no draft on newly installed QF 5100i

[MJSully]

Hello,
After having a nightmare having my Quadra-Fire 5100i installed by the company I purchased it from, today I was finally able to do my first of four pre fires. I put newspaper, kindling and lit it. Smoke started coming out of everywhere and the flame began to die as soon as I closed the door. Played with the air adjustment to no avail.
Am I doing something wrong or did they do something wrong?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Grisu]

Welcome to the forum!

There could be several reasons why your insert is smoking. Some questions:
First, do you have a 6" steel liner all the way to the top of the chimney? Approx. how long is it and is it insulated?
Is your house rather airtight? Opening a window close to the insert can help with that.
Did you check that the baffle board over the burn tubes in the top of the firebox is positioned correctly? It should be pushed all the way back. There is also a ceramic blanket on top. Make sure that this is straight and not blocking the flue.
Did you feel cold air coming down from the chimney? You may need to prime the flue to get an updraft. Hold some burning newspaper above the baffle to get warm air to move up the flue. A propane torch or hairdryer will eventually work even better.

How is your wood? Is it dry?

 

[begreen]

Could be negative pressure. Is this a basement install? Were there any (kitchen, bath, whole house) exhaust fans or a clothes dryer on at this time?

 

[MJSully]

Could be negative pressure. Is this a basement install? Were there any (kitchen, bath, whole house)exhaust fans on at the time?

When I first did it, there was an exhaust fan on, but I turned it off and tried again, same thing. I held an aim-a-flame by the open door and appeared to blow it in, as opposed to sucking toward the chimney

 

[begreen]

Is this a basement install?

 

[MJSully]

Welcome to the forum!

There could be several reasons why your insert is smoking. Some questions:
First, do you have a 6" steel liner all the way to the top of the chimney? Approx. how long is it and is it insulated?
Is your house rather airtight? Opening a window close to the insert can help with that.
Did you check that the baffle board over the burn tubes in the top of the firebox is positioned correctly? It should be pushed all the way back. There is also a ceramic blanket on top. Make sure that this is straight and not blocking the flue.
Did you feel cold air coming down from the chimney? You may need to prime the flue to get an updraft. Hold some burning newspaper above the baffle to get warm air to move up the flue. A propane torch or hairdryer will eventually work even better.

How is your wood? Is it dry?

Thank you for the welcome. The stove was just installed. kind of wish they lit a fire before they left. Difficult to tell on the blanket. There is a metal angle iron over the end of the blanket. The angle iron is removable. Is that supposed to be there or is the end of the blanket supposed to be exposed?
As far as blowing the hair dryer, do you mean to do so above where the blanket is? That I am comfortable doing as opposed to the torch.
As far as the liner, on the invoice it is referred to as 6" x 25' Stainless steel wood liner

 

[MJSully]

Is this a basement install?

The install is in my living room, vaulted ceiling.

 

[bholler]

also what was the outside temp?

 

[MJSully]

also what was the outside temp?

Outside temp is 50 degrees

 

[Dix]

Outside temp is 50 degrees

That's gonna pose a problem, the outside temps, that is.

I came home tonight and it took me 1/2 an hour to get the PE running, the draft was horrible *says she on the other side of the Sound*

You need to get the chimney to draw, which means a very hot starter fire .... heat rises, but if there is cold air in the chimney, and warm outside temps, it can be a witch to get going.

Welcome to the forums !

 

[Grisu]

Difficult to tell on the blanket. There is a metal angle iron over the end of the blanket. The angle iron is removable. Is that supposed to be there or is the end of the blanket supposed to be exposed?

Probably not but I don't know that particular insert well enough to tell for sure. You could maybe check on the blanket by holding a camera phone up there and taking a pic.

As far as blowing the hair dryer, do you mean to do so above where the blanket is?

Yes. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I would give it at least 1 to 2 minutes before trying to relight a fire.

As far as the liner, on the invoice it is referred to as 6" x 25' Stainless steel wood liner

Probably non-insulated but most likely also more than the minimum 15 ft. Can you estimate how tall is your chimney?

 

[MJSully]

That's gonna pose a problem, the outside temps, that is...
Welcome to the forums !

Thank you Dix!

 

[MJSully]

Probably not but I don't know that particular insert well enough to tell for sure. You could maybe check on the blanket by holding a camera phone up there and taking a pic.


