summer rust on my insert

[shredd_guy]

We here in Mn. had a few months where the humidty was pretty bad and since my stove is in the basement where it was cool, water vapor would condense in the stove. so i started to notice some surface rust inside. I thought about going up top and stuffing some insulation in the top of the stack but settled on keeping the door cracked to try to get the air to circulate. Is a little bit of rust an issue? Does this happen to anyone else and if so what did you do?

Thanks,

 

[tbuff]

I got a little bit of rust last year and had no issue with the stove, seemed to burn off since it was only surface rust. This year however, my entire door latch rusted completly in place, so I had to remove the hinge pins, finagle the door abit and finally got it off. I think you should be fine with some surface rust (the kind that kinda brushs off.)

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

I think your prone to more moisture in the basement than say a first floor. I get some interior rust on my stove which is on my first floor but nothing to be alarmed about. I wonder what other actions you could take to keep the humidity levels down to less affect the stove. Maybe a dehumidifier? Or as you mentioned earlier, sealing up the flue. I'm sure some of the basement burners will chime in here...Good luck

 

[shredd_guy]

thanks for the input, one thing i did do although i am not sure if it helped was to put a sock in my OAK in an attempt at cutting off any sort of flow from the outside...come to think of it i better go get that som-birch before i light one up. if you know what i mean.

 

[Sisu]

How do you know that water vapour was condensing? Was it visible on the glass?

Most of the internal rust you see is usually due to burning vs moisture. High temperatures oxidize metal. That is why your stainless steel parts (eg. baffle, side rails) probably look a little rusty. If it is not moisture related there is nothing to worry about, since it is normal.

 

[shredd_guy]

How do you know that water vapour was condensing? Was it visible on the glass?

Most of the internal rust you see is usually due to burning vs moisture. High temperatures oxidize metal. That is why your stainless steel parts (eg. baffle, side rails) probably look a little rusty. If it is not moisture related there is nothing to worry about, since it is normal.

yea there was water condensing on the glass thats what originally tipped me off. like a freaking aquarium. It doesnt seem to be a big deal I'll wait till next summer to get alarmed again. thanks for the comments

 

[Sisu]

How do you know that water vapour was condensing? Was it visible on the glass?

Most of the internal rust you see is usually due to burning vs moisture. High temperatures oxidize metal. That is why your stainless steel parts (eg. baffle, side rails) probably look a little rusty. If it is not moisture related there is nothing to worry about, since it is normal.

yea there was water condensing on the glass thats what originally tipped me off. like a freaking aquarium. It doesnt seem to be a big deal I'll wait till next summer to get alarmed again. thanks for the comments

How is the condition of your chimney cap and chimney? They might be allowing rainfall to collect inside.

 

[EJL923]

I also had this problem this summer, though it was just some surface rust. I have an insert painted a matte black finish, Jotul Rockland to be exact. This insert also comes in an enamel finish which would protect much better, but i like the flat paint. They sell stove polishes, but most say they are for unpainted surfaces. I emailed jotul, and the reply was to paint the stove every other year. Wow, thanks for the advice. Nothing i would like better to do than move my 500 lb stove or tape off my living room. I bought this stove because of its flush face looks, so i didnt want to have any rust showing, even a little.

Anyway, my solution. Because it was just minor surface rust, i wiped it down with some WD-40 on the cosmetic faces. It made the surface rust disappear, and should leave a thin protectant film till the burning season starts. Its not heavy enough to leave a film that will burn, and WD-40 doesnt harm paint. Ive also seen people suggest putting a bucket of damp rid in or around the stove.

 

[shredd_guy]

I also had this problem this summer, though it was just some surface rust. I have an insert painted a matte black finish, Jotul Rockland to be exact. This insert also comes in an enamel finish which would protect much better, but i like the flat paint. They sell stove polishes, but most say they are for unpainted surfaces. I emailed jotul, and the reply was to paint the stove every other year. Wow, thanks for the advice. Nothing i would like better to do than move my 500 lb stove or tape off my living room. I bought this stove because of its flush face looks, so i didnt want to have any rust showing, even a little.

Anyway, my solution. Because it was just minor surface rust, i wiped it down with some WD-40 on the cosmetic faces. It made the surface rust disappear, and should leave a thin protectant film till the burning season starts. Its not heavy enough to leave a film that will burn, and WD-40 doesnt harm paint. Ive also seen people suggest putting a bucket of damp rid in or around the stove.

wd40 yessir thats what i am going to do. Thanks

 

[shredd_guy]

How do you know that water vapour was condensing? Was it visible on the glass?

Most of the internal rust you see is usually due to burning vs moisture. High temperatures oxidize metal. That is why your stainless steel parts (eg. baffle, side rails) probably look a little rusty. If it is not moisture related there is nothing to worry about, since it is normal.

yea there was water condensing on the glass thats what originally tipped me off. like a freaking aquarium. It doesnt seem to be a big deal I'll wait till next summer to get alarmed again. thanks for the comments

How is the condition of your chimney cap and chimney? They might be allowing rainfall to collect inside.

cap is all good. one thing i noticed was when my air cond was running on really hot days i would smell a hint of smoke/char from the insert. telling me it had a bit of a neg flow going on. Not sure why thats when i plugged up my oak to see if it would help.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

thanks for the input, one thing i did do although i am not sure if it helped was to put a sock in my OAK in an attempt at cutting off any sort of flow from the outside...come to think of it i better go get that som-birch before i light one up. if you know what i mean.

Next year I suggest stuffing insulation in the stove pipe and the OAK.....and making a note or a big sign to yourself. Put that sign right inside the stove so that when you open the firebox door the next time, there is that note (like on a big piece of cardboard) telling you to remove the insulation before lighting a fire.

 

[DexterDay]

For my Pellet stoves, I have always plugged the exhaust (flue) and the OAK, along with spraying the inside of the stove with Pam cooking spray and finally adding a little tub of Damp Rid to absorb any internal moisture.

I hear a lot of people say, not to worry about it... But steel rusts. Look at cars and trucks. Eventually, it will rust from the inside out. It may take 20 yrs. But by doing my 10 minutes of work, maybe mine will make it 30 yrs....

My 2 cents... I intend on doing the same with the 30 at the end of this season. As it is in my basement. Write yourself a note and put it in the firebox. Before your 1st fire, you will see the note in case you forgot about plugging the stove.

Keep the humidity out and apply a thin coat of oil (Pam) and you will stop the rust..

 

[rustynut]

better keep an eye on that WD as i used it on a hand saw once in a damp environment
and it rusted Shortly after my install i noticed moisture in my stove.........turned out
that i had missed caulking my rain shield and the pipe seam. Just a little something you
might check.
rn

 

[shredd_guy]

For my Pellet stoves, I have always plugged the exhaust (flue) and the OAK, along with spraying the inside of the stove with Pam cooking spray and finally adding a little tub of Damp Rid to absorb any internal moisture.

I hear a lot of people say, not to worry about it... But steel rusts. Look at cars and trucks. Eventually, it will rust from the inside out. It may take 20 yrs. But by doing my 10 minutes of work, maybe mine will make it 30 yrs....

My 2 cents... I intend on doing the same with the 30 at the end of this season. As it is in my basement. Write yourself a note and put it in the firebox. Before your 1st fire, you will see the note in case you forgot about plugging the stove.

Keep the humidity out and apply a thin coat of oil (Pam) and you will stop the rust..

10-4 DEXTERDAY WILL DO THANKS