Wood Stove Smoking Problems from Appliance Ventilation
Articles are for info only. Fireside cannot be held liable for their use or misapplication.
Written by John Debar, Owner / johndebar@gmail.com / 401-783-6054
Make up air for other venting appliances tries to get in the house down
through the wood stove chimney. This is what causes the smoke to
come out of the stove. It gets worse when all of the other appliances
are exhausting at the same time. Examples of other appliances are the
furnace, dryer, kitchen and bath vents, and some roof/attic ridge vents.
If smoking is lessened by supplying make-up air from a window, then
remember to crack a window, especially when the chimney draft is weak
whenever cold starting.
On days approaching 50 degrees, and when outside & inside temperatures are similar, chimneys perform poorly. Start up optimizing rules are now especially important.
As for all temperatures, if smoking occurs when first lighting, then initialize the draft. Peel away a single sheet of newspaper. Put it in the stove without folding it tight. Unfolded, it will flare up quickly and go out in seconds.
Repeat if necessary. This will get a cold chimney drafting, and greatly lessen the likelihood of smoking. Try this with a window cracked open if smoking persists. Once started, shut the window or door.
Initially, the stove is absorbing much of the heat. During this initial half hour, do not turn the draft control down below halfway. Too little exhaust heat from too low a burn and/or wet wood leads to sluggish chimney performance and smoke in the house. It wastes fuel too.
If you follow the above recommendations and have problem smoking, verify the stove pipe is clear and not restricted with a build-up of soot. To do so, simply tap the pipe firmly and listen for falling
creosote.
Burning recently obtained wood is the main cause of all problems and can double consumption.
Obtain and cover the following year's wood the summer before this heating season ends.
John Debar - Engineer/ RI Reg # 1719
Heating Appliance License #7808 - Since 1987
Ocean State Chimney (
www.OSChimney.com)
Fireside Stove Shoppe (
www.FiresideOnline.com)
52 Main St, Wakefield, RI 02879
401-783-6334 / 401-249-1818 Providence / 401-847-3882 Newport