Excessive Smoke From the Flue

[deadon]

We installed an Ashely cabinet side load wood/coal stove in my son's basement. The stainless flue is Lowe's supervent, it is 21' high and about 3' above the roof eves. I plan to add an additional 3' piece. When he burns he gets what I think is to much smoke and it drifts down around the home. Will just adding additional pipe solve. I also think he needs to fire harder with more air but when he does the stove runs to wild and hot. when he throttle's down he gets the smoke. Any ideas other than what I think.

 

[Pagey]

Is this an EPA Certified stove? If not, and especially if he's burning at lower temps, he's not going to get complete combustion. Also, tell us about the wood he's using. How long has it been split, stacked, and covered?

 

[beau5278]

I would think there should be a happy medium somewhere between smoke and burning wild.If it's just that the smoke is coming down around the house,the extra 3ft length should help.I'd also give it a little time,a couple of weeks of burning to get things broke in.

 

[Jags]

Combination stoves have a bad habit of burning one fuel better than the other. I am guessing that because this stove can burn coal, that the air supply is coming in from the bottom of the stove. This is not the best config for wood, unless you are looking for a forge. I do hope that I am wrong, but my guess is that while burning wood, you are either gonna be running real hot, or smokey. Pick one.

 

[ScottF]

Jags , Have I missed the discussion of what that throne is?? Is it real or did you photoshop some tank treads on your personal chair??

 

[Jags]

Jags , Have I missed the discussion of what that throne is?? Is it real or did you photoshop some tank treads on your personal chair??

Its real, but it ain't mine.

Edit: those are snowmobile tracks.

 

[deadon]

Is this an EPA Certified stove? If not, and especially if he's burning at lower temps, he's not going to get complete combustion. Also, tell us about the wood he's using. How long has it been split, stacked, and covered?

The stove is new but not an EPA certified. The wood was cut down 3 years ago. Cut and split last year kept covered and dry it is well seasoned.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

It might also have to do with what is around the house. For example, if there are lots of trees you will many times get a downdraft effect which just brings that smoke right to the ground. As for why so much smoke, that definitely sounds like a wood problem.

 

[LeonMSPT]

The timing of the smoke relative to last loading? If it's five to ten minutes after putting 30 to 40 pounds of wood in it, remember you just threw nearly a gallon of water in the woodstove and are boiling that off, and out the chimney.

I have a method, some will like it, some will agree, and some won't. Just as well we all do what we feel is best.

I light the stove, insert, boiler, whatever it is. Some newspaper, kindling, and a few small splits. Touch it off and open the air up all the way. Let it burn down to coals or near, then add a few larger splits... let her burn! When the stove is "nearly hot enough", add two or three larger splits, and keep it open and roaring. Try to get the wood fully burning, on all sides.

When the stove isn't quite as hot as you want, but nearly so, close the air down and damper it.

NOTE: Close the air supply in increments, please. Not everybody has heard the stories apparently about airtight stoves "exploding". It's a real story, and has happened. Go half, then half, than half, to leave time for the fire to equalize and slow itself gradually.

Mechanism is basically a "backdraft", similar to the experience of firemen entering a building where there is a large, smoldering, unvented fire. When it gets air, "BOOM".

Fire is cranking along, hot a hard. Producing heat, which produces gas, which burns in the presence of air. It's hitting on all cylinders, and all the sudden, some dummy cuts off all the air trying to choke it. Well, it's still producing gasses at the same rate, and the stack velocity is still there, so a vacuum is formed in the system. Can't suck the stove in like a milk jug, and the chimney is generally pretty airtight, so it sucks a gulp of air down the chimney. "KABOOM".

Cousin had a customer call in last week and yell at his associate over one. Seems he slammed 'er shut on a roaring fire and went to leave. He didn't get to the door, and the soapstone off the top of the stove was all over the room, and the glass from the door was too...