Blaze king ashford 30.1 smoke smell/ air leak.

[BKVP]

What I mean by burning very hot is just burn until it's vigourous. I've only used the stove 4 times Still getting used to it. The first fires I lit from the bottom. The last one I did top down and left the door open longer to make sure it would work. First time.

Also, I knew I was having an issue so I left the door cracked longer than usual to see if it made a difference. It did not.

I'll retest the wood tomorrow. Bringing a few pieces into the garage where the temps are in the 50s.

The installers are bringing their own wood in tomorrow to test as well so I suspect it's going to be dry.

Have them look for any gasket door leaks, check all welds etc. They can remove side shields to check welds there as well. Look where door hangs on hinge pins.

One small pin hole in a weld could make a smoke smell. If there is one, you'll see soot around the weld.

They can always call us at 509-522-2730. We are always willing to help.

 

[bmikeb]

Have them look for any gasket door leaks, check all welds etc. They can remove side shields to check welds there as well. Look where door hangs on hinge pins.

One small pin hole in a weld could make a smoke smell. If there is one, you'll see soot around the weld.

They can always call us at 509-522-2730. We are always willing to help.

Thank you so much. They are coming on Tuesday now. I printed up some of the things you and others have stated here and they can look it over as well. Sometimes that helps some people.

I DO have a wierd spot weld under the front lip but I see no soot. Just rough. There is also a hole / imperfection on the lower hinge. I was checking this area as, up above the left half of the door, is where the smoke smell is eminating.

 

[bmikeb]

Retested some larger pieces. The interior of the split wood was 46 F verified with an infrared thermometer. Hydro tester at hardwood setting was 16% for one and 17% for the other.

Soft wood setting shows 25%. I don't know the type of tree this is from but I'm pretty sure it is hardwood. It is very difficult to split with a wedge and sledge. The seller said it's either Ash or Red Oak. It's extremely tough and stringy that's for sure.

 

[stoveliker]

Going by the 16% at 46 F, your real MC is near 20%. That's borderline.

 

[bmikeb]

Going by the 16% at 46 F, your real MC is near 20%. That's borderline.

View attachment 303108

I would say near but not over.? 46 is closer to 50 which would knock it lower right? Maybe actual 17.5?

 

[stoveliker]

Methinks you are reading the Celsius column rather than the Fahrenheit.

 

[BKVP]

Op,

Turn off all the lights tonight. Hold a cell phone flashlight on the inside, very close to the area. You should not see any light coming through that space. Those welds are done on the inside. The other, under lip weld looks unlikely. Wipe it down and after another fire, check it again for change.

 

[bmikeb]

Methinks you are reading the Celsius column rather than the Fahrenheit

I'm reading F.

Help me understand. Maybe I'm not reading this right and instead of spitballing I'll use numbers.

According to the chart, MC15 @40F is actually MC18. Right?

So MC15 @50F should actually be MC17.

MC15 @45F should be 17.5

MC16@ 46 should be 18.6 (17.4 + 1.2)

So yes a reading of MC17 @46F would be 19.8 which is borderline.

I was thinking of an MC16 reading when I said it was still below.

 

[BKVP]

You are reading it correctly.

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, that is what I deduced from the table as well, as I said "near 20".

 

[bmikeb]

Op,

Turn off all the lights tonight. Hold a cell phone flashlight on the inside, very close to the area. You should not see any light coming through that space. Those welds are done on the inside. The other, under lip weld looks unlikely. Wipe it down and after another fire, check it again for change.

No light leaking. Installer will be here tomorrow.

 

[BKVP]

My best guess is the lack of draft. The spillage that occurs during reloading is a strong indicator. Look to see if the knife edge seal is intersecting the door rope gasket. It could be the gasket needs to be fluffed (means tugged around) a bit to create a better seal.

 

[Ashful]

If you let the installers drill a small hole in your pipe, they can measure draft. There should always be some measureable draft, even on a cold stove, although it may be only 0.01" to 0.03" water column, depending on knob setting. Draft should stabilize near .05" WC at max burn, and then climb to 0.10" to 0.15" when you turn down on a hot pipe. Later in the burn, pipe might be only 300F, and good draft would be .03" to .05", depending on knob setting.

