chimney down draft

[bshaff]

I have recently installed a US stove co. US1269E. I have double walled pipe coming out of the top of the stove for about 42inches into a 90 degree elbow and going horizontal or slightly slanting upward for about 27inches into the chimney thimble.

The problem is when I go to light it the smoke comes back into the room. I took the elbow apart and just had the horizontal pipe in the thimble and I can feel a lot of air coming down the chimney into the house.

My chimney is an outside chimney and is a about 20 some feet high. It is located about 4 feet from the peek of the roof and is about 30 some inches higher than the peek and has a chimney cap on the top if it.

I have been able to start it sometimes and it works fine after it is lit. I would like some info as to what to do so I can use this.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I have recently installed a US stove co. US1269E. I have double walled pipe coming out of the top of the stove for about 42inches into a 90 degree elbow and going horizontal or slightly slanting upward for about 27inches into the chimney thimble.

The problem is when I go to light it the smoke comes back into the room. I took the elbow apart and just had the horizontal pipe in the thimble and I can feel a lot of air coming down the chimney into the house.

My chimney is an outside chimney and is a about 20 some feet high. It is located about 4 feet from the peek of the roof and is about 30 some inches higher than the peek and has a chimney cap on the top if it.

I have been able to start it sometimes and it works fine after it is lit. I would like some info as to what to do so I can use this.

Thanks for the help.

Pre-warm it to get a draft going - I have heard of people using a blow dryer. If you are masonry, it's going to be tough. Maybe consider a liner?

 

[djlew]

My brother-in-law had a similar setup and also similar symptoms. Different stove but had to preheat the flue with fire starter to get the draft going. In his case, and my suggestion, was needing to compensate for the 90 since the chimney barely passed the 3-2-10 rule. The 90s and horizontal runs really take a lot of the draft away. Just my experience, I'm sure some more experienced folks will have some good insight for you and may want some pics of the setup to help more. Good luck!

 

[GG Woody]

Well who let it go out Kidding of course...
Some days/certain weather patterns sure make a big difference, as does outdoor temperature as well as indoor temperature.
As @Whitenuckler mentioned, a liner would likely help a bunch.
Is the stove competing for air vs any exhaust fans? Bathroom/dryer/range hood/HRV/furnace/hot water tank venting?
Some people get away with lighting some newspaper in the top connector of the stove to get the draft going the right way?

 

[Dajolu]

I’m having a down draft issue with my stove this year (I didn’t last year, I’m not sure what changed) but I use a propane torch for 15 seconds and it’s enough to make the flue draft upwards. Ether get the kindling going first or immediately after the torch burn.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

top/ down fire should work well in this situation.

 

[stoveliker]

I second the propane torch.
I had a smoky basement once at start up and prefer to use the torch that I anyway use to light the fire.

 

[bigealta]

Have a top down set up and ready to light.
Then use your torch to warm up the top of the stove.
When you feel the air stop down drafting then give it just a bit more time to get up flow.
Then light the top down from the Top only.
Not top and middle or top and bottom. Top only is needed and preferred.

Let us know if this helps.

 

[moresnow]

Clothes drier running?
Forced air furnace running?
Oven hood vent running?
Bathroom vent running?
Upstairs window or attic access not shut/sealed?
So many things can aggravate this issue.
Be sure nothing else is exhausting air from your home which can ask your masonry chimney to make up/provide fresh air for it. Then see if there is any improvement. Some things to consider. Good luck.

 

[kborndale]

Every cold start I do I first burn a piece or two of newspaper near the flue. You can normally feel when the draft catches and pulls the flames up into the flue.