I think the vent leak if FINALLY fixed! Can't believe where it was coming from...

[PelletGirl]

So after the stove guy came back to "fix" our vent (added a T cleanout and used silicone to seal it) we still had smoke and an odor. He left three tubes of silicone and we have been working on it ourselves. Every time the stove fires up, we watch and smell and find a new leak. Some were connections, some were where the elbow bends and the final one? The T cleanout was spewing smoke from where the cap is. The cap was in properly and tightened, but still leaking. We bought silicone tape and went over all the connects and put it around where the cap is. Hopefully it will be easy to take off when we need to clean. I think this is finally resolved but I still check just in case. Self sealing duravent should stop advertising that particular quality - it absolutely did not seal at all.

 

[bags]

I use Dura Vent but siliconed inside every connection. I have read here where many have had this exact issue with leaks. Good Luck!

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have exactly 2 joints (and the transition joint) inside the house, everything else, including the cleanout Tee is outside. I learned after 15 years to put everything possible, outside. I also made it so I can take apart the whole vent at 2 places. One at the stove itself and one, outside at the cleanout tee.

Mine is Duravent as well and if it leaks, it's outside.

 

[PelletGirl]

Definitely would have vented majority outside if we could be unfortunately this configuration was our only option. I think ***fingers crossed*** that it is sealed now but I still check when I can. Who knew this would be such a hassle?

 

[bogieb]

I have to have my cleanout T inside also as I can't go straight out the wall. Just taped up the end of the cleanout as a matter of course while doing up all the joints - never even thought not too (thought I had read somewhere that they tend to leak).

Glad you found your leak - happy burning!

 

[alternativeheat]

Definitely would have vented majority outside if we could be unfortunately this configuration was our only option. I think ***fingers crossed*** that it is sealed now but I still check when I can. Who knew this would be such a hassle?

I would ! Found the same leak you did, at the t cap which is inside my fireplace. The only way to see the leak was on start up at night with a flash light, so tiny but there non the less. And you had about a 45 second window to see it. I have one left which only shows itself in warm weather, no problem with that at the moment. But looking at the dust trail I think it's my ESP probe port. I'm thinking of putting an o ring on it.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Sadly, a pin hole or smaller will allow enough smoke in the room to stink the place up

 

[PelletGirl]

I would ! Found the same leak you did, at the t cap which is inside my fireplace. The only way to see the leak was on start up at night with a flash light, so tiny but there non the less. And you had about a 45 second window to see it. I have one left which only shows itself in warm weather, no problem with that at the moment. But looking at the dust trail I think it's my ESP probe port. I'm thinking of putting an o ring on it.

What is an ESP port? I want to check every option. I noticed a very slight odor - barely noticeable - today so I'm thinking it may be a pinhole somewhere or something we missed that is not obvious. I am happy that it is much better but would like it totally gone.

 

[DMKNLD]

Hi Pellet Girl,

The ESP port is specific to Harman stoves and not Quads. Make sure you check your stove's connection at the vent adapter for any leaks.

Running your stove on the hottest setting for a bit, or heating the taped junctions with a hair dryer, may help the silicone tape to 'set' and seal any micro leaks.

 

[bogieb]

Tape the bends / joints at any elbow or T. those tend to leak a bit too in my (limited) experience. About the only thing I don't have taped up on my Hastings exhaust is the middle of the straight pipe. Tape is easy to get back off if you have to take the pipe apart, it is cheap, and comes in all kinds of colors so you can match your stove or pipe - so don't be shy with liberal use.

 

[Michael6268]

Tape the bends / joints at any elbow or T. those tend to leak a bit too in my (limited) experience. About the only thing I don't have taped up on my Hastings exhaust is the middle of the straight pipe. Tape is easy to get back off if you have to take the pipe apart, it is cheap, and comes in all kinds of colors so you can match your stove or pipe - so don't be shy with liberal use.

Foil/fire retardent tape comes in colors now? I have black pellet pipe and even though its a shop stove, never wanted to gunk it up with silver tape. I never really had a problem with leaks though. Seem to draft naturally quite well. Foil tape not cheap either in my area.

 

[bogieb]

Foil/fire retardent tape comes in colors now? I have black pellet pipe and even though its a shop stove, never wanted to gunk it up with silver tape. I never really had a problem with leaks though. Seem to draft naturally quite well. Foil tape not cheap either in my area.

Sorry, I was talking about high-temp Silicone tape, not foil tape. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-T...-Fusing-Silicone-Tape-Black-1208952/100206050

 

[Michael6268]

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[mepellet]

Another plus for Selkirk dt.... Any exhaust leaks which are virtually eliminated by the nature of the design of connections end up not leaking into your space but gets drawn back into the stove....

 

[PelletGirl]

Thanks for all the input - will definitely try to heat seal the tape with a hair dryer or blast the stove (pretty cold out so that's doable). If we ever change the venting we'll check out Selkirk.