 

[bmikeb]

My best guess is the lack of draft. The spillage that occurs during reloading is a strong indicator. Look to see if the knife edge seal is intersecting the door rope gasket. It could be the gasket needs to be fluffed (means tugged around) a bit to create a better seal.

I did post a pic of the seal in one of my firsts posts. Not sure if anything can be found there.

How the heck can I increase draft if that is indeed the issue?

 

[BKVP]

I did post a pic of the seal in one of my firsts posts. Not sure if anything can be found there.

How the heck can I increase draft if that is indeed the issue?

More chimney is one method. Insulating exposed chimney another.

 

[BKVP]

More chimney is one method. Insulating exposed chimney another.

I just looked at your post pictures. I may have simple tool to see if it's the door seal. Do you have a couple of washers you can drop over the bottom hinge pin? That should raise door about 1/8-3/16". Try this.

 

[bmikeb]

I just looked at your post pictures. I may have simple tool to see if it's the door seal. Do you have a couple of washers you can drop over the bottom hinge pin? That should raise door about 1/8-3/16". Try this.

just the bottom hinge or both? Looking.... Got plenty of washers.

Edit... actually I don't just have enough. Each washer is about 1/16" and I have 3 made.

 

[BKVP]

Y

just the bottom hinge or both? Looking.... Got plenty of washers.

Edit... actually I don't just have enough. Each washer is about 1/16" and I have 3 made.

You only need them on the lower pin....

 

[bmikeb]

ok

Y

You only need them on the lower pin....

What do I do then?

 

[BKVP]

See if raising the door creates a better seal. (No smoke smell). If it works, we have shims that take the place of the washers. If it doesn't help, then that isn't the issue.

 

[bmikeb]

See if raising the door creates a better seal. (No smoke smell). If it works, we have shims that take the place of the washers. If it doesn't help, then that isn't the issue.

I may be able to raise it 1/16" of an inch. I"m not sure about 1/8". If you look at the pic, the stove's sealing lip (sorry, don't know the correct term for it) is already verry close to the edge of the bottom of the seal, on the bottom of the door. Almost like it is too big or the sealing area of the door is too small.

 

[bmikeb]

The technician is here. He started the fire and said he can't find anything wrong but he's been letting it breath and letting the flu get good and hot. He also did not have the cat fully engaged and the issue starts after the fire settles.

I can already see where this is going.

Also states I need a firm coal bed before I should shut the door.

 

[bmikeb]

Ok.... I take back what I said (I'm very pessamistic) He agrees that there is an issue and he smelled it and can't locate it but agreess it's coming from the left door as well. I'll detail later today.

 

[bmikeb]

The tech came out. He agreed that there was leakage from the left portion of the door. In addition to that, said he was perplexed by the dirty door window, dispite runninng on high, and the left side of the fire box having uneven / lack of airflow.

He stated he was going to talk to his team and take the next steps with contacting Blaze King.

@BKVP I will put a single washer in the door and try that out sometime this week. BTW, this consistently seems to have little to NO SMOKE SMELL, when the coals are to the rear of the fire box, during the last 3-5 hours of the fire.

That's all I have for now. Again, thank you everyone here for all your help and suggestions. I truly appreciate it.

 

[BKVP]

The tech came out. He agreed that there was leakage from the left portion of the door. In addition to that, said he was perplexed by the dirty door window, dispite runninng on high, and the left side of the fire box having uneven / lack of airflow.

He stated he was going to talk to his team and take the next steps with contacting Blaze King.

@BKVP I will put a single washer in the door and try that out sometime this week. BTW, this consistently seems to have little to NO SMOKE SMELL, when the coals are to the rear of the fire box, during the last 3-5 hours of the fire.

That's all I have for now. Again, thank you everyone here for all your help and suggestions. I truly appreciate it.

You can always PM or email me to get this addressed.

BKVP