How does this outside air system work?

[Mezz2006]

I have a Martin LF42E with an outside air system installed. We were told by our chimney/fireplace inspector that pulling the lever will open the system, however when burning we have noticed no difference between "open" and "closed", so i decided to dig into it by pulling the refractory panel. The attached pic is what I found. It does not appear to be installed correctly or it is damaged as neither open or closed positions come in contact with the air flap.

 

[Fod01]

That looks like it is sealed rather than operational. Does the flap actually move? Is it connected to a pipe that leads outside ? That's what an outside air kit (OAK) does. Pulls air from outside.

 

[Fod01]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious here[emoji3]

 

[Mezz2006]

It is not sealed, The flap does move, I have flipped it open and looked through and am able to see the outside air intake screen (and daylight through it). I guess my question should be how does the lever adjust and change the amount of air that is supposed to come through the OAK? The lever does is not connected to the flap and doesn't reach far enough to hold it closed.

 

[Smoked]

It changes where the combustion air comes from. Exhaust going up the chimney creates a void in home that has to be replaced. If the air is coming from that vent, it does not have to come from cracks in windows and doors. So it may not change the way the fire burns, but it should make the rest of the house seem less drafty. That is as long as it is functional and is connected to outside air.

 

[Mezz2006]

Thanks guys, I understand how an OAK works and what it does, but I don't understand how this particular one functions. Is the flap on this one supposed to open on its own being that it is a flap? As the fireplace needs air, will it create a vacuum pulling this flap open to get it? Should the lever be connected to the flap somehow?

 

[Smoked]

Sorry If you turn the lever, does it do anything? Maybe try to push open the flap and see what the lever tries to do? I don't see how it could work any other way but I have never had one so ...

 

[Mezz2006]

Sorry If you turn the lever, does it do anything? Maybe try to push open the flap and see what the lever tries to do? I don't see how it could work any other way but I have never had one so ...

Turning the lever does not do anything either since the lever is not connected in anyway to the flap. The original pic shows the lever fully pushed in and in the "closed" position, as you can see the lever does not contact the flap at this point either.

 

[Smoked]

I clearly know nothing about that setup but does the bottom of that flap even move and if so, is it connected to a duct that has an outside connection?

 

[Smoked]

I wonder if that J shaped part is supposed to be tack welded to the flap or something?

 

[elmoleaf]

I'd pull up the bottom half of the flap and look on the backside for any attachment points for the wire arm.
If I had to guess, if the wire arm was rotated 180 degrees, the angled part would be in a position to contact a connection point on the back of the bottom half of the circular flap. Or there is a missing connection wire or chain to connect it to the back of the flap. If attached like this, I'm assuming operation would be to rotate the wire arm to open and close the flap.
This is based on an assumption that the flap is not designed to ever be 100% closed, since such an attachment method would prevent it from fully closing as shown.

 

[begreen]

I'm wondering if the draft pulls hard enough to open the flap. Is so, assuming no parts are missing, I would speculate that maybe the J on the rod is a stop to prevent the flap from opening? It looks like pushing in the rod a little and then rotating the J to contact the flap might prevent if from opening. Again, just a wild guess.

 

[Mezz2006]

Smoked and elmoleaf, my initial thought was that there were missing parts or it was not hooked up properly. After thinking about it and looking at it more, it does not appear to have any missing parts, there are no holes that are unfilled. I think it should be as begreen is stating. The draft must pull hard enough to open,but probably only when the doors are closed. The rod looks like it needs to be straightened at the downward bend and rotated so that the J contacts the flap to prevent it from opening. I am still trying to find a manual that will tell me exactley how it is supposed to work, but this seems to be the most likely option.
Thanks guys!

 

[blades]

It may be that the control is operating on an internal to the stove part that blocks the intake on the stove to shift to the external intake ( I know that sounds like double speak) It is hard to tell on most of the current crop of stoves just what is what due to the various intakes( such as air wash for the window). Of course the MFG's don't like to publish or otherwise specify this information as it is considered proprietary to the operation of their units.