I have an Avalon/Newport Bay, about 8 years old. Good condition, I clean regularly and there is no obvious ash/creosote/gunk buildup anywhere I can see. I also pull it out (insert) once a season or so and vacuum everything I can possibly reach. Had a chimney cleaner out about a year ago for the first time ever and he said things were dirty but not scary.
Problem - a few times per winter I get a long light time and then a very loud WHOOMPH! where there appears to be an explosion inside the stove, all sorts of ash and odd stuff is blown into the room, and there are flaming clinkers outside of the burn pot for a long time. I assume this is blowback, and think this occurs when I mistakenly start the stove with a full burn pot (unintentionally).
Also, I wonder about the seal around the door, it is loose and I carefully pack it back in to make a decent seal after cleaning, but am not positive there is one. Otherwise, the stove runs fine and has done so for a long time.
Thoughts? Advice?
Problem - a few times per winter I get a long light time and then a very loud WHOOMPH! where there appears to be an explosion inside the stove, all sorts of ash and odd stuff is blown into the room, and there are flaming clinkers outside of the burn pot for a long time. I assume this is blowback, and think this occurs when I mistakenly start the stove with a full burn pot (unintentionally).
Also, I wonder about the seal around the door, it is loose and I carefully pack it back in to make a decent seal after cleaning, but am not positive there is one. Otherwise, the stove runs fine and has done so for a long time.
Thoughts? Advice?