Having draft problems?--smoke coming back into room?

[Kscott]

About 3 years ago my husband and I purchased a Hearthstone Phoenix soap stone wood burning stove and d it was professionally installed by the dealer. It seemed to work fine for the first two years. This year we noticed a couple of blow-ups within the stove--(like it was starving for air)--and a lot of smoke coming back into the room when we opened the door, even when the chimney was hot. After looking up towards the baffle we noticed a fire resistant--(we assume packing material) that was lying on the top of the baffle.

We didn't notice this when it was first installed and we assume that the blow-ups moved it around enough to where we could see it. After we removed this--the stove is drafting fine and working properly. How it worked over the first couple of years without us noticing it--still has us guessing, but the smoke was almost intolerable this year. We assume that the installers did not know it was in there as it was not visible--and the dealer did not think to remove it before they brought it up to the house. Anyway--if you're having problems with draft you may want to check, once your stove cools down to see if there is any material on top of the baffle that needs to be removed.

 

[DAKSY]

About 3 years ago my husband and I purchased a Hearthstone Phoenix soap stone wood burning stove and d it was professionally installed by the dealer. It seemed to work fine for the first two years. This year we noticed a couple of blow-ups within the stove--(like it was starving for air)--and a lot of smoke coming back into the room when we opened the door, even when the chimney was hot. After looking up towards the baffle we noticed a fire resistant--(we assume packing material) that was lying on the top of the baffle.

We didn't notice this when it was first installed and we assume that the blow-ups moved it around enough to where we could see it. After we removed this--the stove is drafting fine and working properly. How it worked over the first couple of years without us noticing it--still has us guessing, but the smoke was almost intolerable this year. We assume that the installers did not know it was in there as it was not visible--and the dealer did not think to remove it before they brought it up to the house. Anyway--if you're having problems with draft you may want to check, once your stove cools down to see if there is any material directly above the baffle that needs to be removed.

Put the ceramic blanket back on the baffle. It's in there for a reason. Just make sure that it lies flat & doesn't impede to flow to the flue collar. If your installers missed anything, it was the positioning of the blanket.

 

[firefighterjake]

Bad advice from the OP . . . the insulating material which they describe as "packing material" is most likely the insulation blanket above the baffle and it is there for a reason . . . that said it would be good advice to make sure it is lying flat and not impeding the draft.

 

[fox9988]

Have you swept the chimney recently? Sounds like a chimney or chimney cap blockage.

 

[jrendfrey]

Yes put the blanket back there all the newer hearthstones have them there. With that said I had a hearthstone that puffed sometimes too little air going in also check your chimney and brush it most likely your losing draft from some creosote at the top of the flue believe me very little build up will cause a notable difference. That blanket it there to hold heat it the fire box and also protect the stove top from overheating

 

[mellow]

I hope you have swept your chimney in the past 3 years with that stove, if you are just now finding the blanket it means you have not removed the baffle during your cleanings or you had a professional clean it and he did it without you seeing it.

If you are cleaning the chimney without removing the baffle that means you had a ton of crap sitting on top of that blanket blocking your exhaust.

 

[Kscott]

Put the ceramic blanket back on the baffle. It's in there for a reason. Just make sure that it lies flat & doesn't impede to flow to the flue collar. If your installers missed anything, it was the positioning of the blanket.

Thanks for your reply--but what is the purpose of it? I already tossed it--it was all crumpled up in the baffle.

 

[Kscott]

I hope you have swept your chimney in the past 3 years with that stove, if you are just now finding the blanket it means you have not removed the baffle during your cleanings or you had a professional clean it and he did it without you seeing it.

If you are cleaning the chimney without removing the baffle that means you had a ton of crap sitting on top of that blanket blocking your exhaust.

I have my chimney cleaned every year--and the chimney sweep did not know to remove the blanket-but he didn't sweep back down into the stove anyway--as he removes the pipe and takes it outside to clean. But what is the ceramic blankets purpose--and now where do I get another one--as I have already tossed it? Can I order one online?

