Do all non-EPA wood burning stove chimneys smoke when you close the air vent, even if the firewood is dry ?
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Do all non-EPA wood burning stove chimneys smoke when you close the air vent, even if the firewood is dry ?
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No, you can easily get an old smoke dragon to burn without visible smoke coming out the chimney if you have dry wood and have it adjusted correctly.
I think so, My experience has shown it will start to smoke very shortly if brought to minimum, especially if you can shut it down completely. Before being introduced to a non-catalytic clean burner around 1990, I always thought wood stoves were supposed to smoke. Smoke is typically removed through secondary combustion based on temperature and secondary air mix. If an EPA clean burner can smoke, I don’t see how a non EPA unit won’t. But there are plenty of other seasoned wood burners on here that will have a definitive answer for you.
Some stoves are better than others, but unless you leave things burn at a pretty good clip, yes, you will very likely have some smoke.
You can't really do "low n slow" without smoldering, which equals smoke.
No. Even if the stove has a closed air vent and is full of wet firewood, an unlit stove will not send smoke out the chimney.
But in truth, there’s huge variability in pre EPA stoves. Some stoves will burn cleaner than others. And that’s not even counting the variability that users of different skill levels add to the mix.
I think the point is this: if there is no reburn (tubes) or cat, then closing off the air (completely) will necessarily lead to a no-flame burn, aka smolder. That will always lead to smoke, whether with dry wood or wet wood.
(Yes, unless the stove is not lit 🤣 )
So it depends on how much air "closed air" means. But generally pre-EPA stoves could close the air more than EPA stoves. So I'd say the answer will be "yes, always smoke with the air closed on a pre-EPA stove".
In fact, that was the primary reason why the EPA set their rules about stove emissions.
(Yes, unless the stove is not lit 🤣 )
So it depends on how much air "closed air" means. But generally pre-EPA stoves could close the air more than EPA stoves. So I'd say the answer will be "yes, always smoke with the air closed on a pre-EPA stove".
In fact, that was the primary reason why the EPA set their rules about stove emissions.
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