Coal Stove Odor

[prinefan]

I just aquired an Alaska coal stove, maybe 10-12 years old. 70,000 BTU. VERY LARGE.

I replaced all the gaskets and I am venting out the chimney. Is there a natural coal type odor that comes from the stove when burning? The inside of the firebox is rusty. Is this normal in a coal stove? Should I take the time the remove the rust?

I also have a pellet stove and it does not smell at all!!

Thanks for any info

Mark

 

[davemich]

You should not have a smell coming from the stove at least I don't with my insert unless I take the top off from the hopper to load coal but then the smell is nominal...it won't be noticeable unless you are over top of the hopper. The rust you see is normal from use due to the sulphur/carbon deposit that accurs from burning. It should be cleaned up at the end of the burning season so I think you can wait on that. The smell must be from a leak somewhere and I would check into that.

 

[prinefan]

OK.. So this is a pretty silly question, but, I have to ask it:

The lid for the hopper (that is also the blower room-air fan) does not sit flat on the top of the hopper, leaving maybe a maximum of 1/2"gap along the back side of the hopper. Is it possible that the odor is permeating back up through the coal in the hopper and coming out of gap between the lid and hopper? The odor would then be sucked through the blower fan into the room, maybe?, or am I over-analysing this?

It appears as though at one point in time there was a gasket of some sort on the bottom side of the lid where it mates with the hopper. Is this standard in all coal stoves?

Thanks for any info,

Mark

 

[davemich]

Mark, I do not have a stoker stove but yes, that would be my first guess. If the lid is not tight, mine has a fabric gasket, then you would expect the burning coal odor to permeate up through the hopper and out. There are other folks in here with stoker stoves that probably can better answer that question but I think you are going in the right direction with the hopper cover. Good luck!