may have developed in the home due to both internal and external factors. To emphatically endorse one possible suggestions is premature at best.

 

[Tenn Dave]

Our weather here in the pnw is about to get cold, for us. Draft will improve.

I notice a big difference in smoke spillage between reloading on a hot partial load vs much less smoke from reloading on a nearly dead fire.

Highbeam, is a small amount of smoke spillage always an issue upon reloading? On another forum I was reading a thread that said this is somewhat common on some front loading stoves. I have a side loader so I have no experience in this area. Just curious.

 

[BKVP]

A clogged chimney cap is seldom the problem 'in and of' itself. It is most likely a symptom of an underlying problem. The assumption here is that this BK stove has been the sole stove in use when the smoke problem started. I still think the most common variables that cause smoke spillage into a room are poor draft, wet wood, or perhaps a cat failure which is allowing a lot of crap to flow up the chimney to the cap and thus causing a partial blockage. Of course it could also be a design flaw in the stove (unlikely), and /or a leaking gasket problem. And lets not forget a negative pressure issue may have developed in the home due to both internal and external factors. To emphatically endorse one possible suggestions is premature at best.

TennDave,

I might agree that a plugged cap is merely a symptom of the problem, but as a guy that handles hundreds of calls weekly from product owners, or perspective owners, the small percentage with spillage issues mid season, on a newer install (newer being 2 years or less), once the cap is cleaned, 90% are good to go.

They do of course need to address the cause of the plugged cap.

 

[Tenn Dave]

quote="BKVP, post: 1851471, member: 18988"]They do of course need to address the cause of the plugged cap[/quote]


That's all I'm saying. Hopefully the OP will keep us posted on what he finds.

 

[Highbeam]

Highbeam, is a small amount of smoke spillage always an issue upon reloading? On another forum I was reading a thread that said this is somewhat common on some front loading stoves. I have a side loader so I have no experience in this area. Just curious.

I've owned side loaders, front loaders, cat and noncat. While none were perfect, none spilled smoke like this bk. Even on the same flue. I would much sooner blame the high efficiency design with inherent low flue temps than a front door vs side door.

There have been many clogged chimney cap threads. Clogging a cap screen does not mean you did anything wrong, it is not a symptom of a problem. It just means that you need to clean the cap. I have further developed the opinion that cap screens are stupid, filtering smoke is unnecessary and a maintenance issue.

 

[webby3650]

I've owned side loaders, front loaders, cat and noncat. While none were perfect, none spilled smoke like this bk. Even on the same flue. I would much sooner blame the high efficiency design with inherent low flue temps than a front door vs side door.

There have been many clogged chimney cap threads. Clogging a cap screen does not mean you did anything wrong, it is not a symptom of a problem. It just means that you need to clean the cap. I have further developed the opinion that cap screens are stupid, filtering smoke is unnecessary and a maintenance issue.

I have seen lots of clogged caps on an otherwise serviceable flue. We use caps that have an optional screen, I use them on a few non-cats but generally skip it on cat stoves. The only reason for a screen is to keep birds out in my opinion. Some locations really struggle with birds, others never have an issue.

The cap screen can clog under reasonabley normal conditions with a cat stove, BK's seem to be especially vulnerable to this. It's to be expected, it's the coldest part of the system on an already "cold" flue. They are capable of operating at very low flue temperatures, combine this with under seasoned wood and a restrictive cap: a clogged cap is often the result.

 

[turbojoe]

The screen was the first thing to go from my cap this season. threw it away. It had more crap in it than the whole chimney system.
After burning 3 face cord of 20% Ash i ended up with 1/2 a cup of dry brownish powder after my first clean/check.
I also have very little if any spillage with only 12' of stack.
Loving my BK

 

[begreen]

I have wondered if the sloped door of the big BKs would create a propensity to spill smoke, especially during milder weather days when draft is weather. Is the door slope enough so that there could be coals at the front of the stove in front of the top of the door?

 

[weatherguy]

I had to check my screen cap every year about this time when I had my princess insert, even when my wood was under 20% there would be some build up, burn wood 20-25% and forget it, guarantee I would have to clean he screen by the end of December.

 

[SeattleRider]

Guys thank you for all the replies, I have ordered the extension poles for the sooteater so I can reach the cap. I should get them by Wednesday, will let everyone know what happens after the cleaning.

Is there any harm to keep the insert going till Tuesday or should I stop using it now?

 

[weatherguy]

Can you take a look at the cap with binoculars? If it's crudded up I wouldn't burn til its clean.

 

[turbojoe]

Can the screen even be cleaned with a brush from the bottom ?? My cap couldn't.

 

[bobdog2o02]

If you load the soot eater with string long enough it will clean the screen. I would stop burning for 2-3 days and clean the coals out before cleaning for two reasons.

1. Make it safe to do a good job

2. Let the soot and sote in there get hard and dry out so it comes out easier.

 

[jeff_t]

I have wondered if the sloped door of the big BKs would create a propensity to spill smoke, especially during milder weather days when draft is weather. Is the door slope enough so that there could be coals at the front of the stove in front of the top of the door?

Not really. It's not that much of an angle, but I'm sure the slope doesn't help matters any.

I still never get any spillage unless I rip the door open. I can leave the door wide open while I stand there sweeping up the hearth. My chimney isn't super tall, maybe 16' total.

I think it's a Princess thing. Maybe the bigger pipe moving a larger volume of air? Dunno, but I don't see many complaints from King owners.