Jotul C450 Smoke in the house

[2stoveshome]

This is the second time of the season that I have smoke everywhere in the house at cold start. The outside temp is around 20F. I started the fire with half super ceder and 4 bio bricks on top of two splits. I have the air control wide open. I light the super ceder and some part of the brick with propane torch. I crack the door a little but the smoke keep getting out. I can even see smoke coming out from the fan area.
Is this normal for a jotul c450(insert)? I have block up plate installed but the liner is not insulated. I am actually afraid of starting fire when it is cold now.....any suggestion so I can avoid the smoke in the room problem?

 

[Fod01]

Did you notice a reverse draft before you lit the bricks?
Try aiming the torch up the flue for a minute before lighting the load.

 

[begreen]

Is there a full 6" liner to the chimney cap or is this a direct connect with a stub ending just above the damper? If full liner how tall is it?

 

[2stoveshome]

Fod01- I did not notice it. But I only use the torch for 30 seconds or so. I did not aim at the flue though. I will try that next time. Thanks for the reply.

 

[2stoveshome]

Begreen - Yes. It is full 6" liner to the top of chimney installed by jotul installer. Thanks.

 

[begreen]

How tall is the chimney?

 

[2stoveshome]

25 feet

 

[begreen]

That should draft well and not be spilling smoke, unless... the installer did not cut the damper and severely ovalized the liner, or... more likely, the chimney cap screen is plugging up.

 

[2stoveshome]

That should draft well and not be spilling smoke, unless... the installer did not cut the damper and severely ovalized the liner, or... more likely, the chimney cap screen is plugging up.

The damper was cut. We did not have snow for few days so the cap screen should not be plugging up. But I did have kitchen range hood running at the same time.(open kitchen/dinning room/family room where the stove is located.) I will make sure the range hood is not running next time I start the fire when cold. Will range hood produce enough back pressure to cause the smoke in the room?

 

[begreen]

The cap screen will plug up from the inside out if creosote is building up there.

Is the range hood a high cfm model for a large commercial range? If so that definitely could be a factor. If so, the stove may be a candidate for an OAK.

 

[2stoveshome]

The cap screen will plug up from the inside out if creosote is building up there.

Is the range hood a high cfm model for a large commercial range? If so that definitely could be a factor. If so, the stove may be a candidate for an OAK.

The chimney was checked/cleaned in Oct/Nov so it should be fine. The range hood is 750 cfm. Is it considered high?...Thank you for the reply.

 

[begreen]

750cfm is strong. That likely is the problem if the house is fairly tight.

 

[2stoveshome]

750cfm is strong. That likely is the problem if the house is fairly tight.

Thanks a lot begreen. I will monitor next time when it is cold. Hopefully it is the range hood.

 

[begreen]

If the range hood's exhaust is combined with a bath fan, clothes dryer, furnace, etc. It can create a strong negative pressure in the house.