Campfire smell

[Brewder]

New Quadra-Fire CB1200-i (insert) owner. We've had our stove roughly a month. EVERY time it kicks in, roughly 5 minutes after the initial flames start, we get a strong "campfire" smell in the house. It's like a blacken burnt wood smell. Absolutely NO smoke in the house at all... just the strong smell... and it typically dissipates after roughly 20 minutes. I'm a new owner, but it doesn't seem normal to me.

The installers are coming back to finish up some facia work and I will ask them to check it, but I'm wondering what it could be.

I slightly increased the tightness of the door using the adjustable screws/clips and I don't think it made any difference... plus I'm not sure how tight I should crank that down without causing other problems.

Any thoughts for me? Installers return in a couple of days from now.

//Brew

 

[Whitenuckler]

When I first started using my P43, I was getting some smells in the house that had me concerned too. I even started to look for leaks in the stove pipe. It went away as the curing took place. You may have to run it as hot as you can for a few hours, otherwise you will never fully cure it. Like taking a band aid off fast or slow.

 

[Brewder]

I thought the same... but so far it's had 98 total hours of runtime according to the stats from my thermostat... But I haven't run it with the pellet feed wide open and fan on high for hours and hours.... so I guess that could be possible..

 

[johneh]

On start up the smell is common on stoves whose exhaust pipes are leaking a little.
Have your installers reseal all connections

 

[Whitenuckler]

I thought the same... but so far it's had 98 total hours of runtime according to the stats from my thermostat... But I haven't run it with the pellet feed wide open and fan on high for hours and hours.... so I guess that could be possible..

Do you have pictures of the vent system before they set it in place? Because it is an insert, I'm not sure what they had to use. Was there an existing masonry flue where a wood fire was?

 

[Brewder]

On start up the smell is common on stoves whose exhaust pipes are leaking a little.
Have your installers reseal all connections

Kinda what I thought...

 

[Brewder]

Do you have pictures of the vent system before they set it in place? Because it is an insert, I'm not sure what they had to use. Was there an existing masonry flue where a wood fire was?

I don't.. but they had to install a SS liner inside of my existing flue... I have a non-masonry fireplace before the insert went in...

 

[Whitenuckler]

I don't.. but they had to install a SS liner inside of my existing flue... I have a non-masonry fireplace before the insert went in...

If I remember from some video's I watched, the liner might have a tee in back of the stove. Certainly could leak, but I would think it would leak all the time. Maybe after it heats up it does not leak. With all the pulling and tugging on the liner as the stove goes in and out it would be a failure point.

 

[Brewder]

I'll update this thread once the installers take a look at it. I remember the day it was installed, the stove was put in place (physically) and fired up almost immediately.. I had wondered if the high-temp silicone could really have cured that quickly...

 

[ARC]

Your stove is a positive pressure stove, if door leaked it would suck air in not leak smoke out the door gasket. Does to fire box fill with heavy smoke before fire ignites or does it start correctly?

You have a leak in the exhaust side starting with the exhaust blower and going to the stainless liner. Most high temp silicone is suppose to cure for 24 hours before use, usually 20 minutes will work but not always.

You are getting the smell on start up because the chimney is cold causing less natural draft and more pressure in the venting pushing more odor/smoke out of the leak. As the chimney warms up it creates more natural draft thus less pressure in the venting and it pulls more of the odor/smoke pass the leak.

Most of the time the leak is were the flex pipe attaches to the stove either not clamped/screwed down tight or lack of high temp silicone.

Note; Some installers use furnace cement instead of high temp silicone and I have never had luck with the furnace cement.

 

[Brewder]

Your stove is a positive pressure stove, if door leaked it would suck air in not leak smoke out the door gasket. Does to fire box fill with heavy smoke before fire ignites or does it start correctly?

You have a leak in the exhaust side starting with the exhaust blower and going to the stainless liner. Most high temp silicone is suppose to cure for 24 hours before use, usually 20 minutes will work but not always.

