Do over fired stoves smell from outside near flue

[woodhog73]

So I have a new insert with 6 inch flex steel liner. Love it. I'm real careful to watch the flames so i know I'm burning properly ( no smoke, lazy flame, secondary burns here and there ) I don't have a thermometer no idea where I'd put it.

I had a full load of white oak and it over fired ( looked and felt that way anyways ) for about 7 minutes or so. I simply shut the air off, the insert started to cool off, I heard the metal ticking as it cooled etc. All is fine, flame went back to normal.

But I went outside just after and there was a funny smell in the air. Not bad smell. Not burning smell. But different. I'm assuming the exhaust coming out was much hotter than usual. Smelled odd. The insert is fine, nothing's changed.

Any thoughts what the smell was ? Any reason to be concerned ?

 

[Dieselhead]

Burnt smoke smell, common on stoves with secondary tubes, it's actually a good thing. you are running your stove efficiently when it stinks like that.

 

[Z33]

The smell is what's left after the secondary burn. Anytime your burning hot and clean you'll smell it.

Its difficult to describe but it smells nothing like wood smoke. If you've ever smelled a hot charcoal grill once the coalso have burned down its very similar.

 

[firefighterjake]

Smelled a bit metallically or chemically ...if so normal and indicative of good secondary burn.

 

[woodhog73]

Thanks for the replies.

So I wasn't probably over firing then ?

It just seemed really hot and ofcourse the flames were huge. And then that smell i described but only from outside no smell inside the house.

I accidentally left my primary air valve open is what caused it. Then I walked away and got distracted. My start up valve was closed though or else it would have been over the top too hot.

Well thanks again I won't worry about the smell .

 

[firefighterjake]

Also could be the paint reaching a higher temp ...,you aren't the first to forget to close down the air and will not be the last.

 

[Fastdonzi]

Even on my Cat stove I sometimes get a weird smell outside. Totally different smell than the old non epa smoker... (that smelled like someone was smoking meat )

 

[hamsey]

Love that smell. When I am outside working and the wife is taking care of the fire I know when she is burning properly.

 

[BrotherBart]

When my stove is cruising around 550 or up I smell the distinct aroma of hot stainless steel outside.

 

[slayer7]

As a side note, you might want to pick up an IR thermometer gun to measure the temps on top of the stove. That way you'll be able to keep an eye on your temps.

 

[xman23]

Each season when you hit a new high temp you get that smell inside and out. Once you know your stove you don't need a temp gauge. But it handy when your getting the stove near it's maximum temp. Mine has one on top, but it's rarely looked at. For my stove to get to a over fire the fire box looks like a Nova documentary on the Sun.

 

[Ohlson35]

Each season when you hit a new high temp you get that smell inside and out. Once you know your stove you don't need a temp gauge. But it handy when your getting the stove near it's maximum temp. Mine has one on top, but it's rarely looked at. For my stove to get to a over fire the fire box looks like a Nova documentary on the Sun.

 

[Ohlson35]

When it over fires ,I get nervous, pipe temp looks good but chamber glows,should I be worried?

 

[Dieselhead]

What is your definition of over firing?