Problems with newly installed Hearthstone Starlet

[bubela]

We just installed a secondhand Starlet stove in our warehouse office. The problem we are having with it is that it does not seem to pull any air from the air control on the bottom. In order to start a fire we prop the door open. It looks like the chimney pulls a good draft and the smoke up into it. However, the door glass is completely black and smoke comes into the room when the door is open more than a couple inches. If I shut the door tight and have the air control open all the way, the fire chokes out. We checked the stove in the back to make sure the baffling was not out of place. We also blew compressed air into the air control intake in the bottom and into the pipe manifolds to make sure they were not clogged. We felt some air coming into the firebox from the top.

Our stovepipe/chimney installation is straight up through a gas masonry chimney from a pre-existing gas heater that is no longer there. The chimney extends approx 4 feet above the roof of the building. The only roof area obstruction is an attic addition more than 10’ away from the chimney.

We are baffled (no pun intended) by this problem. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[BJ64]

I'll bump the thread.

I don't know about the Starlet, but in my stove's manual (Lopi Leyden), leaving the door cracked open for a while is part of the start up procedure.

 

[fossil]

Could you describe the connector pipe/chimney system in more detail? Rick

 

[begreen]

I can't find any info about the Hearthstone Starlet. The closest is the Sterling. Is this a wood or gas stove?

 

[fossil]

I think the Starlet was a small woodstove, now discontinued, which came with granite or marble panels rather than soapstone. Can't find much more about it. Rick

 

[bubela]

Yep, it is a small woodburning stove and is discontinued. The outside decorative panels are marble or granite. I believe the inside bricks are soapstone. I just re-read the manual, and it appears that we have followed all the install requirements. Also, our warehouse is anything but airtight. Here is the chimney setup:

~8ft of single wall pipe, then about 6ft of double wall, then 1 1/2 ft of stainless chimney and a chimney cap/spark arrestor. Our setup is a little weird because it has to go thru a 8in diameter gas chimney.

The behavior of the stove to me points to not pulling any air from the bottom. I e-mailed hearthstone about it, and they said its unlikely to be clogged as there is no concrete in the construction.

Thanks for your help everyone

 

[STOVEGUY11]

Model: Starlet #8550
Production Dates: December 1995 -
Serial #: 001000 -
Note: Color must be specified for cast iron parts which are available in enamel and stone in granite.
Key Part # Description
1 1546-462 Top Stone 8" x 9 1/2" 4 Bevels
2 1546-462A Side Stone 8" x 9 1/2" 1 Bevels
3 1546-463 Front Corner Stone 3 1/2" x 9 1/2"
4 1546-464 Front Bottom Stone 2 1/2" x 8 1/2"
5 2421-316 Front Glass Frame
6 2510-220 Front Door
7 2510-303 Bottom Foot
8 2510-401 Top Casting
9 2510-402 Bottom Casting
10 2510-403F Front Grill
11 2510-412 Front Door Frame
12 2510-413 Corner Post
16 94-58405 Glass Assembly
Includes:
Front Door Glass 11 5/16" x 15 19/32 x 5mm
Gasket: Tape 3/4" x 5' Adhesive Backed
20 5550-500 Firebox
21 5550-310 Front Baffle Support Bracket
22 5550-510 Heat Shield Shell
23 5550-361 Baffle Half "B" 9 1/4" x 14" x 1/4"
23A 3120-906 Ceramic Board 9" x 14" x 1/2"
24 5550-360 Baffle Half "A" 9 1/4" x 6" x 1/4"
24A 3120-906 Ceramic Board 9" x 6" x 1/2"
26 2610-016 Flue Collar
27 5550-552 Secondary Air Tube #2 (Front)
28 5550-551 Secondary Air Tube #1 (Rear)
30 95-73500 Chrome Handle Crank (Included in Front Door Latch Kit)
31 95-73500 Front Door Latch (Included in Front Door Latch Kit)
5/28/2003 Starlet 8550.xls
32 95-73500 Front Door Latch Kit
Includes:
(2) Set Screw
(4) Door Latch Spacer
Wave spring
Chrome Door Crank
Door Latch
33 90-71100 Wooden Handle Assembly
Includes:
Wood Handle
1/4-20 x 3 1/4" Bolt
(2) 1/4" Lock Washer
34 5500-2408 Stone Clip Serial # 001000-003256
5500-2409 Stone Clip Serial #003257 and Up
36 5550-150 Primary Air Control Shutter
37 5550-160 Primary Air Control Lever
38 3060-426 Firebrick Back & Side 4 1/2" x 9" x 1 1/4"
39 3060-430 Firebrick Bottom 4" x 5" x 1 1/4"
40 5550-140 Primary Shutter Support Spring
41 5550-155 Primary Shutter Bushing 1/4" x 3/8"
42 5550-165 Primary Lever Bushing 5/16" x 7/16"
95-58501 Gasket Assembly
Includes:
Front Door 5' 1/4" Rope
Glass 5' 3/4" Tape Adhesive Backed
5/28/2003 Starlet 8550.xls

 

[bubela]

(broken link removed to http://www.prussianmotors.com/Starlet_8550.pdf)

Here's a link to an exploded view of the stove construction. I'm figuring maybe something got knocked out of place when we moved it? I was carted out of the house and then carried down steps and into the volvo wagon by 3 guys. It doesn't look like there's many pieces by the side manifolds though. I stuck my hand in the back of the flue and the ceramic baffles seemed to be in their proper places, and clear paths on the sides and front.

 

[Larix]

Bubela, I have the starlet with a similar set-up of pipe and have never really had any difficulty getting it started. You definately need to to have the door cracked about 1" (just enough for a draw without smoke entering the room) for a good 10-20 min(on a cold start) or until your draft is established and the firebox is warming up. I initially had the same issue you were having but compensated by adding more kindling to the firebox which seemed to solve start-up problems. And of course make sure your wood is seasoned.

 

[bubela]

Larix, thanks for the feedback. I do notice the stove definetely pulls draft way better after it's all warmed up, but I suppose that would be the case with any soapstone. Do you then close the door fully after it's warmed? If I close the door tight and have the air control open the flames on the bottom go out but there's still flames from the secondary tubes. I don't see any difference in burn with the air control fully open or closed, it's the same, which I think is weird!

 

[fossil]

...I was carted out of the house and then carried down steps and into the volvo wagon by 3 guys...

Geez, bubela, what'd ya do to deserve that? :lol: Rick (Kiddin', of course, I know you meant "It").

 

[bubela]

Lol, good catch. Let's just say I had one too many...