Smoke when opening door fast. Normal?

[777funk]

Just finished a cat stove install last night and noticed this

With a roaring fire:
1. Cat engaged and door opened fast: Billows come into the room.
2. Cat bypassed and door opened fast: Some smoke drafts back into the room.
3. Cat bypassed and door opened a crack then slowly: A little smoke enters room continuously.

Best Case Scenario - with a bed of glowing coals only:
1. Cat bypassed and door opened a crack then slowly: little to no smoke enters room.

I have 6" black Selkirk double wall from the stove to 2-45d elbows near the ceiling box. Then I have 7 feet of double wall Chimney through the roof. I've got 3'8" of chimney above the roof exit point and just over 2' above the ridge line. This means a total flue length of about 7' chimney plus 5' of double wall stove pipe and 2 45 degree elbows.

 

[nyny]

i never burn one with the stove door open

 

[777funk]

Not talking about the door open when burning, I'm talking about opening the door when I want to stir the fire or add wood.

 

[Jags]

Best Case Scenario - with a bed of glowing coals only:
1. Cat bypassed and door opened a crack then slowly: little to no smoke enters room.

Is there any reason to open the door at any other time? Your results sound pretty normal to me.

 

[777funk]

You know... that's a good question. I was just making sure I didn't have something dramatically wrong here!

Will only open in the Best Case Scenario then.

 

[Jags]

I was just making sure I didn't have something dramatically wrong here!

From your post I don't think you have anything to worry about.

ETA: The only time I will open the door outside of your "best scenario" is if I have a log roll into the glass. I "might" open the door to make an adjustment simply so it doesn't darken the glass and it will reduce the chance later of some hot coals trying to jump out and attack me.

 

[777funk]

... the chance later of some hot coals try to jump out and attack me.

Ha! Good to know.

Looking forward to heating this winter.

So far it burned good (first burn). The paint on the new pipes REALLY stunk things up. But the little pieces I put in there: 4 - 3" diameter x 18" branches, plus kindling had coals this morning (lit it last night at 9PM) and burned for over 12 hours (still going after 9AM this morning).

 

[mellow]

Even then with a log on the door, open the bypass before opening the door. Then once you close the door close the bypass, cat's do not take well to thermal shock.