Tundra door gasket leaking

[centennial60]

This is the third year of burning in my tundra wood furnace and this year I started getting a smoke smell in the house. I have narrowed it down to the door gasket leaking. Has anyone had to replace theirs yet? I replaced the gasket with a Meeco’s brand gasket from Menards and it lasted a while but seems to have flatted out on the hinge side enough that I can see a small gap into the firebox. Just wondering if anyone else has replaced theirs and if they used an aftermarket seal or bought the oem one.
Thanks, Adam

 

[laynes69]

Does the tundra have an adjustable door latch? I'm still on my original gasket from quite a few years ago.

 

[centennial60]

Yes it does but the problem seems to be on the hinge side and tightening the latch doesn’t do much for that.

 

[3fordasho]

I had to replace the door gasket after 1 season due to birds falling down the flue and getting in the firebox, they pulled at the gasket and ruined it.
The stuff from Menards didn't work for me either, I ended going to a local stove shop and buying some that has been working well so far.
I can't tell you much more about it as it was on a bulk reel and sold by the foot, it was denser than the stuff from Menards

 

[DoubleB]

I started getting a smoke smell in the house.

on the hinge side enough that I can see a small gap into the firebox.

Are you sure the smoke smell is coming from that gap? Sometimes I get a smoke smell, and sometimes I can see a fire glow through a gasket gap (although on the latch side, then I tighten the latch), and I'm pretty sure the two events are unrelated.

Just thought I'd ask before you go through the effort to replace the gasket.

 

[centennial60]

Are you sure the smoke smell is coming from that gap? Sometimes I get a smoke smell, and sometimes I can see a fire glow through a gasket gap (although on the latch side, then I tighten the latch), and I'm pretty sure the two events are unrelated.

Just thought I'd ask before you go through the effort to replace the gasket.

Well I think so. The smoke smell is most noticeable about an hour into the burn. At this point there is good secondary combustion and there is also flame up close to the glass. If I smell up around the front of the furnace the smoke smell is strongest on the left side (hinge side) I’ve tried looking with a light to find the source but can’t see any smoke. It’s definitely enough we are getting the smell upstairs. After about another hour into the burn the smell mostly goes away.

 

[DoubleB]

Well and maybe you've figured out the answer for me too, because I have theories but haven't proven why I occasionally get a smokey smell. My burn cycle sounds the same as you describe too.

When you get the smell, does it come out of the duct vents at the same time and strength that it comes out near the furnace door? If so, let's hope it's not a pinhole in your heat exchanger, such as a missing weld that @brenndatomu found in his, post #974 here: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/everything-drolet-tundra-heatmax.140788/page-39

 

[laynes69]

The first thing that came to my mind was a hole in the exchanger, I know from experience. Because the chimney is drafting, I can't see the smoke smell coming from the door gasket. Our furnace has a side panel, and when I removed it, I found a couple of black spots where creosote had dripped on the firebox and the floor, and I smelled smoke. Since I repaired the exchanger, no smell. The only time I smelled smoke, is with the exchanger.

 

[JRHAWK9]

How about just a simple back-puff?

https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/prevent-puffback-aka-flashback/

 

[3fordasho]

Well I think so. The smoke smell is most noticeable about an hour into the burn. At this point there is good secondary combustion and there is also flame up close to the glass. If I smell up around the front of the furnace the smoke smell is strongest on the left side (hinge side) I’ve tried looking with a light to find the source but can’t see any smoke. It’s definitely enough we are getting the smell upstairs. After about another hour into the burn the smell mostly goes away.

you've perfectly described what I've also experienced, lots of floating flame up near the glass and sometimes a slight smoke smell. In this situation I don't notice the smell outside the furnace room. Otherwise a back puff can be a common occurrence in the tundra and when it occurs I quickly notice the smell pretty much though out the house. I've never noticed any smell coming out the supply vents.

 

[centennial60]

When you get the smell, does it come out of the duct vents at the same time and strength that it comes out near the furnace door? If so, let's hope it's not a pinhole in your heat exchanger, such as a missing weld that @brenndatomu found in his, post #974 here: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/everything-drolet-tundra-heatmax.140788/page-39

It does eventually make its way upstairs but I am just pulling basement air for my return. If been pulling my hair out most of the burning season due to this. Even though I was pretty positive the smoke was coming from the door area I pulled the side panels to inspect the firebox and hx. All looked good.

 

[centennial60]

I agree laynes69, since the firebox is in a slight vacuum there shouldn’t be any smoke getting out it should be pulling air in if anything.

 

[laynes69]

I agree laynes69, since the firebox is in a slight vacuum there shouldn’t be any smoke getting out it should be pulling air in if anything.

There's quite a few openings for air to puff out from. If it puffs an hour into the burn, I would load more loosely, or increase the air. It doesn't take but a little whiff of smoke to be sucked into the furnace and distributed thru the house.

 

[centennial60]

Hey guys, just thought I'd give an update here. After changing door gaskets twice with no luck I ended up ordering a glass gasket and door gasket directly from SBI. Replaced them both. Been burning now for over a week with the new gaskets and it seems to have fixed it. I think the glass gasket was the problem the whole time. I did end up reading the owners manual after the fact and it says to replace them as a set Now if I put my nose right above the door part way into a good burn I do smell a slight bit of combustion gasses but nothing like the heavy smoke smell I was getting before.

Adam

 

[warno]

Does anyone still trust the dollar bill test? Lay a dollar bill over the gasket area and close/latch the door. If you can't pull the bill out the gasket is ok, if you can pull it out the seal isn't good enough.