testing sealing integrity of window and door gasket

[RustyShackleford]

Lots of debate recently about the importance of a good seal on door (and window) gaskets - for both catalytic converter wellbeing and burn times - and how best to replace those gaskets

I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried testing their work. A lot of us have probably had the experience of turning on a whole-house fan, without opening a door or window first ... and the smoke belching from the stove. How 'bout trying that with some artificial smoke product, and looking for the leaks ?

I'd just want a good idea of what chemicals are in that product, for personal and catalyst health. Looks like a common and likely benign way is using propylene glycol - normally used in a "smoke machine" but I imagine you could wing it - just needs to be heated, apparently. (Maybe pull the catalytic converter just to be safe - never a bad idea to have a look at it, maybe a little cleaning, replace the gasket).

 

[Burnin Since 1989]

Lots of debate recently about the importance of a good seal on door (and window) gaskets - for both catalytic converter wellbeing and burn times - and how best to replace those gaskets

I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried testing their work. A lot of us have probably had the experience of turning on a whole-house fan, without opening a door or window first ... and the smoke belching from the stove. How 'bout trying that with some artificial smoke product, and looking for the leaks ?

I'd just want a good idea of what chemicals are in that product, for personal and catalyst health. Looks like a common and likely benign way is using propylene glycol - normally used in a "smoke machine" but I imagine you could wing it - just needs to be heated, apparently. (Maybe pull the catalytic converter just to be safe - never a bad idea to have a look at it, maybe a little cleaning, replace the gasket).

There is a thread from last year

P

Thread 'Cold Stove, Wood Smoke Leaking into Home'

Dec 3, 2024

I have a Pacific Energy Anderlea T5, brand new. We've used it a number of times. Really happy with its performance.

It's for use when the electricity is out and when the temperature outside drops too low for our heat pump. So it's been sitting for the last two or three weeks. One day, my wife said she smelled smoke. It turned out that some ash sitting on the lip of the stove, just under the door, was the culprit. I cleaned that up and the smell went away. Then last night, again with the stove not used in weeks, I smelled it again. This time the only ash was inside the stove. This...

• Parallax982
• Replies: 81
• Forum: The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

The best recommendations I saw were the "smoke pen" which was really expensive or use some incense to smoke check for leaks.

I've never tried it though