Explosive smoke???

[WellSeasoned]

I went home today at lunch to get the fire going again. Stove temp only around 200 f, outside temp 17 around noon. I did my normal small kindlin ( still had coals, although not many) loaded really dry oak, ash. I left the door only a crack open, for a couple minutes because kindlin wasn't catching. Then, I opened the door pretty slowly because there was a bit of smoke building and WOOOSCH a bit of a fireball and dry ash flew in a cloud out of the stove. This only lasted a split second, and scared the sugar honey iced tea outta me! My oil had kicked on and was running a few minutes. Was the pull from the oil burner fan that is down the hall that caused this???? Phew!!

 

[fossil]

My guess is the rapid introduction of oxygen from opening the door accelerated the combustion in the coal bed sufficiently to ignite the new fuel, which was already smoking & off-gassing combustible vapors. The fact that the furnace had come on may have encouraged the resulting flash to come out the open door rather than go up the flue. When I reload like that, I watch it carefully, and when it begins to smoke I'll stick a BBQ lighter in there and get it burning before there's sufficient gas buildup in the firebox to cause any sort of "whoosh" startup. Rick

 

[begreen]

What happened was the balky kindling was smoking a lot, creating unburnt wood gases filling up the fire box. When a flame appeared, it ignited the unburnt wood gas. It's called a puffback, and yes it can be exciting. This is when one is glad that they have a good installation with 3 screws per pipe joint.

 

[WellSeasoned]

Well, I work hard to keep the beard lengthy, so I officially dont like back puffing. Thx

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Backwoods, many of us wood burners have experienced that very same thing. It definitely gets your attention for a minute or so!

 

[Pallet Pete]

Yup +1 on the gas build up I had that happen a couple years ago and almost wet myself ! turned out it was much better leave the door cracked slightly and let it go on its own it usually takes off after a while. that doesn't mean you won't get the POOOOOOOF though just a little more control over the door.

 

[tcassavaugh]

yup, happened to me a couple of times last night......smoke puffing out the drafts just like a firebreathing dragon. I tried to burn it just a little too slow. opened up the draft just a little to give it a bit more air and all was ok again.

cass

 

[begreen]

Backwoods, many of us wood burners have experienced that very same thing. It definitely gets your attention for a minute or so!

And this man should know! At our age we've experienced a lot of gas buildup. :lol:

 

[firefighterjake]

What happened was the balky kindling was smoking a lot, creating unburnt wood gases filling up the fire box. When a flame appeared, it ignited the unburnt wood gas. It's called a puffback, and yes it can be exciting. This is when one is glad that they have a good installation with 3 screws per pipe joint.

On the job we have a different name for this . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdraft


Pretty similar to the puffback . . . although when we find this it's typically in a well insulated home that had a fire . . . used up most of the oxygen is now just smoldering . . . until someone reintroduces a fresh source of oxygen into the building by opening a door, breaking a window, etc.

 

[Flatbedford]

Wrong thread. :red: