Advice needed, go new or fix what I have

[stoveliker]

Also, I would keep the fans off when you are starting the insert; no hot air available yet to blow into the room. Let it heat up a bit before switching the fans on.

 

[Grave digger]

Chimney fans are a hassle I think. They can break, get buildup, and should not be needed.

Don't do anything like that for now. Just see how it goes.

If the fire starts well, I would leave the door open a little longer; evidently you had draft at the very start. Then when you closed the door it went wrong. Leaving the door open a minute or two longer will help get the air flowing better I think

Yea I think you’re right. I think if I left the door open longer I would have been better off. I rushed it

thank you all so much for the advice. I still have to deal with the carbon monoxide issue from the additional fan behind the unit. I’ll double check the chimney connections and report back. I just think that fan is too strong because it only happened at night after the fire went out. I tried lowering the speed at night and had no issues with CO after.

Thank you all again.

 

[begreen]

I was just trying to get it started. So I had 2 of those fire starter squares in and the fire started fast I closed the door and latched it a little till it really got going but then the smoke started pushing out not up the chimney. I tried to extinguish it but that just made the smoke worse.

Are you sure this was a backdraft, or wa it a backpuff instead? The latter is common with poorly seasoned wood. It happens when a fire is smoldering badly and then a flame appears that ignites a firebox full of unburnt wood gas. What ensues is a mini-explosion that will push smoke out of every orifice.

When you check the the wood are you getting an ax and resplitting the wood to check the inside of it? If not you are not getting an accurate reading. The outside of the wood showing 16-20% means your wood is likely well over 25%.

This definitely should be taken into account. Many people test the firewood for moisture content incorrectly. I have seen this often including with firewood sellers. The wood must be resplit first, then tested in the middle of the face of the freshly exposed wood.

 

[Grave digger]

Are you sure this was a backdraft, or wa it a backpuff instead? The latter is common with poorly seasoned wood. It happens when a fire is smoldering badly and then a flame appears that ignites a firebox full of unburnt wood gas. What ensues is a mini-explosion that will push smoke out of every orifice.

This definitely should be taken into account. Many people test the firewood for moisture content incorrectly. I have seen this often including with firewood sellers. The wood must be resplit first, then tested in the middle of the face of the freshly exposed wood.

I think it was backdraft, but I could be wrong.
Would you say this is the same issue for pinless meters? When I test with the pins from the outside of the wood it’s higher than when I test pinless. I tried to split it and test with pins it’s normally somewhere between. That’s why I’ve been trying for 16 or less.

I’ll try splitting a couple more pieces and try double checking.

 

[begreen]

My understanding is that pinless meters only work to a fairly shallow depth. Maybe .75". Grab a few of the thickest splits on the wood pile from random locations, split in half, and retest using the pin meter.

If you have some 2x4 scraps, try starting a fire with them to see if it behaves much better.

 

[begreen]

I think it was backdraft, but I could be wrong.

It the draft is poor then it could be due to one or more factors.

1) a cold, uninsulated liner.
2) negative pressure in the fireplace room. This can happen if there is a lot of air leaking on the upper floors. Leaky or open windows there or a leaky attic door. As a test, open up a window close to the stove an inch and see if the fire perks up.
3) a gap or obstruction in the liner. This could be due to a disconnect or gap at the flue collar, a tear or crimp in the liner, a coupling that has come apart.
4) competing appliances (exhaust fans typically) or an imbalanced HRV system
5) mild outside temps (50º or above)
6) geographic location can exacerbate this

 

[Mars]

Hi all, I’m hoping to get some advice. I purchased a 2 floor, 2,400sqft home last fall with a hearthstone Clydesdale 8490 insert. The owner told me he always dreamed of having a brick fireplace so he started with that and decided he didn’t want it after all and had the insert put in. They put a pipe up the chimney with what I’m guessing is just a single walled flex pipe? As far as a cap I’d barely call it a cap. It has no damper or mesh to stop critters.

Hi all, I’m hoping to get some advice. I purchased a 2 floor, 2,400sqft home last fall with a hearthstone Clydesdale 8490 insert. The owner told me he always dreamed of having a brick fireplace so he started with that and decided he didn’t want it after all and had the insert put in. They put a pipe up the chimney with what I’m guessing is just a single walled flex pipe? As far as a cap I’d barely call it a cap. It has no damper or mesh to stop critters.
After trying out the fireplace I didn’t feel I was getting the heat out of the unit I was expecting plus the fan was clanging. I replaced the fans and still wasn’t impressed. So I spoke with someone and they said seal up around the unit well and get another fan behind the unit and slide the insert forward a little bit to maximize the heat off the back of the unit. This helped a lot get more heat into the home but still doesn’t seem great. But when doing this I created a new problem. When a fire isn’t going the fan is believe is pulling smoke from the fireplace and setting off the carbon monoxide detectors. Plus this thing burns wood like crazy in my eyes. And finally the last issue the last home owner warned me that he’s had backdraft or down draft issues that push smoke back into the house. I didn’t experience this until the other night. It was warm during the day and at night temps dropped fast. I’m not sure what happened but everything started off great next thing I knew I had smoke coming in. And the smoke was coming in from all around the insert. Back, bottom, top. I believe these units are built in multiple pieces but it’s far from airtight. Plus side is I know the door seal I installed last season is good because that was the only place smoke wasn’t going from.

So after all that info here’s the questions.
1. Do I just replace the unit for something newer? Higher btu, more efficient and if so what would you recommend?
2. Do I install a chimney exhaust fan to help with downdraft or something with a damper?
3. Should I just fix the unit and what should I do to fix it?
4. Finally, Should I get a life insurance policy asap?

If you’ve made it this far reading and haven’t said omg this guys a lost cause I say thank you.

impressed. So I spoke with someone and they said seal up around the unit well and get another fan behind the unit and slide the insert forward a little bit to maximize the heat off the back of the unit. This helped a lot get more heat into the home but still doesn’t seem great. But when doing this I created a new problem. When a fire isn’t going the fan is believe is pulling smoke from the fireplace and setting off the carbon monoxide detectors. Plus this thing burns wood like crazy in my eyes. And finally the last issue the last home owner warned me that he’s had backdraft or down draft issues that push smoke back into the house. I didn’t experience this until the other night. It was warm during the day and at night temps dropped fast. I’m not sure what happened but everything started off great next thing I knew I had smoke coming in. And the smoke was coming in from all around the insert. Back, bottom, top. I believe these units are built in multiple pieces but it’s far from airtight. Plus side is I know the door seal I installed last season is good because that was the only place smoke wasn’t going from.

So after all that info here’s the questions.
1. Do I just replace the unit for something newer? Higher btu, more efficient and if so what would you recommend?
2. Do I install a chimney exhaust fan to help with downdraft or something with a damper?
3. Should I just fix the unit and what should I do to fix it?
4. Finally, Should I get a life insurance policy asap?

If you’ve made it this far reading and haven’t said omg this guys a lost cause I say thank you.

Hi Grave Digger
After babysitting starting of a fire in a woodburner for best part of Saturday, I thought there has to be a solution out there that can help. I have a short twin flue, won't be extending further not an option unless I want to lift roof tiles to secure. Anyways, I came accross the Gemi fan and in the early stages of research. So far it seems to tick a lot of boxes for me . By chance did you decide to install or go another option? If you did install, I am curious to know how you are finding it?
Thanks

Mars

 

[Grave digger]

Hi Grave Digger
After babysitting starting of a fire in a woodburner for best part of Saturday, I thought there has to be a solution out there that can help. I have a short twin flue, won't be extending further not an option unless I want to lift roof tiles to secure. Anyways, I came accross the Gemi fan and in the early stages of research. So far it seems to tick a lot of boxes for me . By chance did you decide to install or go another option? If you did install, I am curious to know how you are finding it?
Thanks

Mars

Hey mars, I’ve been running it as is for now. I’ve learned a lot from what others suggested on here. I started getting smoke to come in and I blasted my torch up the chimney and almost instantly it started pulling the smoke out. And the carbon issue is definitely from the fan I installed in the rear being entirely too strong. I lowered the speed on it and no more issues with carbon monoxide. Part of me wants to install the fan so I don’t have to worry about the smoke issue ever again. But that would be a warmer weather project at this point. If it’s not something that has to be run in order to use the fireplace it’s a nice added perk. I also have been thinking to simplify the install just run the wires into the attic and put a smart switch so I can control it from my phone if needed instead of running wires down and having that box on the wall to control it. If you end up doing please let me know what you think and how the install went.