Finished my install. How did I do?

[Huggytree]

You guys helped me select the drolet spark ii. Ran the Duravent chimney . The 2 30 degrees worked out perfectly to get around the soffit. It’s 30” over the roof top. The chimney cap feels very loose. I push and push and that’s all it’s got. Guess I’ll find out if it’s on first wind storm. Instructions for the install and on line videos are meh. I struggled with the bracket - felt like I needed 3 hands. I’m a plumber by trade and I found it challenging. Inside I used single wall and put the stove 19” off the rough wall. The drolet manual didn’t tell me the distance. I had to research on line and saw 18” to flammables. After it’s insulated I’ll probably put a sheet of cement board behind it.

Tomorrow I start my first fire. Manual says medium heat for 4 hours break in. I’m planning on keeping it 400-500 degrees or less.

See anything wrong w my install?

 

[stoveliker]

I thought single wall needed 18" clearance to combustibles. Is that the case where you go thru the wall?

I.e. take an 18" stick and can you connect from the stove pipe to the drywall(-to be)?

And you'll need a non-combustible hearth under and in front of the stove. This'll lift it up a bit, so you'll have to adjust the pipe.

 

[Huggytree]

Floor is concrete. It’s very dirty with sandy soil. So looks like wood

Going through the wall is inside a thimble. Completely enclosed. The triple wall pipe is 2” in from the outside of the thimble

 

[bigealta]

What's the height from top of stove to chimney cap? looks pretty short. I also have a short chimney in Utah and for me North West winds create a draft problem with back puffing if the winds are strong enough. Could be a potential issue that you may or may not have with this setup.

 

[bigealta]

Gonna need dry wood seasoned to under 20% moisture content tested on the inside of a freshly split room temp piece. I see some unsplit rounds in the back. Those are definitely not ready to burn this year.

 

[Huggytree]

5’6” high

I didn’t realize that would be an issue.

With water heaters I often have the 90 right on top of the heater. Once in a while there’s a draw issue. But it’s rare

Got some gas station firewood to test. Short notice all I can get today

 

[EatenByLimestone]

You have lots of turns/corners. That may cause an issue.

 

[stovelark]

Hey Huggy- Good effort it looks nice. Agree though you might need a little more chimney, its something to be aware of. Looks as though you have a total chimney run of about 9.5-10 feet. A lot of stoves will balk on that, but give her a try. Good dry wood is a must. Take care.

 

[kborndale]

It is a drolet stove which is one of the easier breathing stoves so you have that going for you. I would give it a shot as is. It may work well now while it's mid winter but you may need a few more feet of chimney in the spring.

 

[Huggytree]

So I might need to add height to my chimney ?

Building is 12’ tall. So approx 11’ - 11.5’ of chimney

Using it today. As soon as we close the door it dies off. No smoke. Running clean. I can’t add enough wood to get it over 400 degrees. If I close the door it drops too
200. Might need more of a coal pile. We’re 3 hours into it

 

[stoveliker]

Then add more chimney; you don't have enough draft.

 

[Huggytree]

How much should I add?

2’ more?

I’ve got extra sections

 

[Huggytree]

Fire is raging. But not much heat.

 

[kborndale]

Just get some rigid dryer vent as a temporary extension and if that helps then go ahead and do it with class A.

 

[Huggytree]

I’ve got 4’ left over from the install I didn’t return

I can add 2’ next weekend

Add another after that

So it’s not drawing and pulling air?

There’s 0 smoke inside the shed. It’s very clean burning

If it’s not drawing I’d think I’d be getting smoke?

I know nothing . Just me trying to understand

The interior height is ok I hope?
That’s a big hole to patch if I’ve gotta raise that.

 

[kborndale]

If your not getting the temps you want it's normally one of two reasons (or both). Wet wood and low draft. I do believe that is a stovetop thermometer on your pipe, not a stovepipe thermometer so the temp ranges it shows aren't correct. 600 flue temps are not optimal.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The chimney is the engine of your stove. As the warm air moves up the chimney, it creates a vacuum in the stove and pulls in fresh air.

 

[Huggytree]

Wood started on fire very easily. Moisture reader says 8% moisture

We burned a ton of wood today.
I’ll add 2’ next weekend. And retest

What is a typical flue length?

 

[Huggytree]

Any trick on getting that chimney cap off?

Just yank straight up?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Mine twists on and then has a locking ring over that.

 

[Huggytree]

This one just pushed on.

 

[stoveliker]

Is your baffle snug at the back of the stove?

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Fire is raging. But not much heat.
View attachment 334945
View attachment 334946

The fire in this pic looks good. Are you starting from a very cold living area? It can take a while to get up to room temp if so. If that’s a magnetic themometer, put it on the stovetop to see how that temp is.

 

[Huggytree]

Didn’t look at the baffle. I’m gone now. It’s at my hunting land. I’ll go back in a week with more vent pipe. Research for a week too

Ty for all the help!

Hopefully next week I’ll get it going better

Drolet manual says min 12’
I’ve got 4’ extra in my garage at home. I’ll add it. Should give me 14’ +

 

[Huggytree]

Looking at my stove. I don’t see where the air enters the firebox ?

It’s a tiny hole the damper opens size of a nickel when fully open. I took 4 bricks out on the bottom inside the firebox looking for the holes and couldn’t find any

I’m sure they are there. Just would like to know where so I don’t block them

Saturday I fix my chimney and try again