I fill the house with smoke just about everytime I light the stove!

[woodgeek]

expanding on what bogy said--use a hair dryer to preheat the flue for a few minutes before lighting.

 

[savageactor7]

Chimney sounds clogged to me, get a mirror and check it out. Then again if you're just using this from the basement for the very 1st time it's probably like the others said a pressure issue.

 

[Samoyed]

About 2 months ago, I had a similar problem with the house filling with smoke. My problem turned out to be a clogged cap. Chimney was cleaned from the bottom but the cap stayed clogged. Once we cleared it, no more problem.

 

[RSNovi]

Sometimes I have the same problem with my stove in the basement. I have only had the stove a short period, but when I first light my fire, I always shut the door immediately for a few minutes. It seems that is long enough to heat things up and then I open the door to get the fire a blazing. After a little while again, I shut the door and adjust the air.

This is with a 32' chimney which runs on the outside of my house. I also use those pressed wood with wax starters. That might be the key allowing me to immediately close the door. No more smoke in the house with this method.

Chris

 

[Skier76]

I've got an oversized short chimney that's mounted to the exterior of the house. Our stove is on the lower level. I'm going to bet opening a window near the stove will help. Also, make sure all windows/doors upstairs are shut. Just for ha-ha's, shut off any bathroom fans, range fans and the dryer. It sounds to me like you've got some stack effect going on. I have that problem at lot in the fall. I think it's got something to do with the outside temp not being that cold. Goes away once winter rolls in.

 

[CTburning]

I have a basement install and my pre epa stove and my new fireview sometimes smoke up the room on a cold start. Never on a reload. I've had six fires so far this year and the first five went up instantly with no smoke in the room. Tonight was the night for negative or neutral draft. I put the first piece of newspaper in the back of the stove and it smoldered and smoked up the room a little. It went up the chimney somewhat and I threw a second loose piece in and it lit and reversed the draft. Two minutes later my fire was a raging inferno.

I have had better luck with super cedars. Put one on top of your kindling and by the time the wood catches and produces smoke, the draft is working.