Problems with a cold air blocked chimney...

[eric-holmes]

It seems like no matter how much newspaper I put in there to start things off, I always smoke out my living room before I can get the stove to draft. Any suggestions here? It's making me not want to build a fire.

 

[bholler]

A light in there for an hour or so ahead of time. A heat gun for a while a torch

 

[jatoxico]

I get that occasionally. Don't know your stove but I slide a baffle plate out of the way and hold a piece of newspaper right up to the flue. That works for me every time. Tried a hair dryer once or twice. Not nearly as much heat as comes off one sheet of paper and blows ash all over the place total PITA.

If you have a tee for cleaning out you can do the same thing from there.

 

[bholler]

Tried a hair dryer once or twice. Not nearly as much heat as comes off one sheet of paper and blows ash all over the place total PITA.

that is why you need a heat gun they move less air and are allot hotter. Stick it in there and close the door for 5 or 10 mins it will take of right away after that

 

[tinman100863]

I use a piece of the fire starter ,First what I do is
criss cross 8 pieces of scrap 1x4 dried pine from skids ,I lay 2 pieces side by side then another 2 opposite way ,etc
in the middle on the bottom, I put a piece of the firestarter (like a 2"x3") ,I crack a window open close by,i light it,i leave the insert door cracked open for like 4-5 minutes, (keep an eye on it), after the pine takes off, then I close the insert door,close the window , and its good to go, after it coals off then I add my wood,
WITH OFCOURSE THE DAMPER WIDE OPEN DURING THE INITIAL START UP
RSS

 

[jatoxico]

that is why you need a heat gun they move less air and are allot hotter. Stick it in there and close the door for 5 or 10 mins it will take of right away after that

Yes a heat gun would do more no doubt.

 

[eric-holmes]

What's the point of the baffle? Is it necessary?

 

[begreen]

Is this a wood stove or fireplace? The FPX36? If so the baffle is to extend the hot wood gas path and to reflect heat back into the firebox.

Balky chimneys can be due to a number of complications like poor location, local geography, insufficient height, negative pressure in the house, warm outside temps, etc..
http://www.woodheat.org/all-about-chimneys.html