- Nov 27, 2012
- 0
Question:
We use the wood stove that came with the house we bought to heat the finished basement (TV room/playroom). We bought the house 5 years ago -- I don't know how old the stove is (Energy Harvesters). The previous owner installed it himself. He built a new chimney for the furnace- and installed the stove into the original chimney for the furnace (also serves the fireplace in the living room). The stove's pipe enters the chimney about 4-5 ft. off the floor- so there is a "clean-out" portion of the chimney below the stove pipe's entrance. One main problem we have is that there is a constant dripping of fluid (creosote) into that bottom cleanout portion of the flue- even if our stovepipe thermometer registers 500 degrees! Our other major problem is constant backdraft down the chimney when the stove is not used -- our house always smells of smoke and ash. Any suggestions? We're about ready to give up on heating with wood! Would a new- more efficient stove solve the problem? Thanks!!
Answer:
The stove is very old- about 15 years.
However- if you burn it with dry wood and lots of air into the inlet (a good flame on the fire)- it should not produce much creosote or water. <p>Sounds like a chimney problem--first- one chimney should only serve one stove or fireplace. The chimney should also not be oversized- this cools the smoke an creates the problems you describe. Lining the existing chimney with stainless steel pipe will solve a lot of the problems. A new- more efficient stove will solve some- but not all- of the problems...the chimney is an important part of any system- and your must be improved (it sounds like)Craig
We use the wood stove that came with the house we bought to heat the finished basement (TV room/playroom). We bought the house 5 years ago -- I don't know how old the stove is (Energy Harvesters). The previous owner installed it himself. He built a new chimney for the furnace- and installed the stove into the original chimney for the furnace (also serves the fireplace in the living room). The stove's pipe enters the chimney about 4-5 ft. off the floor- so there is a "clean-out" portion of the chimney below the stove pipe's entrance. One main problem we have is that there is a constant dripping of fluid (creosote) into that bottom cleanout portion of the flue- even if our stovepipe thermometer registers 500 degrees! Our other major problem is constant backdraft down the chimney when the stove is not used -- our house always smells of smoke and ash. Any suggestions? We're about ready to give up on heating with wood! Would a new- more efficient stove solve the problem? Thanks!!
Answer:
The stove is very old- about 15 years.
However- if you burn it with dry wood and lots of air into the inlet (a good flame on the fire)- it should not produce much creosote or water. <p>Sounds like a chimney problem--first- one chimney should only serve one stove or fireplace. The chimney should also not be oversized- this cools the smoke an creates the problems you describe. Lining the existing chimney with stainless steel pipe will solve a lot of the problems. A new- more efficient stove will solve some- but not all- of the problems...the chimney is an important part of any system- and your must be improved (it sounds like)Craig
