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1 posted on 11/17/2012 10:29:21 AM PST by jsh3180
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To: jsh3180

You need to contact a chimney sweep immediately before you burn down the house. You probably have a clogged chimney.


2 posted on 11/17/2012 10:34:01 AM PST by TruthWillWin (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: jsh3180

Have the stovepipe Damper wide open when you add logs.
Add a “T” in the stove pipe with a draft control flapper.
These work for me.


3 posted on 11/17/2012 10:36:04 AM PST by Flintlock (PARANOIA--means having all the facts.)
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To: jsh3180

If there is blockage in the air vent, it is possible and likely you are getting Carbon monixide into the rooms. Very dangerous indeed.

Get on the roof and check it out, there might be a bird nest or a squirrel nest in the air vent. NOW.


4 posted on 11/17/2012 10:36:38 AM PST by geologist (The only answer to the troubles of this life is Jesus. A decision we all must make.)
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To: jsh3180
If there is blockage in the air vent, it is possible and likely you are getting Carbon monoxide into the rooms. Very dangerous indeed.

Get on the roof and check it out, there might be a bird nest or a squirrel nest in the air vent. NOW.

5 posted on 11/17/2012 10:36:51 AM PST by geologist (The only answer to the troubles of this life is Jesus. A decision we all must make.)
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To: jsh3180

I suggest you call a chimney sweep ... now. Do not pass Go, do not collect FR “solutions.”


6 posted on 11/17/2012 10:36:51 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: jsh3180
Check the spark arrester. Sometimes they will clog if you have been burning soft woods. Check to be sure your flue is open all of the way too.

Fix it before you burn more!!

7 posted on 11/17/2012 10:38:01 AM PST by Las Vegas Ron (Medicine is the keystone in the arch of socialism)
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To: jsh3180

Could be several issues... when was the last time your chimney & hood were cleaned?


8 posted on 11/17/2012 10:38:21 AM PST by Fully Awake DAV (Navy Vet when homosexuality was not tolerated)
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To: jsh3180

Have the flue checked for obstruction right away, as others have suggested. Other than that, I couldn’t offer an explanation as to why the sudden change in performance, unless you’ve been having usually windy weather lately. That can do it.


10 posted on 11/17/2012 10:41:40 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: jsh3180

Could be as simple as a bathroom vent of a Kitchen vent running. Wind can cause downdraft in stovepipe.


11 posted on 11/17/2012 10:42:13 AM PST by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: jsh3180

Are you logged on?


12 posted on 11/17/2012 10:47:36 AM PST by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)
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To: jsh3180

1) Open damper all the way;

2) Open vents (if your stove has them);

3) Open the stove door a little more slowly than normal (opening it quickly can create a brief backdraft;

4) If you’re still getting smoke; call a chimney swift.

I’ve been heating with wood for thirty years. I will load it up and run it wide open until there is no smoke coming from the chimney (usually about twenty minutes or so - I haven’t needed to look outside for years). At that point I’ll close it down.

Running it wide open each time you load it will keep the chimney cleaned out for a long time; I usually get it cleaned and inspected every 5-6 years, and even then it only requires a light brushing.


14 posted on 11/17/2012 10:56:35 AM PST by snowrip (Liberal? You are a socialist idiot with no rational argument.)
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To: jsh3180

“I’m guessing I may have an obstruction in the air intake..”

It’s not the air intake, it’s the exhaust (stovepipe). Sounds like your pipe is clogged. Not likely a bird’s nest this time of year.

Your stove pipe should be higher than your roof ridge for proper draft. Could be a lot of things. Heed other’s advice and call the chimney sweep immediately. Use your back up heat sources until you get the problem solved.

We don’t want to lose any FReepers because of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.


15 posted on 11/17/2012 10:59:00 AM PST by panaxanax
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To: jsh3180

After you solve the problem make sure you put one of those ‘chicken-wire’ covers on the chimney top. Good luck.


