Smell won't go away on new stove

[mincus]

I had a new quadrafire 3100 installed about a month ago. I love the heat it puts out, but am concerned with the lingering smell.

The first few fires had a very strong chemical smell. I knew this was normal and wasn't concerned. I opened the windows. However, I've been burning for about a month now and the smell is still there, although not as strong as it was before. I think (but am not completely sure) the smell now is the same smell from the beginning. It's not bad enough to keep the windows open, but it's definitely still a concern. I have started having chest pains in this time (may or may not be related). My wife complains of occasional headaches. So, we're pretty worried.

The smell doesn't typically happen with a small fire. But when the stove top gets around 550F on the top surface (measured with an IR thermometer), that seems to be about the point that I get the smell. It spreads throughout the house and tends to collect in certain areas (seems to follow the heat). I have had the stove quite a bit hotter than that several times, which I thought would have cured the paint by now.

Is it normal to still have a smell a month in? It was a floor model that I bought that had apparently been on the floor of the store for 2 years (never fired in the store). So, maybe they put more paint on it than a non-floor model would have (in order to keep it looking nice on the floor).

Any thoughts? I'm very frustrated because I love the stove, but am very worried about the smell.

Thanks in advance.

 

[webby3650]

Have you ran the stovetop up to 700 or 750 yet?

 

[mincus]

One time I had a bit of a run away fire and it got up a bit above 800 on the top.

 

[webby3650]

The smell should be gone then. It's not smoke you are smelling but a chemical smell correct?

 

[mincus]

Correct. Definitely not a smoke smell.

 

[kennyp2339]

Paint curing / peanut oil burning off should not be causing chest pains, log off of this site and go to the doctor asap, also the smell might not be coming from the stove since you said you have ran it hot, it still might be lingering from the chimney pipe.

 

[JA600L]

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector on the house?

 

[mincus]

I actually already went to the ER for the chest pain. Everything checked out totally fine.

I have three different CO detectors all hooked up (was thinking that could be the problem). None of them have gone off. I was considering getting one with a digital readout to make sure the number is zero. Not sure if that's necessary.

Last night it got up to a bit over 700 again. The smell was pretty bad. I put my head over the stove itself and could smell the smell coming off it with the heated air.

Honestly I'm at a loss and very frustrated. I have no idea why this could still be happening.

Should I run it really hot for an extended period of time and see if that helps? It has gotten that hot quite a few times now, but typically only for 20-30 minutes or so.

Thanks everyone for the help.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Be careful you don't fly to close to the sun. If you are going to run hot stay close to keep from overburn.

 

[mitchell721]

Do you have a pipe thermometer installed. Just shooting from hip here is the pipe hitting new temps and maybe the paint from that. Seems like you shouldn't have a issue a month in

 

[moresnow]

What flavor is your fuel supply?

 

[Marshy]

One time I had a bit of a run away fire and it got up a bit above 800 on the top.

Why is 800 considered run away in your opinion, does the manual say 800F is over fire condition? Unless the door was ajar just running it on high won't result in an over fire condition. The manufacture often protects the stove from over fire with the stove air control. So unless you have tampered with it or were operating it with the door cracked I don't think it was too hot. I'd suggest you pack the firebox full, set it to high and let it run its course. Only after you've run the stove on max output for a couple of times will it be cured. Thsts my opinion and experience. good luck.

 

[mincus]

Be careful you don't fly to close to the sun. If you are going to run hot stay close to keep from overburn.

The stove was pretty new and I was pretty worried.

Do you have a pipe thermometer installed. Just shooting from hip here is the pipe hitting new temps and maybe the paint from that. Seems like you shouldn't have a issue a month in

No, it's a double walled stovepipe. It seems the ones I've seen are for single pipe and thus wouldn't be accurate?? They did spraypaint the stovepipe at the end of install. Although I think I smell the smell coming from the stove itself (I put my face a foot or so above the stove last night and smelled it pretty strong). Thing is, it smells (although to a lesser extent) everytime it hits 550-600.

What flavor is your fuel supply?

Quite a mix actually. At the beginning I was burning some pine that I had. Now I'm moving more to hardwoods. Doesn't seem to have any affect on the smell (except possibly causing different firing temps).

Why is 800 considered run away in your opinion, does the manual say 800F is over fire condition? Unless the door was ajar just running it on high won't result in an over fire condition. The manufacture often protects the stove from over fire with the stove air control. So unless you have tampered with it or were operating it with the door cracked I don't think it was too hot. I'd suggest you pack the firebox full, set it to high and let it run its course. Only after you've run the stove on max output for a couple of times will it be cured. Thsts my opinion and experience. good luck.

Well, the stove was very new at the time and that just seemed way too hot to me. Scary hot. Maybe that's not too hot to some people, but I'm kind of paranoid. Initially, there was an issue with the door gasket. I could actually see a bit of a gap in it (close to an 1/8 of an inch). So, it was pulling in extra air (this happened right around the time I was figuring out the issue with the door). They have since come and fixed that issue.


