Heartstone Heritage not drafting

[jdieter]

Had stove for 5 years and absolutely no problems. This year not drafting and acts like no primary air. Looking for information on primary air entrance and exit location and same info for secondary air(if the Heritage even uses secondary air).
TIA for any help

 

[begreen]

The lack of draft can indicate a plugged chimney, not the stove. The most common issue is a plugged chimney cap screen (if there is one). Remove the chimney cap and inspect for something plugging the top of the chimney.

 

[jdieter]

Oops forgot to add stovepipe and flue cleaned. Using softwood kindling to start dry hardwood 2" splits to start dry 4" splits. . Open ash door to get a healthy flame going after the bigger splits go in. Wait about 15 minutes close ash door and fire dies. Typical fall startup weather high 20's.

 

[jdieter]

Screen at top of flue was cleaned along with flue.

 

[begreen]

The ash door is not to be used for starting. If you are having to use the ash door to start the fire then most likely the wood is not fully seasoned and ready to burn.

This year's rainy summer has made it hard for some folks to get their wood seasoned properly. What type of wood are you burning and how long has it been split and stacked?

 

[jdieter]

The ash door is not to be used for starting. If you are having to use the ash door to start the fire then most likely the wood is not fully seasoned and ready to burn.

This year's rainy summer has made it hard for some folks to get their wood seasoned properly. What type of wood are you burning and how long has it been split and stacked?

Ash cut/split two years ago stored under metal roofing.

 

[begreen]

Well, you'd certainly expect that to be dry, yet the odds of this being an air control issue are slim. It's a simple shutter. The secondary air supply (yes it has this) is unregulated.

 

[jdieter]

Where are the inlets and exits for these?

 

[begreen]

Not positive on the Heritage, but the primary air intake should be a large hole toward the bottom rear of the stove, where the outside air kit attaches.

 

[moresnow]

Any chance you upgraded windows/doors etc. for the house? Any new appliances competing with the stove for air?

 

[kennyp2339]

Top baffle clogged with debris from chimney cleaning?

 

[jdieter]

Top baffle clogged with debris from chimney cleaning?

Pulled stove pipe off and cleaned separate ly from flue. Vacuumed all I could reach with stove pipe removed.

 

[jdieter]

Any chance you upgraded windows/doors etc. for the house? Any new appliances competing with the stove for air?

Nothing changed since stove installed 5 years ago.

 

[jdieter]

Not positive on the Heritage, but the primary air intake should be a large hole toward the bottom rear of the stove, where the outside air kit attaches.

I'll check that, wondering if the only primary air outlet is the small hole at the front bottom center. Say that because a log in front of that would burn through directly in front of the small hole.

 

[begreen]

I'll check that, wondering if the only primary air outlet is the small hole at the front bottom center. Say that because a log in front of that would burn through directly in front of the small hole.

That sounds like the boost air hole. It supplements primary air for easier starting.

 

[kennyp2339]

Could be the weather, mid 40's sometimes create sluggish drafts, Also if you have a through the wall class a chimney make sure the bottom cap is on at the outside t section, or if masonry that the cleanout door is shut completely.

 

[jdieter]

That sounds like the boost air hole. It supplements primary air for easier starting.

So where else does the primary air enter the firebox?