You are getting the smell on start up because the chimney is cold causing less natural draft and more pressure in the venting pushing more odor/smoke out of the leak. As the chimney warms up it creates more natural draft thus less pressure in the venting and it pulls more of the odor/smoke pass the leak.

Most of the time the leak is were the flex pipe attaches to the stove either not clamped/screwed down tight or lack of high temp silicone.

Note; Some installers use furnace cement instead of high temp silicone and I have never had luck with the furnace cement.

The firebox DOES "fill" with smoke before the flames start...I don't know what's considered "heavy" as I'm new to all of this.. but there's definitely smoke and I can see it being sucked out the back by the exhaust fan (but again NEVER see anything inside the house... just smell it for a bit).

If I put my nose right up to the vents for the convection fan, I can smell the smoke smell long before the actual convection fan turns on... if that helps prove your theory?

 

[johneh]

All stoves when started produce some smoke. Some pellets are notorious for the amount
of smoke at start-up. In fact I have seen so much smoke in the firebox that when the pellets
ignite it is like a small explosion. Yes, the sealant should have 24 hours to cure but it does
surface seal at about 20 min. Depending on the pressure of the combustion fan it could
cause a small leak in the uncured sealant and it takes the smallest hole for the smoke smell
to escape into your home. Believe me, you are not the first or will be the last. A dark room
and a flashlight will help find the leak at start-up up it will show the smoke

 

[Brewder]

All stoves when started produce some smoke. Some pellets are notorious for the amount
of smoke at start-up. In fact I have seen so much smoke in the firebox that when the pellets
ignite it is like a small explosion. Yes, the sealant should have 24 hours to cure but it does
surface seal at about 20 min. Depending on the pressure of the combustion fan it could
cause a small leak in the uncured sealant and it takes the smallest hole for the smoke smell
to escape into your home. Believe me, you are not the first or will be the last. A dark room
and a flashlight will help find the leak at start-up up it will show the smoke

I know the day they installed it was brutally cold and I know for certain the sealant wasn't given 24 hours... Maybe 20 minutes but even that I'm starting to doubt.

I'm pretty sure my pellets are fairly high quality.. Hamar's hot ones.. I've burned about 15 bags and still haven't seen a real "clinker" yet... my ash tray under the fire pot never has more than even a few crumbs in it...

I appreciate the dark room / flashlight tip perhaps i'll try that tonight even though it's 70 degrees here now..

 

[ARC]

I can see it being sucked out the back by the exhaust fan

If you can see it being sucked out its not heavy and sounds correct. As johneh stated if heavy you will get a small explosion when it finally ignites.

 

[Ssyko]

one other thing to keep in mind. there is a small gap around the heat exchange tube cleaner rod, that when your stove starts the smallest amount of smoke can escape that gap and you will smell it till it dissipates

 

[Don2222]

One place that may leak is where the Stainless Steel liner connects to the hard pipe flex adapter or T before it goes into the pellet stove. The SS liner is ribbed so it is not permanently smooth and round. Therefore when I install them I put plenty of high temp silicone around the bottom of the SS liner and insert it into the adapter or T , then I wrap it with High Temp foil tape to completely seal it from leaking smoke.
If there is no silicone or tape it will leak smoke and if it is installed properly you should not get a bad camping smoke fire smell.
See pics There are a few ways to connect the liner to the stove but make sure it is sealed properly no matter which way it was done.
Also the silicone dries quickly so the quick startup after installation should not be a problem.

 

[Brewder]

The guys came back yesterday. They told me they could see smoke coming out of one of the exhaust connections and the previous guys (from their company) had missed installing some sort of coupler. They installed the missing part and well it still leaks... Badly. They told me a "little smell is normal".. SMELL perhaps, but smoke inside my house cannot be normal. Well after they left, I turned off all the lights and took some flashlight video. There is smoke everywhere. I can't tell where it's coming from but I've complained to them again. I've only videoed on the left side of the stove were the exhaust vent is... should I monitor the right side as well?

