I know this has been discussed on here before but I cannot find a similar issue to exactly what I’m experiencing. I have a new VC intrepid when I have the cat installed and the bypass closed at proper temp I get Smoke spillage from the top load door. If I remove the cat and only use the secondary burn feature with the bypass closed I get zero smoke spillage even with primary air entirely cut off. It seems to smoke more after I add wood and cut back the air. I’ve tried increasing fresh air and the problem still exists. I’m pretty sure it’s a chimney height issue I’m at 15’ from top of stove. I’ve purchased an additional three feet of pipe to extend. Am I on the right track to addressing this issue?
Smoke spillage VC intrepid
- Thread starter mm1988
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I have an Encore and my chimney is a little shorter. Is it actual leakage or does it puff when the firebox flashes over? Do the dollar bill test on the top load door and do a smoke test on it to see if it's pulling air in there. My stove will push smoke out of the top if the cat is engaged and I close the air down while it's outgassing a lot, new load on hot coals. If I open the primary air a little it won't do it and I can close it more once the gassing slows down.
The gasket is good and my issue is similar to yours although sometimes it happens when adjusting air even when the wood I’ve loaded is been burning awhile. The peak of my roof extends above my chimney slightly at three feet I’m hoping I can catch a better draft. I love the stove and like I said with cat out no issue at all and wood is well below 20%. Thank you
I think you have a draft issue more than anything else. Looks like the top of the chimney barely clears the peak of the roof. Should be at least 3 or 4 feet above it. Also make sure you have the proper coal bed and that your cat is not clogged with ash. If the gasket is good on the griddle than maybe a positive pressure issue inside the stove. One cause of that would be puffbacking as mentioned. What's your at temp when turning the stove down. Maybe running the stove too cold? How much lateral run do you have in you flue system?
It’s a rear vent with a 18” connector I don’t shut the bypass until I get above 500 degrees I’m almost positive it’s a draft issue it does fine without the cat and drafts pretty good on start up. I always get it good and hot before I add wood to it and close it down. I’m hoping by adding 36” to the chimney I can at least reduce the issue so I can put the cat back in.
Installing the cat vs no cat will temper the draft some but shouldn't be much unless it's clogged up bad. Make sure there is a good coal bed in place (2"-3") and splits placed on the coals are well lit before you close the damper. If you can check your draft with a manometer while the stove is running will help with figuring out any draft issue. The Intrepid requires about a 0.06 draft to run satisfactory according to VC.
So even when I’m adding wood during a burn I should let it catch good before closing down the dampener? Prior to this stove I had a fisher and never had issue with smoke. I’m trying to get used to this new stove I like it more but still working kinks out. Thanks for the help
Yes, any splits put on the coals should be well lit before the damper is closed. That even if the cat is reading over 500f. Just to say even with the damper open, some flue gasses will still go the route through the combuster and cat and up past the open damper causing the cat temp to rise even with the damper open. That is unavoidable. Don't compare to running a Fisher. Nothing similar at all. The main things are proper draft, good coal bed, and properly seasoned (dry) wood with a moisture content <20% on a fresh split at room temperature. Good luck with your Intrepid, there is significant learning curve a patience will be a virtue.
So I finally found the issue a hole in the bottom of the clean out cap it’s been replaced and all problems corrected. Wish I could’ve done it before the 12 degree weather
