- Nov 27, 2012
- 0
Question:
After 7 years of use we've recently started having problems with smoke coming out the door when adding wood and puffs of smoke through the soapstone bricks on the top of the stove at any given time. After checking and cleaning the chimney once again and checking the air intake, it continues. Please advise us on what to do.
Answer:
Let me first say what it probably is not!
It is probably not related to the gasketing of the door or the sealing of the stone.
My guesses are as follows:
1. Weather - depending on where you live, the weather can strongly affect the draft. Weather is different every day, so some things can happen that did not happen over the years.
2. Wood - Some woods can smoke more than others. Wood that is too dry or too wet can create excess smoke.
3. Technique - make certain you fire the stove very hot during the first load of wood in order to warm the chimney and establish a good updraft.
4. Chimney and Termination - if you have a masonry chimney, install a chimney cap. You might also have to raise the chimney a bit to get it over prevailing winds.
5. Tightness of installation - use furnace cement and screws at all stovepipe joints. Check where pipe enters chimney, etc.
The two problems may not be related. The smoke out the door is a lack of draft on a constant basis, while the puffs are most likely wind-related.
Stoves are relatively simple affairs. By checking the above, you should be able to solve these problems.
After 7 years of use we've recently started having problems with smoke coming out the door when adding wood and puffs of smoke through the soapstone bricks on the top of the stove at any given time. After checking and cleaning the chimney once again and checking the air intake, it continues. Please advise us on what to do.
Answer:
Let me first say what it probably is not!
It is probably not related to the gasketing of the door or the sealing of the stone.
My guesses are as follows:
1. Weather - depending on where you live, the weather can strongly affect the draft. Weather is different every day, so some things can happen that did not happen over the years.
2. Wood - Some woods can smoke more than others. Wood that is too dry or too wet can create excess smoke.
3. Technique - make certain you fire the stove very hot during the first load of wood in order to warm the chimney and establish a good updraft.
4. Chimney and Termination - if you have a masonry chimney, install a chimney cap. You might also have to raise the chimney a bit to get it over prevailing winds.
5. Tightness of installation - use furnace cement and screws at all stovepipe joints. Check where pipe enters chimney, etc.
The two problems may not be related. The smoke out the door is a lack of draft on a constant basis, while the puffs are most likely wind-related.
Stoves are relatively simple affairs. By checking the above, you should be able to solve these problems.
