acrid smell outside when burning

[mainewoods]

Good chance the oak is not dry enough and you are damping it down a little too much.More than likely you are creating some creosote, and it is burning off when the fire gets hot enough. Creosote gives off a distinctive odor, exactly like you are describing. Be glad it is burning off, not building up in the chimney.

 

[brenndatomu]

Yup ^^^ +1

 

[Deleted member 116684]

that makes sense to me! Fits the symptoms well, I should say. thanks Maine

 

[Fred Wright]

Had smelly smoke this morning... damp sweet gum really stinks when it's lit off.

 

[stihly dan]

I get that same smell. Wood I am burning this year is css 5 yrs now. My furnace keeps fire box temp up, can't dampen it down to much. I have no creosote anywhere. When I used my Epa stove that smell was not there, same chimney. Maybe it's that some gases burn off a different temps, or a complete burn off leaves a smell. Or the metals in the wood burning up with no smoke to mask the smell. All in all I have no idea.

 

[Vermonster]

That acrid smell you're noticing.....that's called smoke.

 

[Schultzz]

Chinese Elm, Walnut, Black Gum, wet oak.