Hello, We just had installed a Jotul F 500 V3 Oslo, we are having a very difficult time keeping the fire lit. It acts like we are trying to start a fire with the damper closed., but we have it fully open. It will burn for a couple minutes, fade-out and fill with smoke. our chimney was just cleaned. We are using small kiln dried kindling peices and newspaper to start. Sometimes the paper doesn’t even all catch. Any ideas??
Brand new Jotul F 500 V3 Oslo won’t stay lit
- Thread starter Holly72
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I'm sure the experts will respond here soon but some extra info can help them answer your question more effectively. How tall is your stovepipe? Does your home have a tight envelope and do you crack a window when trying to start the fire? How much kindling are you using to start the fire, and are you trying to do the top-down method?
When I first started using my Jotul F 602 V2, I had a similar issue and noticed smoke coming out of the secondary intake. I realized my crawlspace fan was on and all my windows were shut, effectively drawing a vacuum on the stove. Cracking a window solved it almost immediately for me, and I still do that to this day until the flue warms up.
I also try to start mine with top-down, but I found I had to put my lighter just below the top stack instead of at the very top like some recommend. My kindling wouldn't get going otherwise.
When I first started using my Jotul F 602 V2, I had a similar issue and noticed smoke coming out of the secondary intake. I realized my crawlspace fan was on and all my windows were shut, effectively drawing a vacuum on the stove. Cracking a window solved it almost immediately for me, and I still do that to this day until the flue warms up.
I also try to start mine with top-down, but I found I had to put my lighter just below the top stack instead of at the very top like some recommend. My kindling wouldn't get going otherwise.
Keep the door slightly cracked open for a few minutes until it gets going. Is your wood dry? Has it been split and stacked for at least a year?
In addition to keeping the main door ajar about an inch, try this. Place two, 1" diameter kindling pieces oriented N/S (parallel to the stove sides) about 6-8" apart first. These will act as sleepers on which to place the kindling while allowing air to get underneath the wood for faster starting.
Describe the flue system in detail from stove to chimney cap. If possible, post some pictures of the install and of the flue system that the stove is connected to, indoors and out.
Thanks for the reply! We have a 2 story home the chimney goes from first floor all the way up through the roof. We have a liner to the stove. It’s definitely not a tight home, but we have tried with door and windows open.
Tried top down method as well as just newspaper and kindling, plenty of kindling to start.
Hi , we did try this, it it’s way too much smoke just even a crack open. Our wood is bone dry, been stacked for years in a woodshed, we have been using small split kiln dried boards for kindling. We can barely get the paper to burn, if the kindling does catch it’s a small flame that eventually just goes out.
We are not able to leave the door cracked at all, smoke just pours out.
We have a 6” liner that runs up the chimney through the roof so I can’t really get pics. We have a cap, no screen. I can try to get a decent picture of the stove set up that you can see inside though. Thanks!
Burnin Since 1989
Member
So just to make sure we're on the same page. You have a liner connected to your masonry chimney that goes all the way up to the roof? Does the liner go all the way to the top as well? So get us a pic of the connection from your stove into the chimney as best you can and maybe one of the best shot you can get of the chimney. The chimney is most likely taller than any other part of the house?
Turn off any of the following: Dryer, exhaust vent over cooking stove, whole house vent, bathroom vent(s). Close every window in the house and only open one window an inch or so, closest to the stove. You should be able to feel air coming in that window. If you need to open the window more, that is ok. Is the outside temperature below 50 degrees? Over 50 it's a bit harder to get a fire started.
With the stove out, light a match or a candle or use a lighter and put it inside the stove with the door open and see what happens to the smoke or flame.
EDIT: for clarity
That should give us enough info to help you get this figured out!
That should draft well if there are no complications like negative pressure in the room or a liner kink. Approximately how tall is the liner?
If a nearby door or window is opened up 1" does the fire perk up?
Are you preheating the flue to establish a draft? Some people use a torch or a heat gun, I use some newspaper held up by the flue. You can normally feel when the draft catches. Your absolutely positive there is no obstruction in the chimney?
So just to make sure we're on the same page. You have a liner connected to your masonry chimney that goes all the way up to the roof? Does the liner go all the way to the top as well? So get us a pic of the connection from your stove into the chimney as best you can and maybe one of the best shot you can get of the chimney. The chimney is most likely taller than any other part of the house?
Turn off any of the following: Dryer, exhaust vent over cooking stove, whole house vent, bathroom vent(s). Close every window in the house and only open one window an inch or so, closest to the stove. You should be able to feel air coming in that window. If you need to open the window more, that is ok. Is the outside temperature below 50 degrees? Over 50 it's a bit harder to get a fire started.
With the stove out, light a match or a candle or use a lighter and put it inside the stove with the door open and see what happens to the smoke or flame.
EDIT: for clarity
That should give us enough info to help you get this figured out!
Yes the liner goes all the way to top. It’s about 30 feet. We have cathedral ceilings if that matters. The chimney is taller then the house. We have had nothing else running in the house, it’s been about 42-45 degrees out about 30 at night. Our house is definitely not tight, but we did try to light it with a door open. I haven’t gotten an outside picture yet, but here’s the inside .
![[Hearth.com] Brand new Jotul F 500 V3 Oslo won’t stay lit](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/img_2949-webp.341769/ "[Hearth.com] Brand new Jotul F 500 V3 Oslo won’t stay lit")
![[Hearth.com] Brand new Jotul F 500 V3 Oslo won’t stay lit](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/img_2950-webp.341771/ "[Hearth.com] Brand new Jotul F 500 V3 Oslo won’t stay lit")
Is your oval top plate loose so you can remove it and take a look inside? If not try removing the cap on your liner tee and feel up in there for obstructions. What kind of chimney cap do you have? Maybe a bird or small critter got in there?
No we are not preheating, never have had to do that before with any other stove we have had.
We just had the chimney swept, but I have called to have them come back and check it again.
The top is attached the oval is just a solid piece, we did just have the chimney swept, but I have called for them to come back and check it out. We have a cap but no screen.
