Mouse home in the air intake?

[Stoveman2]

I am thinking about restoring a Jotul F400 that has been stored in a shed for 4-5 years. I plan on new gaskets and glass but am concerned about whether Mickey and Minnie have built a nest in the air intake system. I set it up outside with a 3' chimney and tried to start a fire but everytime I closed the door the fire died - is this normal if there is no real chimney?

Is there any way to check out the air tubes without taking the bottom apart? I can deal with the grate and ash pan house but I would rather not take apart the bottom. I don't think the mice would be able to build one in the side panels but I am concerned about the bottom flat areas.

Thanks for any advice

 

[begreen]

That's common. No draft. The Castine needs decent draft and 3' is far from enough. I've had a challenge getting a good fire going with the door closed with easier breathing stoves with a short stack outdoors.

 

[Stoveman2]

That's common. No draft. The Castine needs decent draft and 3' is far from enough. I've had a challenge getting a good fire going with the door closed with easier breathing stoves with a short stack outdoors.

Thanks begreen. Any advice on how to check the air intake system just in case

 

[begreen]

It's cast into place so not the easiest. You might be able to snake in a bottle brush through the intake hole and fish around.

 

[Stoveman2]

I was afraid of that! I'll try the brush. I am going to try air pressure and a plumbers snake too. Thanks again.

 

[begreen]

I was afraid of that! I'll try the brush. I am going to try air pressure and a plumbers snake too. Thanks again.

I don't know if you can get front to back access via removal of the doghouse cover. Maybe pull it and shine a bright flashlight in the rear intake hole toward the front to see if you see light in the doghouse hole. If you can, then that is the direction to snake.

 

[Stoveman2]

Sounds like a plan. I will not be able to work on it for a bit but that is definitely worth a try when I get back to it. I will let you know how things work out

 

[begreen]

Put a 16+ ft stack on the stove and feed it dry wood. It will be a different beast.

 

[Stoveman2]

Why didn't I think of that! I have 13' which should work - just need to rig it up. And I can also get another 3'

 

[T-roy_]

Thanks begreen. Any advice on how to check the air intake system just in case

Could you blow compressed air through the passages?

 

[Stoveman2]

Thanks T-roy for the suggestion. That is on my list to try but I am not sure about how many directions the air goes and what the pressure will be by the time it gets to the back air inlet. Guess I will find out!

 

[begreen]

Thanks T-roy for the suggestion. That is on my list to try but I am not sure about how many directions the air goes and what the pressure will be by the time it gets to the back air inlet. Guess I will find out!

I wouldn't do that unless absolutely necessary and then only toward the rear from the doghouse - and that's still a maybe. My concern, if there is debris, is that one might end up accidentally blowing crap up into the side passages that feed the airwash or into the secondary supply.

 

[Stoveman2]

That doesn't sound good. My intention was to go from the doghouse toward the rear. Think I will use that as a last resort. My other thought is to get any debris hot enough to burn off to ashes. Hope to work on it in the next few days

 

[begreen]

There's a good chance that nothing is in there blocking anything except maybe spiderwebs.

 

[Stoveman2]

You are probably right but you haven't met the mice in my neighborhood. Maybe I will just do the 15' chimney test and see what happens

 

[Stoveman2]

I ran a snake through and it went through both sides without much struggle so I think your right about the spider webs begreen. Thanks for all your suggestions and I will be trying a 15' chimney after I replace all the gaskets.

 

[Touch0Gray]

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