 

[DAKSY]

Thanks for your reply--but what is the purpose of it? I already tossed it--it was all crumpled up in the baffle.

It helps to keep the heat from penetrating the baffle & getting to the castings above it. Call your Hearthstone dealer & have him get you Hearthstone part #3120-210 CERAMIC BLANKET (11 X 22)

 

[mellow]

Just like you have multiple layers of clothes when you go out to keep warm the same is for the Baffle and Blanket, it redirects that heat back down into the fire and over the secondary air tubes to help with combustion of the gases. The blanket helps cover all the sides and any other openings on top as well.

Some manufacturers put a weight on top of that blanket so it does not move or get sucked up into the collar as you experienced, you might want to ask the dealer about that as well.

 

[Kscott]

Just like you have multiple layers of clothes when you go out to keep warm the same is for the Baffle and Blanket, it redirects that heat back down into the fire and over the secondary air tubes to help with combustion of the gases. The blanket helps cover all the sides and any other openings on top as well.

Some manufacturers put a weight on top of that blanket so it does not move or get sucked up into the collar as you experienced, you might want to ask the dealer about that as well.

Yeah--needless to say I am a little disappointed. What I took out was a crumpled--ripped--mess of a rag--that was packed full of ash. It reminds me of a furnace filter that should be replaced every so often--yet that it is not mentioned in the manual. There is no way what I took out could have been cleaned----and there is no convincing me that this ceramic blanket has a life-time warranty on it. Right now--I have called a couple of Hearthstone dealers that do not keep this blanket in stock--and another that didn't even know what I was talking about.

My husband and I burn wood through-out the winter for primary heat--so it's used a lot. When we bought this stove from the dealer we made certain to ask a lot of questions about the Phoenix and told him what our 24/7 use would be. He assured us that this was the right stove for us--and never mentioned once this ceramic blanket. While I like the stove--and it certainly is a better heating source than our other stove--this ceramic blanket has become a real problem. And I am certain I am not the only one having problems with it.

 

[mellow]

I would blame your chimney cleaner if it is ripped up, sounds like he did a crappy job, probably stuck the vacuum right up to the blanket and screwed it up.

Ask a car salesman what brand of spark plug is in that new car, they will look at you funny and not know how to reply, same thing with stoves and some of the internals.

You have a wonderful stove, but due to abuse of the blanket I think that has soured your opinion of it.

 

[Kscott]

I would blame your chimney cleaner if it is ripped up, sounds like he did a crappy job, probably stuck the vacuum right up to the blanket and screwed it up.

Ask a car salesman what brand of spark plug is in that new car, they will look at you funny and not know how to reply, same thing with stoves and some of the internals.

You have a wonderful stove, but due to abuse of the blanket I think that has soured your opinion of it.

My chimney cleaner did not get near the ceramic blanket. He disassembles the chimney and takes it outside to clean--and he doesn't clean the inside of the stove. I am convinced that the ceramic blanket moved after the 2 explosions I previously mentioned within the stove. IOW it was never put in right. Right now--I still haven't found an answer as to how to replace the ceramic blanket or where to buy it from?

 

[Kscott]

It helps to keep the heat from penetrating the baffle & getting to the castings above it. Call your Hearthstone dealer & have him get you Hearthstone part #3120-210 CERAMIC BLANKET (11 X 22)

Thanks I just ordered 2 of the 3120-210 but the blanket is larger than 11 x 22--they're saying it's 12 x 24? Now when I get it--can anyone explain where it goes on the baffle--(all the way back--forward)? I found the parts place for Hearthstone stoves--and many other stoves that seem to stock about everything--that you can order on-line at this link. The online store is woodheatstoves.com You just need to know the model number of your stove and manufacturer--which they redirect you to a pdf file of all the parts on the stove so you can obtain the part number--so you can order. Here is their link.
http://woodheatstoves.com/