Smokey---dont think it has anything to do with setup have never had this issue before going on 3rd season and always used barefoots, but here it goes. Mt. Vernon AE freestanding, rear to top vent convertion kit (centers flue pipe behind stove) with cleanout trapdoor, 3 feet of rise, 90 degree elbow thru wall thimble, approximately 2 feet exhaust flue on slight rise (to aid in drafting exhaust if power goes out) terminates with 45 elbow, end cap, and rodent screen (pointed toward ground). Venting is 4inch and no OAK.
Stove particulars---burning barefoots
manual mode
Fuel selection---hardwood pellets
Heat output---H
Altitude---Normal
Flame---minus 5
Fan---normal
Cleaning---annual cleaning myself--includes all of below including full sweep of vent pipe, removal of burn pot to scrape and repaint, scrape and repaint of baffle and heat exchanger. I stuff a tshirt in trap door @ rear of stove, then fill pair of panty hose with cat litter and lay it inside firebox (for moisture that gets past tshirt). Gaskets inspected and replaced if need be. Have not replaced any roping as of yet, seems to be ok.
vaccuum firebox 4-5 days
weekly baffle removed and heat exchanger and exhaust ports cleaned
about every 3/4 to 1 ton---exhaust fan removed, cleaned, as well as ex. ports and exhaust channel that leads to exhaust blower.
exhaust outlet tube cleaned up to point of clean out trapdoor
convection blower / squirrel cage cleaned
any info or ides would b appreciated
Thanks