Something's not quite the Same?

[fire slave]

Hi all, something seems to have changed in my stove operation.
I have a blaze king princess, it's my second year with her. All has been good until lately I've noticed it operating different.
I recently cleaned it, for sone reason left the cap off. Maybe to see if it would draft better, as I get slight smoke spillage if in not careful.
After the cleaning, which I also took apart the stove pipe to clean as well. It seemed to operate normal the a week or so later. It seemed to run hotter when turned down, even some light blue flame would emit throughout the burn and the red glow was much larger. I suspect either the door gasket , which is on its way, or maybe a air leak in stove pipe. I think that because another thing that has changed is when I reload , I don't seem to get smoke spill, like the chimney is drafting much more? I use to always get spill when reload on hot coal bed if I wasn't quick enough before it would ignite.
Can a chimney change its draft over time? Also how do you know if your thermostat on a BK is operating ?

 

[mellow]

With this colder weather your draft will increase.

 

[johnstra]

leaving the cap off gives you a bit more effective stack height. I don't remember how much, but the draft will increase a little.

 

[hack]

Hi all, something seems to have changed in my stove operation.
I have a blaze king princess, it's my second year with her. All has been good until lately I've noticed it operating different.
I recently cleaned it, for sone reason left the cap off. Maybe to see if it would draft better, as I get slight smoke spillage if in not careful.
After the cleaning, which I also took apart the stove pipe to clean as well. It seemed to operate normal the a week or so later. It seemed to run hotter when turned down, even some light blue flame would emit throughout the burn and the red glow was much larger. I suspect either the door gasket , which is on its way, or maybe a air leak in stove pipe. I think that because another thing that has changed is when I reload , I don't seem to get smoke spill, like the chimney is drafting much more? I use to always get spill when reload on hot coal bed if I wasn't quick enough before it would ignite.
Can a chimney change its draft over time? Also how do you know if your thermostat on a BK is operating ?

The above responses are correct and most likely the reason for the change, but a clean chimney will draft better than one with creosote buildup. I noticed this first hand last year several times while running the princess.

 

[fire slave]

I agree with the responses. But the cap is back on and I've had warmer temps as well. The first day I noticed was -2 degree. Would a leak in the stove pipe allow stronger draft? I also have a whistle happening where the stove pipe goes into the chimney. While cleaning I moved the stove to help get the pipe off. Maybe the angles aren't right causing a leak ?

 

[Hogwildz]

Sucking air from the pipe joint or thimble should lessen the draft to the stove, and will also introduce cooler air to the stack, which may cause more or faster creosote build up. I can't see how it would cause the stove to draft harder and burn hotter though. The only way to cause that is door gasket leak or another entrance of added air to the stove itself.

 

[fire slave]

Sucking air from the pipe joint or thimble should lessen the draft to the stove, and will also introduce cooler air to the stack, which may cause more or faster creosote build up. I can't see how it would cause the stove to draft harder and burn hotter though. The only way to cause that is door gasket leak or another entrance of added air to the stove itself.

Thanks for the info. I should get the new gasket in a couple days. I'll see how that does.

 

[weatherguy]

Your gasket should still have some life in it, did you adjust it at all yet? I adjusted mine 3 times since I've got it.

 

[fire slave]

Yes I've adjusted it several times last season. Then again at thd beginning of this season. I can not tighten the latch any more. There are a few more turns on it but it seems a little bent and the nut won't move further. Has anyone replaced the gasket before? Is it simple? What holds it in place ?

 

[HotCoals]

Yes I've adjusted it several times last season. Then again at thd beginning of this season. I can not tighten the latch any more. There are a few more turns on it but it seems a little bent and the nut won't move further. Has anyone replaced the gasket before? Is it simple? What holds it in place ?

Take a pic like tool and fluff it up.
On my king I can pull the door gasket right out and flip it over. Both ways will help.
I have never had the gasket just fall out. It's a fairly deep grove.

 

[hack]

Is your wood supply more seasoned than the wood you were burning before?

 

[fire slave]

I checked a split this morning and I got 19% as the highest, maybe slightly higher then earlier season at about 16-17, but I doubt that would make too much of a difference.

 

[Hogwildz]

Before you swap out the gasket, do the dollar bill test. How old is the gasket?
Not sure what they use, but a high density gasket does not need a lot or pressure to seal.
Over adjusting will prematurely wear a gasket & in some cases the latch pivot area. I know first hand about that.

 

[fire slave]

I did do the paper test. And as usual it fails around the latch. Especially the top. I adjusted many times last season , probably too many times. I tried hot coals trick by pulling out the gasket with a tool. Seemed too tighten it up. But not sure how even it is.
The real difference is his I don't get smoke spill anymore. As I have a short run of 32 inches to a 90. Now when I open the door or reload the fire and smoke fully gets sucked up the chimney.

 

[hack]

I don't think the door gasket has anything to do with it.

Was your chimney pretty dirty before?

Is there a reason the room air pressure could be higher than before? Are you leaving doors open now that were closed before? Were you running the dryer before? You get the idea. Anything that will reduce the rooms pressure, or prevent air from equalizing back into the room will decrease draft.

The only thing that will change the draft is the pressure differential between the stove and the chimney cap, and any restrictions to flow (ie dirty chimney). Could is be possible that the chimney pipe joints are sealed better now resulting in less wasted draft?

 

[fire slave]

Nothing has changed since I started burning last year. The chimney this time was dirtier then it had ever been. But it's clean now, and when it was cleaned before it didn't act like this. Maybe the joints are tighter? I did take it all apart and used some thicker screws as done were not holding tight anymore. But there is a slight whistle I. A fresh reload when thd stove is on high and the fire is big. I guess I can just turn down thd stove further to slow the draft.

 

[hack]

Yeah, you have a good problem! I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Papa-Yankee-Romeo-Oscar]

As Hog mentioned, a leak in the stove pipe would weaken the draft at the stove. Maybe you got your joints tighter, that could help your draft and could also be the cause for the whistle.