Yes. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I would give it at least 1 to 2 minutes before trying to relight a fire.


Probably non-insulated but most likely also more than the minimum 15 ft. Can you estimate how tall is your chimney?

has to be at least 20'.

 

[Dix]

Thank you Dix!

10 degrees cooler, and it's a world of difference in draw.

You'll get it down. It'll take some time, it's a learning curve for sure !

 

[MJSully]

The first picture shows the angle iron that is around the edge of the blanket. The second shows the blanket with the angle iron removed.
Thanks for the help

Probably not but I don't know that particular insert well enough to tell for sure. You could maybe check on the blanket by holding a camera phone up there and taking a pic.


Yes. Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I would give it at least 1 to 2 minutes before trying to relight a fire.


Probably non-insulated but most likely also more than the minimum 15 ft. Can you estimate how tall is your chimney?

10 degrees cooler, and it's a world of difference in draw.

You'll get it down. It'll take some time, it's a learning curve for sure !

 

[Benchwrench]

Hello,
After having a nightmare having my Quadra-Fire 5100i installed by the company I purchased it from, today I was finally able to do my first of four pre fires. I put newspaper, kindling and lit it. Smoke started coming out of everywhere and the flame began to die as soon as I closed the door. Played with the air adjustment to no avail.
Am I doing something wrong or did they do something wrong?

Thanks
Mike

If this is the case your brand new stove will pour out smoke at the first light up due to manufacturing. Paint curing and oil residue. Lasts for just one fire. You'll want the windows opened for this.
This info should be in the owner's manual.

The angle iron can go either way, you can leave it in there where it is or remove it. It doesn't matter.
Personally I'd leave it in there. I think QF did this because you have a split baffle board.

 

[MJSully]

If this is the case your brand new stove will pour out smoke at the first light up due to manufacturing. Paint curing and oil residue. Last for just one fire. You'll want the windows opened for this.
This info should be in the owner's manual.

Thank you Benchwrench. I did see that, but I believe this was definitely a draft issue. Smoke was coming out into the house and nothing out the chimney. However, the comment made about the hairdryer warming up the baffle helped and I got the smoke flowing... Now I think I need better kindling.
Being you have the 5100i, did you see my picture of the baffle blanket and the one with the angle iron that is there? I have a feeling that was supposed to be taken out.
Thanks again.

 

[Dix]

I use "splitter trash" as kindling. The bark, smaller pieces, etc that are left over. If I can connect with some one who has milled lumber scraps, that works awesome as well.

Milk crates are great for this. Air flow is awesome. Also garbage cans that are cracked on the bottom allow air flow & water drainage.

 

[Benchwrench]

Did you say your flue pipe is 20' ?

See my edit re: baffle .

 

[Benchwrench]

what are the dimensions of the angled metal? 1" x?

 

[MJSully]

Did you say your flue pipe is 20' ?

See my edit re: baffle .

I said it has to be at least 20', not sure exactly

 

[MJSully]

what are the dimensions of the angled metal? 1" x?

Wide part in bottom of pic might be 3" x 1 1/2" x 1".
Hope that makes sense

 

[begreen]

If you have some 2x4 cutoffs, they make great kindling if split with a hatchet into thinner pieces. Cabinetry and finishing scraps also work well. You might also try top down lighting of the fire. Watch the the Efficient Wood Stove Operation video here for a primer:
http://www.woodheat.org/wood-heat-videos.html

 

[stovelark]

Hi MJ Prob nothing wrong with stove. Try starting a fire with good kindling, some firestarter bricks and gelled alcohol. No smoke, no smell and quick heat. Open the primary air control (upper), open the ACC (push back, then pull towards you, listen for mechanical timer), light off and keep door open partially for extra start up air. In a few minutes, should have a good kindling fire going. Don't close door too quick, the fire will die out. Quads usually draft very easily. You'll get it, you got a great stove there.

 

[Grisu]

Good to hear that it seems to work for you now. Once it gets colder you may not need to prime the flue as much anymore. And running the insert 24/7 will certainly also help with that. However, I would put that angled piece back. It is probably there to keep the blanket in the right spot. Not sure if your draft could get strong enough to suck up the blanket but the piece may also help against that.