Quadrafire 7100 Smoked OUT!

[rsolis0924]

I am new to the forum. Had a custom install of the QF7100 in November 2014. Once we got through the "break in" fires The QF7100 was performing as advertised and we even found ourselves using it almost daily. So when we were recently forecasted to get our first significant snowfall followed by a few days of sub zero temperatures we were actually looking forward to its arrival so we could go through a spell of 24/7 firing. Much to our chagrin once we got home on the day the snow event occurred we began having problems lighting the fire. Not only that when we opened the door to stoke the fire/add wood black smoke would billow out into our living room. After letting the fire die off, which took hours, on opening of the firebox we noticed that the interior bricks which were once visible in their natural white/grayish color, were completely covered in black soot. Actually the entire firebox was covered with black soot. Its as if someone put a lid over the chimney. I've attempted on just lighting a small piece of fatwood to see if I could initiate a draft to go up the flue but it just spills out into the room as well.

All the air control valves are wide open and I even checked outside to make sure that the outside vents are free and clear of obstructions. The only place I cant get to is to the top of the chimney. Its outside my area of comfort due to pitch and height of the roof.

Has anyone come across an issue where the firebox is performing beautifully and then all of a sudden stops working and has airflow issues. Not sure if the snow/cold weather did anything to the chimney thats causing this, but its malfunction precisely coincided with our first snowfall. The chimney does have a termination cap that would conceivably keep clear from obstructions.

Anyways, its still under warranty so the technician will be out Friday, but I thought I'd post in the event someone else has had a similar occurence. Thanks.

Ricardo

 

[northwinds]

I am new to the forum. Had a custom install of the QF7100 in November 2014. Once we got through the "break in" fires The QF7100 was performing as advertised and we even found ourselves using it almost daily. So when we were recently forecasted to get our first significant snowfall followed by a few days of sub zero temperatures we were actually looking forward to its arrival so we could go through a spell of 24/7 firing. Much to our chagrin once we got home on the day the snow event occurred we began having problems lighting the fire. Not only that when we opened the door to stoke the fire/add wood black smoke would billow out into our living room. After letting the fire die off, which took hours, on opening of the firebox we noticed that the interior bricks which were once visible in their natural white/grayish color, were completely covered in black soot. Actually the entire firebox was covered with black soot. Its as if someone put a lid over the chimney. I've attempted on just lighting a small piece of fatwood to see if I could initiate a draft to go up the flue but it just spills out into the room as well.

All the air control valves are wide open and I even checked outside to make sure that the outside vents are free and clear of obstructions. The only place I cant get to is to the top of the chimney. Its outside my area of comfort due to pitch and height of the roof.

Has anyone come across an issue where the firebox is performing beautifully and then all of a sudden stops working and has airflow issues. Not sure if the snow/cold weather did anything to the chimney thats causing this, but its malfunction precisely coincided with our first snowfall. The chimney does have a termination cap that would conceivably keep clear from obstructions.

Anyways, its still under warranty so the technician will be out Friday, but I thought I'd post in the event someone else has had a similar occurence. Thanks.

Ricardo

What is your wood supply? Moisture levels? Have you had your chimney cleaned or inspected yet? Do you have a chimney cap? Can you see if there is build-up on it? Interior or exterior chimney? Straight up or twists and turns?

 

[rsolis0924]

What is your wood supply? Moisture levels? Have you had your chimney cleaned or inspected yet? Do you have a chimney cap? Can you see if there is build-up on it? Interior or exterior chimney? Straight up or twists and turns?

Wood supply is mostly split oak, which we bought locally from local guy. Claimed to have been seasoned and dry, but we did not that there were some splits that had some moisture to them.

The chimney is brand new as part of the custom install. The flue runs through an enclosure that was framed out and then covered with stone. There is at least one bend in the flue as it passes up through the roof. The chimney caps is visible with some black soot on the perimeter where the smoke exits.

 

[Swedishchef]

Oak is never seasoned as advertised. Not unless you buy from someone on this forum Buy a moisture meter, take a freshly split piece and then test it's moisture content.

What kind of bend is in your stack run (offset by how much)? Is it insulated?

I am quite confident that your stack is clogged and likely due to wet wood. I think you need to have it swept. Your wood supply may be fairly wet as well...If things were working well and now they're not, one variable had to change. I don't like the idea that there's soot all over your firebox. That means it's not burning hot/clean. Pictures always help as well

Andrew

 

[Wood Duck]

All signs indicate your chimney is clogged. The only question is why. I guess maybe somehow the snow has clogged it, which would explain why it stopped working when the snow arrived. More typically the chimney would be clogged with creosote and the other gunk that accumulates from smoky fires with wood that is not well seasoned.

Make sure your fires are hot and regularly check the chimney. Hopefully you can get a better wood supply for next winter, and you'll have more experience with the stove which will also help.