fatboycowen
ArboristSite Member
A month ago, i had a wood stove insert installed into our existing fire place. It's a Vermont Castings Montpelier. Its nice, and the wife loves how it looks. But, i'm having a hell of a time starting fires without filling the house with smoke. We don't burn full time, and don't intend to (at least yet), mostly because we don't have enough wood. It's BAD. I need some advice. Here are the details:
Exterior chimney, in a 1 story portion of the house, adjacent to the 2 story portion. Basically a family room, with cathedral ceiling, off the kitchen of the main 2 story box. Chimney is big rectangular brick, with only the wood stove flue. There is a seperate chimney in the main box for the oil boiler.
Chimney guys couldn't get the insulated stainless liner in the existing liner, so they busted it out. Chimney is roughly 18 feet tall. It meets code, height wise, in relation to everything around it.
The house isn't super tight, but not bad. It's a 1987 with 2x6 walls and decent insulation, decent windows. Nothing special.
When the stove is cold, and i open the door, cold air comes in. I think it's reverse drafting. If i light a piece of newspaper in the back of the stove, ALL the smoke comes in.
So far, here is what i've tried - none worked:
- Researched the problem.
- Made sure nothing else was exhausting while starting fire.
- Sealing up the attic (still in progress, but it was pretty drafty).
- Opening a window (i've tried several different windows in different locations).
- Opening the door 30 minutes before starting the fire.
- Running the ceiling fan in the room
The only one that worked (only worked once) is running a propane torch pointed into the firebox for like 20 minutes straight. I think it heated up the chimney enough to reverse the draft.
Most of the time, by the time i get a good fire going, the house is smoky as hell. Once to the point that it makes me caugh and eyes burn a little. Have to open windows and doors, which defeats the purpose of burning....
Once it's going, it drafts decent. Not awesome, but decent. Some smoke does come in when adding logs, but not enough to hate it. It doesn't heat that great either. Room gets to like 72 from 65 so far. I suspect the draft is the issue. The wood i'm burning is pretty damn dry oak. Yet, the glass door dirties up pretty damn quick.
It's getting really frustrating and makes me not want to use it. What would you do?
Exterior chimney, in a 1 story portion of the house, adjacent to the 2 story portion. Basically a family room, with cathedral ceiling, off the kitchen of the main 2 story box. Chimney is big rectangular brick, with only the wood stove flue. There is a seperate chimney in the main box for the oil boiler.
Chimney guys couldn't get the insulated stainless liner in the existing liner, so they busted it out. Chimney is roughly 18 feet tall. It meets code, height wise, in relation to everything around it.
The house isn't super tight, but not bad. It's a 1987 with 2x6 walls and decent insulation, decent windows. Nothing special.
When the stove is cold, and i open the door, cold air comes in. I think it's reverse drafting. If i light a piece of newspaper in the back of the stove, ALL the smoke comes in.
So far, here is what i've tried - none worked:
- Researched the problem.
- Made sure nothing else was exhausting while starting fire.
- Sealing up the attic (still in progress, but it was pretty drafty).
- Opening a window (i've tried several different windows in different locations).
- Opening the door 30 minutes before starting the fire.
- Running the ceiling fan in the room
The only one that worked (only worked once) is running a propane torch pointed into the firebox for like 20 minutes straight. I think it heated up the chimney enough to reverse the draft.
Most of the time, by the time i get a good fire going, the house is smoky as hell. Once to the point that it makes me caugh and eyes burn a little. Have to open windows and doors, which defeats the purpose of burning....
Once it's going, it drafts decent. Not awesome, but decent. Some smoke does come in when adding logs, but not enough to hate it. It doesn't heat that great either. Room gets to like 72 from 65 so far. I suspect the draft is the issue. The wood i'm burning is pretty damn dry oak. Yet, the glass door dirties up pretty damn quick.
It's getting really frustrating and makes me not want to use it. What would you do?