I just love my Heco 420. It is fabulous and super easy to use, bake, cook and clean. I couldn't be happier. I am not a homesteader, just a regular urbanite. I researched for almost a year, and this was by far the best priced and the best options and functionality of all of them. I even did several YouTube video's on the basics of installation, accessories, options and added the cool tips and tools I had discovered along the way. I just found y'all and joined because I want to hear other opinions too.
Heco 420 Woodburning Cookstove
- Thread starter Heco 420 Girl
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Awesome! There’s a cooking thread in the Inglenook. Come on down and discuss cooking in your stove!
New member here. I have the heco 420 stove in a newly constructed house. I have 25 feet of 6 inch stainless steel chimney pipe above the top of the stove. My problem is that this stove spills smoke out the door when starting fires or reloading with wood. Have you had this problem Heco 420 girl?
Welcome! How are things in Haines?
Simple question first, is the oven bypass open (cook mode) when starting or reloading the fire?
Simple question first, is the oven bypass open (cook mode) when starting or reloading the fire?
Nice morning here 6deg F. Everything is open. I grew up with an old glenwood cook stove so i know how they can smoke with the oven bypass closed. I have never seen a stove smoke like this one but if others dont have this problem there must be something wrong with my chimney.
My 420 heats my 1500 square foot house very well with no other heat source. I have not tried coal and i would be worried about smoke spilling into the house.
I had the pleasure of staying up in Haines a few decades ago. It's a beautiful area.
This stove wants a strong draft so a 25' flue should suffice. Is the chimney interior or exterior? Is the stove in a one story addition to a 2 story house?
If there a screen on the chimney cap, check for plugging of the screen.
One thing that could be an issue is negative pressure. If a nearby window is opened 1/2" does that help resolve the issue?
2 story house with basement. interior chimney. Opening the window doesnt help at all. I had this problem while the house was under construction too.
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Is the stove on the main floor or basement floor?
If there is a screen on the chimney cap, try removing it. If not, it would be a good to test the draft on the flue. It needs to be in the .06 to .1" range.
I just watched this video. Her Heco is not spilling smoke, even when reloading.
If there is a screen on the chimney cap, try removing it. If not, it would be a good to test the draft on the flue. It needs to be in the .06 to .1" range.
I just watched this video. Her Heco is not spilling smoke, even when reloading.
The stove is on the main floor, there is a cleanout in the basement. Good find with the video! She is having a way different experience than me. Hard to tell whats going on with her chimney but there must be something wrong with mine. There is not a screen on the cap.
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![[Hearth.com] Heco 420 Woodburning Cookstove](/talk/data/attachments/346/346730-2ae75be255f61503646ff36c1bb0434a.jpg?hash=Ykaj5USlbx)
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The clean out may be leaking. Seal it and see if the smoke issue goes away.
I doubt you’d be able to check this soon, but is there a draft coming down the chimney when the stove is out and cold?
Do you have any other fans making a negative pressure? Stove venting, bathroom fans, radon mitigation?
Do you have any other fans making a negative pressure? Stove venting, bathroom fans, radon mitigation?
Good suggestion. Leakage could affect draft. Seal the end cap with silicone adhesive.
If that doesn't work, I'd consider eliminating the double-90º turn combo at the tee and soften it by replacing the tee with a 30º chimney elbow and connect the stove pipe directly to it.
I blocked the chimney just above the cleanout and it didnt seem to help. I used to have it set up like this picture and i had the same problem.
I have considered raising the t in the stainless pipe so the smoke can rise a bit Higher in the single wall pipe before it goes into the 90. Not sure if that would help.
I am reluctant to eliminate the cleanout because it is pretty handy.
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![[Hearth.com] Heco 420 Woodburning Cookstove](/talk/data/attachments/346/346744-ead83ce1575e8b77271ef7ec435bdd0c.jpg?hash=dvutcZJ3ab)
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Blocked how?
Airtight seal? That is what you need.
Yes, having a larger initial rise before elbowing helps too
Airtight seal? That is what you need.
Yes, having a larger initial rise before elbowing helps too
I crammed a rag in there, maybe not totally sealed. Is the cleanout totally airtight in a masonry chimney?
Clean outs are often not well sealed.
If you can put a bead of silicone there (that you can cut open to clean if you have to), that'll help.
The point is that your chimney creates draft (suction on the stove). That is the engine that runs the stove. But if part of that suction gets satisfied by air leaking in below the stove at the clean out, you won't have enough draft and can get smoke roll out.
If you can put a bead of silicone there (that you can cut open to clean if you have to), that'll help.
The point is that your chimney creates draft (suction on the stove). That is the engine that runs the stove. But if part of that suction gets satisfied by air leaking in below the stove at the clean out, you won't have enough draft and can get smoke roll out.
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A rag definitely is not a good seal. Securely tape a plastic bag over the end of the cleanout to seal well.
Is the house above 60ºF when testing the stove?
Is the house above 60ºF when testing the stove?
The house is kept well over 60 degrees usually in the low to mid 70s. The cellar where the clean-out is stays much colder, usually between 45 and 50 degrees.
I wrapped and taped a plastic bag around the cleanout and taped all the joints in the insulated pipe. The stove smokes as bad as ever.
I also switched to some different wood. I had some spruce that was about 20 percent moisture. The new stuff is hemlock and birch thats about 15 percent moisture. The different wood didnt change anything.
Maybe i should try taking the cap off and see what happens.
I wrapped and taped a plastic bag around the cleanout and taped all the joints in the insulated pipe. The stove smokes as bad as ever.
I also switched to some different wood. I had some spruce that was about 20 percent moisture. The new stuff is hemlock and birch thats about 15 percent moisture. The different wood didnt change anything.
Maybe i should try taking the cap off and see what happens.
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OK, that eliminates that possibility. Figuring out what is happening is a process of elimination.
Is there a screen on the chimney cap?
Not a good plan. That will flood the flue with cooler basement air, greatly diluting the draft and cooling the flue gases to the point of condensing creosote in the chimney pipe.
Sorry, that wasnt clear. I meant the cap at the top. There doesnt seem to be anything wrong with the cleanout. Theres no screen at the top but it seems like the cap may be partially plugged.
It may be that i need a different cap. I have noticed that a lot of people around here have directional spinning caps for wind.
All of my ladders are tied up in a siding project. Ill let you know when I can make it up there.
Thanks for the help.
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![[Hearth.com] Heco 420 Woodburning Cookstove](/talk/data/attachments/346/346751-c07e36f47d15bb283940a1db8a50f726.jpg?hash=HnlXYzoqPM)
Nice place. Yes, pulling the cap, temporarily, might help. Be careful up there. If pulling the cap off does make a big difference then there is an expensive cap called VacuStack that may help. The rooster-tail, vaned caps are good for high wind areas. Is that an issue where your house is?
What brand chimney and cap was used?
For most part, you've done every thing right. I asked about the interior temp because draft relies on the temperature differential between indoor and outdoor temp. In the picture it looks like insulation has not gone up yet and everyone was in parkas so I thought the interior might be on the cold side.
What brand chimney and cap was used?
For most part, you've done every thing right. I asked about the interior temp because draft relies on the temperature differential between indoor and outdoor temp. In the picture it looks like insulation has not gone up yet and everyone was in parkas so I thought the interior might be on the cold side.
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