So, do most of you think I should run it really hot for quite a while, and that should help? Is 700-800 on the top of the stove appropriate?

 

[mitchell721]

I looked at manual online and I didn't see wht temp they considered over fire for your stove. Unless I overlooked it. But condor fluegard is a good one for double wall that's what I have. It's probe type. Drill a hole on and it's held secure by magnet

 

[webby3650]

The stove was pretty new and I was pretty worried.



No, it's a double walled stovepipe. It seems the ones I've seen are for single pipe and thus wouldn't be accurate?? They did spraypaint the stovepipe at the end of install. Although I think I smell the smell coming from the stove itself (I put my face a foot or so above the stove last night and smelled it pretty strong). Thing is, it smells (although to a lesser extent) everytime it hits 550-600.



Quite a mix actually. At the beginning I was burning some pine that I had. Now I'm moving more to hardwoods. Doesn't seem to have any affect on the smell (except possibly causing different firing temps).



Well, the stove was very new at the time and that just seemed way too hot to me. Scary hot. Maybe that's not too hot to some people, but I'm kind of paranoid. Initially, there was an issue with the door gasket. I could actually see a bit of a gap in it (close to an 1/8 of an inch). So, it was pulling in extra air (this happened right around the time I was figuring out the issue with the door). They have since come and fixed that issue.


So, do most of you think I should run it really hot for quite a while, and that should help? Is 700-800 on the top of the stove appropriate?

Yes, I would let er rip for an hour or so.
Are there kids in the house? I've seen where a kid has slipped a little toy under the convection top on a Lopi. Just a thought.

 

[Marshy]

I'd say a 800F surface temp should be around max output of the stove and my BK has areas on the stove that reach that regularly and I burn the stove on high constantly. As long as the door gasket is sealed properly and you don't have an air leak you should be able to operate the stove on max output a few times and get that smell to go away. That's what I would do but that's my opinion.

 

[webby3650]

I'd say a 800F surface temp should be around max output of the stove and my BK has areas on the stove that reach that regularly and I burn the stove on high constantly. As long as the door gasket is sealed properly and you don't have an air leak you should be able to operate the stove on max output a few times and get that smell to go away. That's what I would do but that's my opinion.

No, you cannot run this stove on max for very long. It will over fire, no doubt about it! It's not a Blaze King..

 

[webby3650]

You will need to monitor stove top temps. Put your therm off to one side. You will have hotter temps in the middle, closer to the edge will give a more average temp.

 

[Marshy]

No, you cannot run this stove on max for very long. It will over fire, no doubt about it! It's not a Blaze King..

So does the stoves manual caution you against runing the stove on high? The manufacture generally builds in a fail safe so that you don't damage the unit if you are not bypassing their controls. I'm not an expert I just don't believe a 800 temp is overfire, maybe a good max temp but not overfire. Do you think they stove would melt itself if you run it on high for a full load cycle?

 

[webby3650]

So does the stoves manual caution you against runing the stove on high? The manufacture generally builds in a fail safe so that you don't damage the unit if you are not bypassing their controls. I'm not an expert I just don't believe a 800 temp is overfire, maybe a good max temp but not overfire. Do you think they stove would melt itself if you run it on high for a full load cycle?

Absolutely, non cats are a totally different animal. It will exceed 800 if left on high.
It won't necessarily melt down, but all the burn tubes and iron in the baffle will glow, and fail prematurely. I also know that Lopi won't offer any warranty to warped or distorted parts.

 

[begreen]

Were any sealing componds used like silicone at the flue collar?

 

[Marshy]

Absolutely, non cats are a totally different animal. It will exceed 800 if left on high.
It won't necessarily melt down, but all the burn tubes and iron in the baffle will glow, and fail prematurely. I also know that Lopi won't offer any warranty to warped or distorted parts.

Does the manual recommend a safe maximum temperature?

 

[webby3650]

Does the manual recommend a safe maximum temperature?

Any glowing parts void the warranty.
I think they say not to exceed 700, can't remember for sure.

 

[BuckyBeaver524]

Perhaps the smell is coming from the door gasket repair. Could it be related to the gasket or the adhesive they used?

 

[mincus]

Yes, I would let er rip for an hour or so.
Are there kids in the house? I've seen where a kid has slipped a little toy under the convection top on a Lopi. Just a thought.

Yes, but they're older, so no toys stuffed in there

Were any sealing componds used like silicone at the flue collar?

Doesn't look like any at the flue collar. There was a caulking used where the flue goes into the wall. I do know the caulk there does smell, but I don't think that's the issue. That area doesn't get very hot (maybe 100F). They used it on the outside as well. You can smell it if you put your nose right to it.

Any glowing parts void the warranty.
I think they say not to exceed 700, can't remember for sure.

It does say that an overfire voids the warranty, but doesn't specify the temp. It even says to run it on high for 15 minutes a day to keep the flue clean.

Perhaps the smell is coming from the door gasket repair. Could it be related to the gasket or the adhesive they used?

They replaced the entire door. Apparently it was slightly warped. But, they didn't take out the gasket at all.