Jotul f500 v3

[Wturner]

Just joined been reading for a while now lots of good advice figured it was time. Been burning for a while now but last year purchased a new jotul f500 stove has been ok but noticed CAT has started to fall apart already but the question im getting to is, was away at buddies shop wife called and said she started stove and smoke was pouring out of seams of stove looking at stove front right side, ash pan door, flue and she said all around the bottom was around 50 outside we live in CT i rushed home checked chimney no blockage its a two story house all double wall stainless i installed 5 years ago all on outside of house. I guess what im getting at is before i call the dealer could this be a draft issue due to temp ? Never had this problem before just havent been that impressed with the stove and wondering if its me or the stove any help would be awesome. Sorry for such the long post

 

[Burnin Since 1989]

Welcome to the forum!

Sounds like it could be a drafting issue or a plugged cat combustor. It sounds like you already checked it, did you try cleaning it? Look in your stove manual as it will include directions on cleaning the cat.

50 degrees can be borderline burning temp, especially if windy. It could have been a down draft or something as simple as an open window in the second floor that caused the draft to circumvent the chimney. Lots of variables.

Checking for obstructions is part of the things to check, so good on that. Also check that the air intake on the stove is actually working and not stuck closed. Do you use an Outside Air Kit (OAK)?

As an experiment close all the windows, make sure that the following aren't running: Vent for cooking stove, dryer, bathroom fans, whole house fan that exhausts to attic.

Make sure the bypass and intake are open. Open a window closest to the stove. Depending on the outside temps you may need it open just a little or a bit more if it's 40-50 out.

Light up a small kindling fire and see what happens.

Post how it is going so we can see what is working for you!

 

[Wturner]

Do not have a outside air intake for stove, i did check the damper moved it back and forth thinking maybe if it was stuck it would unstick. There is no bypass for the cat on this stove. CAT didnt look clogged. After writing post last night i did start anothet fire in it and watched it closly. It seemed like i wasent getting any smoke spillage and was drafting properly. But should a one year old stove if haveing a draft isssue leak smoke out of the the seams and bottom ? I get maybe the doors and stove pipe joints.

 

[Todd]

Sounds like just one of those weird draft days when it’s a little warm out. There are two small air holes in the ash pan housing that let in extra air, maybe that’s where the smoke was coming from? Also do the dollar bill test around your door and ash pan door gaskets.

 

[Burnin Since 1989]

Do not have a outside air intake for stove, i did check the damper moved it back and forth thinking maybe if it was stuck it would unstick. There is no bypass for the cat on this stove. CAT didnt look clogged. After writing post last night i did start anothet fire in it and watched it closly. It seemed like i wasent getting any smoke spillage and was drafting properly. But should a one year old stove if haveing a draft isssue leak smoke out of the the seams and bottom ? I get maybe the doors and stove pipe joints.

maybe it was a back-puff? Closing the door too soon before the wood off gases and smolders and when it re-ignites it can certainly push smoke out of everywhere when that happens, but usually after that puff, it should keep burning and smoke shouldn't keep coming out.

So the Jotul is venting directly through the cat at all times? Check your manual and see what their warranty period is on the cat.