Smokey soot smell during summer

[Eagleknight]

I put in an Enviro Cabello 1200 last fall. I have noticed a smokey soot smell like I am getting a back draft during summer. I only have an air control on the front and no damper I can fully shut. When I installed the stove I put in a block off plate so air has to be coming down the chimney. Would the best solution be just covering the top of the chimney during summer months?

 

[JA600L]

This is very common for stoves installed in a basement.

Are you running central air conditioning?

 

[Eagleknight]

Yes, I run central air, but stove is not in basement.

 

[firefighterjake]

Common . . . especially when it is humid out for an extended period of time.

Previous solutions for me included putting a box of baking soda in the firebox . . . and sometimes burning a small candle in the firebox to reverse the air flow . . . benefit was it almost felt like winter with that little flame flickering in there despite it being about 89 degrees outside and 67% humidity. Haven't had this problem this year though.

 

[Nick Mystic]

I love that old wood smoke smell permeating the house on a hot humid summer day. Reminds of joys to come in another few months! Won't be long now before we get a dose of the real thing: woodsmoke! Be thankful for the nice reminder your stove is giving you!

 

[stovelark]

I see you installed a block off plate- that should help from any smells coming from the chimney. Sometimes when an insert is installed, the fireplace flue or smoke chamber has leftover creosote that creates smells. Was the flue swept prior to install? There are items such as fireplace deodorant that can help kill that smell. I would think its coming from the chimney flue, not the insert. Was the chimney lined with a ss liner? There are things that can be done.

 

[jdp1152]

There are inflatable plugs you can put up the flue. Not sure if they exist for small liners, but definitely for chimneys. I believe batticdoor was where I saw this online

 

[quotejso]

Yea I always got that smell real bad especially with the attic fan. I cleaned off the smoke shelf best I could and stuffed as much roxul as possible in from the bottom of the chimney and so far the smell is gone.

 

[Eagleknight]

I see you installed a block off plate- that should help from any smells coming from the chimney. Sometimes when an insert is installed, the fireplace flue or smoke chamber has leftover creosote that creates smells. Was the flue swept prior to install? There are items such as fireplace deodorant that can help kill that smell. I would think its coming from the chimney flue, not the insert. Was the chimney lined with a ss liner? There are things that can be done.

Yes, I swept the flue before installing a SS liner. I haven't cleaned the liner yet from burning this past winter. That might help.