17 posted on 11/17/2012 11:02:15 AM PST by duckman (I'm part of the group pulling the wagon!)
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To: jsh3180
I burn 5 cords a year.
I also have Dr Soot out every year needed or not.
I have a temp gauge(called a homesaver) on the exposed part of my insulted stainless steel flu.Get one.
Once a day I take the the thermometer up into the red zone for 20 minutes or so to burn any build up off.
A stainless steel insulated flue is highly recommended.I have one and I still get build up at the very last(top) six inches as that is the coldest part of the flue.
The colder the exterior of the flue the greater the build up.

When the outside air is equal to the inside air the draft is less which occurs on mild days.
As mentioned if there is an open window or vent on the same level as the stove the pressure will be close to equal and lessen your draft.This occurs for me on mild days,fall and spring.

If you have a cap out side I would go up and remove it and take a look inside.If its a straight shot into the stove you should be able to see down and or do the reverse with a mirror in the stove and powerful light and look up.
You should see light and a clear path.

I have a curve in mine so this dont work. I learned the hard way which is small slow fires suck and do more harm than good.lLong hot fires are mo-better.
A small unnoticed chimney fire(yes they can happen) causes creosote to ignight and it gets like cotton candy and expands cools off and chokes of the flue.

Its worth it to have a chimney sweep out every so often if you don't know how or are afraid to go up there.

18 posted on 11/17/2012 11:18:39 AM PST by CGASMIA68
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To: jsh3180

I don’t know what your roof pitch or height is, nor your physical condition, but it is not difficult to clean the chimney yourself. If you have the 6” pipe all the way up you will need a 6” brush and enough extensions to reach down to the stove. If you have elbows involved, (that may be part of your problem), you may have to disassemble that section of pipe to access the interior for cleaning. There have been times I have not had a brush and have used a length of chain in the pipe swinging it around and pulling it up and down with good results.


19 posted on 11/17/2012 11:26:26 AM PST by Carthego delenda est
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To: jsh3180

My wood burning stove has fire bricks all around. Ashes will sometimed build up and start blocking the area around where the metal tubing exhausts out of the top of the stove.


20 posted on 11/17/2012 11:35:30 AM PST by MtnClimber (I did not vote for 0bama, someone else did that!)
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To: jsh3180

I’ve been using a fireplace woodstove insert for about fifteen years, and usually burn a couple of cords a year in it.

One thing to have the sweep look for is if your chimney cap has a creosote build-up on the wire mesh of the cap. I’ve had that happen before.

Regardless, you do want to get your chimney swept every couple of years. It’s worth the peace of mind.

Here’s a couple of good site that tells you about wood heating.

http://www.woodheat.org/
http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/creosote_from_wood_burning_causes_and_solutions


21 posted on 11/17/2012 11:40:54 AM PST by abb ("What ISN'T in the news is often more important than what IS." Ed Biersmith, 1942 -)
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To: jsh3180

If the top of your chimney is lower than the peak of your home this can happen.


27 posted on 11/17/2012 12:13:11 PM PST by Walmartian (I'm their leader. Which way did they go?)
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To: jsh3180

I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet. If you have a whole house fan(A fan that sucks air from inside the home and ejects it into the attic) don’t use it while burning wood in the woodstove. The fan will suck air down the chimney and into the house.


28 posted on 11/17/2012 12:15:49 PM PST by Randy Larsen (Aim small, Miss small.)
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To: jsh3180

You can get a backdraft when you first light the stove, when the chimney pipe is cold—unless it’s still warm from the day before. But you shouldn’t get a backdraft when the stove is actually warm.

Possibly the intake vent or air circulation is blocked because you don’t do a daily cleanout of the old ashes—just the fluffy, powdery stuff.

But as already noted, a likelier cause is that the chimney needs cleaning out. I generally do mine once a year, after the heating season is over, although every other year may be enough, depending on the stovepipe and stove and the quality of the firewood.

You generally want to open the intake vent until the stove has gotten warmed up, and then you can close it a bit to adjust the amount of heat you get—or even close it all the way to keep it burning slowly overnight. That depends on the stove and the venting system, something you need to fool around with. And it’s a good idea to get one of those magnetic temperature indicators with a magnet on the back and stick it on the stove pipe, to warn you when the stove is getting too hot—or too cool.


31 posted on 11/17/2012 12:30:51 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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