We've been burning for over 2 months now, and we haven't had a problem till just last Wednesday when it started to snow. The problem we are having is it's billowing smoke into the house but only when we open wood burner to put wood into it. We have checked the flue is open, there is no blockage in the chimney or pipes, and all the vents in the burner are clear. The logs usually burn really hot but since Wednesday they only seem to smolder and burn really slowly. Not only does the flue fail to draw at the beginning , but it also is failing to draw after the fires been burning for a couple hours.
2007-12-08 12:18:34 · 7 answers · asked by wlindberg2006 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Since it just started doing this you probably have enough creosote in the chimney that it is starting to block the flue.
Check the chimney from the top as that is where the most creosote will build up. It burns off down at the bottom so it may look clean down there.
If you have more than 1/4" of creosote it is time to clean the chimney.
2007-12-08 14:47:45 · answer #1 · answered by mike b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not, this is not that easy of a question to answer.
Could be a number of things...Usually it starts with your chimney not being high enough. But certain winds and air pressure will affect the not so perfect chimney. Basically, your chimney is not staying hot enough to draw out the smoke.
Before you go to put more wood into your stove, be sure to give it some good air for a couple of minutes before you open the door entirely. (Heating up your chimney) Thus creating more draft.
Because your chimney is probably not high enough, you'll probably have this problem until it REALLY gets cold out. Then it will come back in the spring. The colder the outside air, the better your chimney draws. The warmer the outside temp, the draft is the least....Certain winds can affect it also.
A warm gusty wind is the worst.
The key is to get your chimney raised. As little as 3 more feet can do it...........In the mean time, make sure your wood is good and dry--------Remember to heat up your chimney (By giving your stove more air) BEFORE you open it all the way to load. Be sure there's enough in there to make it heat up too. If it's nothing but smoldering ashes, you'll have to throw in some newspaper to "Quick Heat" up your flue.
The key is to make sure your flue is hot. It's tough EARLY in the season for that reason. When it gets really cold, you'll have no problem. Then it will happen to you again in the spring.............Extend your chimney when you have a chance.
2007-12-08 16:14:41 · answer #2 · answered by Carl R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wood Burner Smoke In Room
2016-11-01 14:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the type and quality of wood you're burning, it's entirely possible to have built up enough of a layer of creosote on the inside of the chimney in the two months time to be partial blocking the draft necessary for the smoke to go up. Also, if the top of the chimney is lower than the highest point of the roofline, wind can come down the pipe to blow into the stove.
2007-12-08 12:43:46 · answer #4 · answered by Corky R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to understand "negative and positive " air pressure. Watch the weather report, when he says there's a positive air pressure coming down (warming) you'll notice changes or the opposite.
These indicate that if you open a door when it's a positive air, then the air inside the house is lower then the outside, allowing the smoke to come down the chimney. The opposite if it's a Negative air.
Check your damper, you can adjust for this by opening the damper more or less. you might see the your using more fuel this way by burning hotter but, there's no choice. Make sure your flu is clean.
2007-12-08 21:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two things come to mind. The chimney is low and you are getting downdrafts, or, you have now closed all entrances for air to enter the house and it is impeding the wood burning. Try just cracking a window in the room the unit is in and see if it changes.
2007-12-08 13:12:40 · answer #6 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may have a vacuum or negative pressure in your house and low pressure outside, You need to get a good hot fire going and burn out the build up in you chimney. There is a clean out stick out there that you can through in the (hot) fire and it will clean out the chimney for you, but nothing beats and good clean chimney. You should have your own chimney cleaning kit. Its not hard. Just a little high off the ground.
2007-12-08 15:01:50 · answer #7 · answered by mr.obvious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-01-26 20:27:52 · answer #8 · answered by Dale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we put new pipe up and now it just is worse then before. some times when the door is closed it puffs out into the house. the pipe goes pretty far up away from house could it be to far up or maybe not far enough.even when you open the flue before you open it still comes onto the house.
2014-12-16 00:44:44 · answer #9 · answered by Lorie Mandeville 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check on top of your chimneys again you may have snow covering the top. Also check to see if you have the bottom crate opened for the air flow.
2007-12-08 12:33:17 · answer #10 · answered by Big Deal Maker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