Hello!! We are new owners of a Hearthstone Heritage stove and this will be our first year burning wood. We have a 22 foot masonry chimney and our stove is connected as a rear exit. There is definitely a learning curve here, and trying to learn as we go. Looking for suggestions. Tonight would seem like the perfect night to build a fire, however I just gave up! UGH. Its 34 degrees/super light wind/ light drizzle. It seems like we have a strong reverse draft happening and for the life of me I can't seem to get the draft reversed. I tried lighting a rolled newspaper near the flue and ended up with smoke coming out of the bottom of the stove. Also tried lighting a couple of candles inside the firebox, but couldn't get enough of a draft going that way either. Have noticed also that when its humid or damp our house smells like an indoor campfire, since getting the stove. Any suggestions?
Cold Chimney issues /need advice
- Thread starter MBurns
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There is double walled pipe that feeds into the chimney. The chimney is clay lined 8x8" then 13x13" at the top.
What floor of the house is the stove located on?
How long is the rear connecting pipe to the chimney and does it slope uphill toward the chimney?
Have you tried opening a nearby window to see if that helps the stove start?
How long is the rear connecting pipe to the chimney and does it slope uphill toward the chimney?
Have you tried opening a nearby window to see if that helps the stove start?
Tried, but smoke was coming out the top as well as the bottom. Have found with this stove that we generally have to leave the front door cracked until we get a good fire rolling.
Try heating it with a torch or heatgun till you get a draft established
Haha. I meant the front door you open when the doorbell rings.
The rear connecter is about 18-24" long and has 2 elbows, and does slope up.
We have been opening a nearby window when we first start the fire and sometimes when we reload, otherwise we get a little puff back into the house.
Primarily are burning ash right now. We have some maple, oak, and cherry, split and stacked, but none of that is dry enough to burn. Have been checking everything that goes into the stove with a moisture meter.
We did, right after the install. He came out and said that the chimney looked clean. I called him again two weeks ago when we had a humid day and it smelled like a campfire inside. He suggested putting a downdraft cap on, which I thought he was ordering, but haven't heard back from him.
What did he say about the condition of the clay liners? Did he put a camera in the chimney? I just want to be sure the chimney is safe before you start burning much. And changing sizes of liner is a bit of a red flag
He did put a camera down the chimney. Curious about why the liner changing sizes is an issue? I know nothing about chimneys so am curious about why this could be a red flag?
The house is 30 plus years old. The former owner was a mason and built the house/chimney.
Can you post a picture? This sounds like a tough combo when combined with the 90º turn in the cold chimney. That and the chimney expansion sound like trouble.
When the smoke hits the wider section it will cool and stall. Possibly even condense.
Because you are not allowed to do it by code. The tiles need to be sealed to each other and i dont know how that could be done going up in size.
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