Foil Tape and Chemical Smell

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windymichelle

New Member
Jan 5, 2016
5
New York
This is my first year ever using a wood stove so I'm essentially clueless. The first time I used it a couple of weeks ago I noticed a pretty harsh chemical smell, much like burning plastic. I cleaned it out and made sure there was no plastic in, on or around it. I used it a second time yesterday and sure enough, after about 30 minutes, that smell came back giving me a pretty nasty headache. I've been looking all over the internet trying to figure it out when it occurred to me that my mgr had recently put some foil tape around one of the seams, about a week before I first used it. I've been looking around and it seems like the max temp for the tape is 250 degrees. A wood stove gets quite a bit hotter than that am I correct? So I'm just wondering if it's the tape causing the smell. Any input would be appreciated.
This is what he used http://www.amazon.com/3M-Silver-Foi...TF8&qid=1452027731&sr=8-2&keywords=3m++ul181b
 
yes the tape will off gas for sure it is not meant for stove pipe. It can be used on liners but they are not inside the living space so you typically dont smell it.
 
Yeah, that tape will smell pretty nasty. I'm guessing it's on single wall stove pipe?

Why the tape? Was the seam smoking? If it was there is something else going on, even if the tape was rated for that it would only be masking the problem.
 
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The smell will eventually burn off.
 
Yeah, that tape will smell pretty nasty. I'm guessing it's on single wall stove pipe?

Why the tape? Was the seam smoking? If it was there is something else going on, even if the tape was rated for that it would only be masking the problem.

Yes single wall pipe. When I first moved in the previous renter had knocked the stove a little bit so the pipes weren't lining up. He had to move the stove over to reconnect the pipes. I'm not sure why the tape.
 
I would take it off. bholler is correct. It is not rated for wood stove flue temps.
 
Thanks for all of the input. I just took the tape off. Now to get some goof off or something to get rid of the adhesive that is still on the pipe and we should be good to go. Thanks again!
 
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