We heat 24/7 with our Jotul wood stove. Recently, it was burning as efficiently, so I cleaned the flue pipe from the stove like I do several times throughout the heating season. I also swept the chimney. I generally do this twice per season. We have a 6" stainless liner in the chimney. After cleaning, the stove is still not performing properly. I need to crack the bottom or side door to get a decent fire going. If I open the side door, smoke will come out, which is unusual if the pipe is cleaned. Assuming that there isn't a blockage or draft issue with the flue pipe, what can I look at on the stove itself? Thanks.
oslo not burning properly
- Thread starter Sven1277
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Just checking off the check list...Did you check your cap? It isn't plugged by chance?
(No fair, webby3650, you butted ahead of me.
)
(No fair, webby3650, you butted ahead of me.
)That's a good point. Yes I did clean the cap. It was quite clogged with creosote. Is it possible the damper is partially plugged? I'm referring to the inlet on the front of the stove.
I have taken several apart and have never seen much of any ash in there.
When you clean it, do you clean out the flue collar of the stove? I assume you do, just checking.
Check to make sure the baffle is sitting properly and make sure the ceramic blanket is not blocking the flue collar. I've seen this happen before.
Have you changed your wood lately? A new stack, new delivery perhaps. These stoves seem to be affected greatly by under seasoned wood.
When you clean it, do you clean out the flue collar of the stove? I assume you do, just checking.
Check to make sure the baffle is sitting properly and make sure the ceramic blanket is not blocking the flue collar. I've seen this happen before.
Have you changed your wood lately? A new stack, new delivery perhaps. These stoves seem to be affected greatly by under seasoned wood.
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I recently moved and brought my 600 Firelight along, prompting a thorough cleaning. When I took apart the front air control I discovered 2 of the 4 inlet holes were plugged tight. I used a pick to clean them, as the shop vac couldn't do it alone.Easy enough to check.
Just checking here. By inlet holes do you mean the boost manifold holes in the front center bottom of the firebox just past the doghouse?
Yes.
That is, the four holes on the plate inside the doghouse. I'm not sure if this is what you mean.
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I just removed the inspection cover for the air inlet. Those holes were fine but one of the two ports under the air valve (the metal slide) was plugged. I blew them out. I will see if this fixes the problem.
If thats not it, take off the oval plate cover on the top of the stove to clean and check the baffle area and baffle blanket resting on the top. The bolts to do this are on the upper inside of stove and you'll just need a ratchet wrench with extender piece.
I'll have to try that because this didn't work. Also peculiarly absent now are coals from the burned wood.
The wood is from the same lot that was cut down last year. I am burning mostly oak right now. Before, it was mostly birch. An employee split this wood for me and he split larger pieces than I normally split. So there is a change in the fuel. My mother in law lives next door, uses the same wood stove and the same wood and is not experiencing the same problem.
I'd say so, a year seasoned for big splits of oak =
I am a little concerned about the way you are burning, or maybe what you are burning. I run my Oslo 24/7 pretty much from December to April, and when I checked my flue again before the start of the season it STILL did not need cleaning. After four years. Granted, my flue set up is nearly ideal, and you may not have as straight a run.
Ram 1500 with an axe...
Minister of Fire
Try using drier wood other than oak, also split them smaller, thinner, and see if this
helps. It sound like the big chunks of 1 year old oak is the culprit X3 from me....
helps. It sound like the big chunks of 1 year old oak is the culprit X3 from me....
I bet it is the wood. Occasionally I'll hit a patch of wood that isn't all that great and the stove won't work right. I usually wonder if something is clogged, I'll clean the flue which isn't that dirty, I'll check the air vents and the door seal, and then I'll get some better wood and the stove will work fine again.
Another culprit can be a change in the weather. My stove does not work nearly as well in damp, warmish weather as it does in cold weather. Did the problem appear during the recent warm spell? Has it gone away now that winter has returned?
Get some nice dry firewood and get a hot fire going and maybe you'll discover it is the wood. Big splits of one-year old oak are unlikely to be very well seasoned.
Another culprit can be a change in the weather. My stove does not work nearly as well in damp, warmish weather as it does in cold weather. Did the problem appear during the recent warm spell? Has it gone away now that winter has returned?
Get some nice dry firewood and get a hot fire going and maybe you'll discover it is the wood. Big splits of one-year old oak are unlikely to be very well seasoned.
I want to thank everyone for your responses. It was most definitely the wood. I have gone back to the birch from the same batch and the stove is firing great again. Interestingly, Wood Duck, the problem did also occur during the warm up we recently had. It must have been a combination. I've never had this problem as bad and as long before. As I stated earlier, my mother in law is using the same stove and wood. She has a 14" square flue as compared to my 6" round. The draft must be helping her stove burn the underseasoned oak better. Thanks.
Ooh, back up. Is she venting directly into that square flue? She should be using the same 6" round as you.
Ya, that huge flue definitely isn't helping her draft at all, only hurting it! I bet that is one nasty flue! When they are oversized like that, they build up with glaze very easily. Better check it out for here.
Hey Sven. Let us know that you're still with us. Your MIL is burning wood in a dangerous way. That flue will be down to 2"x2" before long, and highly flammable.
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