It's really windy here and getting a smokey smell inside the house...Is this normal?

[sydney1963]

50 mph gusts and raining. I noticed that there is a slight smoky smell inside. Has anyone experienced this? Thanks for all your help.

 

[kast]

I get that also, it's not bad just once in awhile ill get a whiff

 

[imacman]

Hey Sydney, I got a puff of smoke the other week when the wind was coming out of the east pretty strong....when the wind direction shifted, never smelled it again. Is the wind hitting the side of the house where the vent pipe is?

 

[sydney1963]

The winds are coming off of the ocean, yes blowing east to west (which my vent termination is on the east side of the house). Seems like it is either blowing back into my OAK, or back through the vent pipe itself. Anyway, the winds seem to have calmed down now and not getting as much smoke smell. Hopefully not going to be a problem this winter. Thanks for your help.

 

[StoveMiser]

Putting a vertical rise in the vent would solve this problem.

 

[sydney1963]

Putting a vertical rise in the vent would solve this problem.

I do have a vertical rise. Up and out.

 

[Lobstah]

The smokey smell can also be caused by a change in draft temperatures. When it's below 40deg here?...I can start the stove and never get a whiff of smoke. Above 40?...it takes awhile to get a good draft going up the pipe, and until that happens, I'll get a bit of smoke. Same thing used to happen with our woodstove too.


Jim

 

[sinnian]

Putting a vertical rise in the vent would solve this problem.

I do have a vertical rise. Up and out.

Not much of a vertical rise, you probably don't get a very good natural draft, which will be necessary during a power outage.

 

[Lobstah]

One other off-topic note...
Looking at the interior pics of your stove, I think you should check your installation manual. I believe that when these stoves are installed with an interior T, like you have, the fire protection on the floor needs to extend under the T. Looks like yours is shorter than that.

Just in case there's ever a problem...

Jim

 

[mralias]

Where is the best place for a verticle rise? Inside or outside? If the temp inside is always above 40 then I would expect the draft to not be as strong as a verticle rise outside with a temp below 40. Just wondering.

 

[sydney1963]

I thought the warmer the pipe the better the natural draft. I'm confused. I used every piece of pipe that came with the kit.

 

[Lobstah]

I prefer an outside rise myself. But it's not based on any arcane high-priest kind of knowledge Warm/hot air rises, and pulls cool air in behind it to replace the air. In our case, we have a blower motor that enhances the effect, so in vs. out may not make much difference WHEN THE BLOWER IS WORKING

Jim

 

[sydney1963]

What about during a power outage? Which would be best?

 

[Mod178]

I think I was having this problem also. I have my stove in the basement so I have a vertial rise of seven feet with a 90 deg. elbow and 2 feet of pipe going outside. I use to have and regular vent cap that came with the vent kit. I bought a 90 deg elbow and stuck a vertical vent cap on it.

My stove pipe faces the noth and the wind comes from the norrh nere in the winter. This is a trial setup but has proven so far.

 

[sydney1963]

One other off-topic note...
Looking at the interior pics of your stove, I think you should check your installation manual. I believe that when these stoves are installed with an interior T, like you have, the fire protection on the floor needs to extend under the T. Looks like yours is shorter than that.

Just in case there's ever a problem...

Jim

The clean out tee is half way over the wood floor. I'm not worried, what could happen?

 

[Lobstah]

What could happen is your clean out tee could come loose, or someone not familiar with it could take it off, and deposit some glowing embers on your floor. Over the years it could come loose on it's own and do the same thing.

The larger problem would be that if there was a fire, and your stove installation didn't adhere to code, then it would be a pretty large amount of ass-ache for you.

Your stove and your house though...just trying to be helpful.

Jim

 

[sydney1963]

Thanks Lobstah for your concern, I really didn't think of it that way. I may do something different for the corner. Maybe a hearth pad that fits flush in the corner.

 

[Lobstah]

Even some tile...anything between embers and a wood floor is a good thing.

Jim

 

[sydney1963]

I know I have a piece of leftover tile in the basement somewhere, I'll make sure I put a 12 x12 under it until I can figure out something else. Thanks again Lobstah.

 

[harmanhater]

see last post (bottom of the page) under the heading:" help, can't get enough air"

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Sydney, how close are those windows to the vent pipe on the outside of your house?

That vent must be more than 4 feet from any window or door that can be opened.

In addition is that window air tight when closed?

 

[sydney1963]

Hi Smokey,

Vent is 4 ft. from window on the right side and 5-6 feet from the window on the left side. I think the outside pic is deceiving. Since I posted this question, no more smell in the house. The smell happened on that really windy night, I bet you remember. Thanks for your concern.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Glad that you no longer have the smell.

It shouldn't have occurred even on that particular day. Yep, it sure was a wild one. A couple dozen more like it and I'll be able to fish off my deck.

If those windows aren't air tight the exhaust vent just might be close enough for the gale to have pushed some smoke into the house from out side, likewise if your OAK was not completely sealed it could come in around that (since it is in direct line with your exhaust vent). It would likely take the wind blowing directly into that wall for that to occur.