Normal to smell smoke outside but not in house?

[Noslen]

I promise I tried searching for this before posting!

Is it normal to smell the smoke smell outside but not inside while burning? Or is it indicative of a problem? I don't notice it every day so perhaps its a weather thing or a sign that that particular split was less than ideal?

We burn in a Drolet escape 1800. I have a probe therm and a stovetop therm and it seems to be burning well.

 

[gthomas785]

Yeah I get a whiff outside sometimes. Even with a totally clear plume depending on the weather I sometimes can still smell it. As long as it's not bothering anyone I wouldn't worry about it. If you smell it indoors that's a problem.

 

[NewGuy132]

I smell it outside depending on the wind. Then again neighbors are going to do neighbor things. At least I don’t have to worry about them complaining about smoke smell.

 

[stoveliker]

That's what the chimney is for

But, seriously, even if one does not have any visible exhaust, that only means there are no particles being exhausted. Gases that can have smells can still be exhausted. Combustion is never perfect, and the nose is a sensitive organ.

So, if your exhaust looks clean, then you are doing things as good as possible, imo.

 

[richmhv]

Smelling your smoke outside is perfectly normal especially if you are on a hill and wind comes down the hill. I have this situation and can frequently smell smoke outside.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Sounds fine. I notice when I’m burning with no visible smoke I often can smell a “sweeter” smell to the air. Not sure what that is exactly, but I’m guessing I’m smelling some sort of particulate from the stove/chimney. Oh well. If you have no smoke you’re burning clean.

 

[Sawset]

It can depend on the temperature inversions and winds. I drive by a place on the way to work. Some mornings I can see the smoke layer from his stove just above the road 1/2 mile away. Other times the plume is rising straight up from his chimney and disappears. Sometimes it exits, then immediately drops and lays flat on the ground.

 

[mikey]

Always smell smoke when starting fire never after. Jotul f100 takes about 15 minutes to get in the clean burn mod.

 

[kennyp2339]

Thats one of my favorite smells on a cold fall night, beginning of the burn season lol. but in all sincerity, yes perfectly normal, I actually kinda judge my burn by any smoke smells near my house, I can tell if my cat is running to warm, if the fire needs more air or if the wood is premium vs junk just by the smoke smell.

 

[sneefy]

You'll always smell a bit outside. You don't want to inside, obviously.

 

[AlwaysStacking]

Also keep in mind that some woods have a more "potent" smell than others. Some woods may stand out to your smell more than others.