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.

 

[Wturner]

So i called the dealer they said to email them photos of the CAT and it should be covered under warranty as far as the stove i guess "leaking" from the seams where it is assembled could be another issue entirely. Ive had it back puff on me before but it has never poured smoke out of any caulked or gasketed opening before. I wasn't home at the time so im going off what she said it was doing didnt get to see it first hand.

 

[Wturner]

So another update i did the dollar bill test all the gaskets seemed tight ash pan wasent super tight but enough resistance seemed fine the 2 attatched photos is where my wife said smoke was coming out of

 

[Burnin Since 1989]

The gap on that first pic is pretty wide at the top. Is there any adjusting to it? I don't have any hands on experience with that stove, but it might be worth it to look at that a little closer. The second pic is the blower assembly?

 

[Wturner]

So the gap is a heavy 1/16th more than the other side and the other pic is im guessing where the back plate is bolted together there seems also to be white poweder which im guessing is dried up stove cement coming out of the seams the dealer has all those pics plus more

 

[Burnin Since 1989]

So the gap is a heavy 1/16th more than the other side and the other pic is im guessing where the back plate is bolted together there seems also to be white poweder which im guessing is dried up stove cement coming out of the seams the dealer has all those pics plus more

There are threads on the forum about the lack of Quality Control on Jotul Stoves... That was my next... Contact the dealer. Let us know when you get more answers or questions.

 

[Wturner]

So dealer did get back to me yesterday after explaing what had happened and the conditions around why it happened they said to keep burning it and keep a eye on it and if it happens again let them know and they will take it back and fix it. CAT will definetly be covered under warranty they said. So i guess it kinda sounds like it is what it is ? He said if it concerns me i could always put some cement in gap but feel like i shouldnt have to do anything to a stove i purxhased last october

 

[Wturner]

I am contemplating selling it and going to a older style stove