There is also outside air leaking in to my room all around the stove. I could feel a very significant draft. The slate hearth was ice cold this morning which isn't normal. It's like some sort of one way baffle isn't working and cold air is falling down the flue and into the room. This so far has been a terrible experience from a very reputable dealer.

 

[johneh]

A properly sealed stove and chimney will have NO SMOKE SMELL OR LEAKAGE
Is there an OAK installed on your stove? (outside air kit)
Did they install a flue seal plate in your masonry chimney or just run the liner up?
If not cold air can drop down the chimney and if your home is tight and you use
the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans this is where your make-up air is coming from

 

[Whitenuckler]

The guys came back yesterday. They told me they could see smoke coming out of one of the exhaust connections and the previous guys (from their company) had missed installing some sort of coupler. They installed the missing part and well it still leaks... Badly. They told me a "little smell is normal".. SMELL perhaps, but smoke inside my house cannot be normal. Well after they left, I turned off all the lights and took some flashlight video. There is smoke everywhere. I can't tell where it's coming from but I've complained to them again. I've only videoed on the left side of the stove were the exhaust vent is... should I monitor the right side as well?

There is also outside air leaking in to my room all around the stove. I could feel a very significant draft. The slate hearth was ice cold this morning which isn't normal. It's like some sort of one way baffle isn't working and cold air is falling down the flue and into the room. This so far has been a terrible experience from a very reputable dealer.

Thanks for the update. I'm afraid you may have picked the wrong contractor. I always get as many quotes as I can and try to meet with the WETT installer (here usually only one person has the "ticket"). Whatever certificate you needed for your insurance provided by them is worthless now. You need them to fix it and re-inspect with a new certificate. If may need to get another company in and sue the other guy to get your money back. Just make sure they supplied all the correct parts as you might own them now.

 

[Brewder]

A properly sealed stove and chimney will have NO SMOKE SMELL OR LEAKAGE
Is there an OAK installed on your stove? (outside air kit)
Did they install a flue seal plate in your masonry chimney or just run the liner up?
If not cold air can drop down the chimney and if your home is tight and you use
the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans this is where your make-up air is coming from

I don't have a masonry chimney... so they ran a liner inside the existing flue... and my home built in 1999 is the opposite of tight... hence the reason I even bought the stove.

 

[Brewder]

Thanks for the update. I'm afraid you may have picked the wrong contractor. I always get as many quotes as I can and try to meet with the WETT installer (here usually only one person has the "ticket"). Whatever certificate you needed for your insurance provided by them is worthless now. You need them to fix it and re-inspect with a new certificate. If may need to get another company in and sue the other guy to get your money back. Just make sure they supplied all the correct parts as you might own them now.

And this is a fairly large dealer certified installers for multiple brands... which ultimately means nothing. Sigh

 

[johneh]

I don't have a masonry chimney... so they ran a liner inside the existing flue... and my home built in 1999 is the opposite of tight... hence the reason I even bought the stove.

Still should be a seal plate that the liner goes through to stop drafts Without it you have 6,7 or 8 in.
hole right into your stove room from outside. Just like having a window open

 

[Don2222]

The guys came back yesterday. They told me they could see smoke coming out of one of the exhaust connections and the previous guys (from their company) had missed installing some sort of coupler. They installed the missing part and well it still leaks... Badly. They told me a "little smell is normal".. SMELL perhaps, but smoke inside my house cannot be normal. Well after they left, I turned off all the lights and took some flashlight video. There is smoke everywhere. I can't tell where it's coming from but I've complained to them again. I've only videoed on the left side of the stove were the exhaust vent is... should I monitor the right side as well?

There is also outside air leaking in to my room all around the stove. I could feel a very significant draft. The slate hearth was ice cold this morning which isn't normal. It's like some sort of one way baffle isn't working and cold air is falling down the flue and into the room. This so far has been a terrible experience from a very reputable dealer.

Hello Brewder
If you can pull the stove out and just take pictures of all the venting and seams and post them here, we may be able to help you?

 

[Brewder]

Hello Brewder
If you can pull the stove out and just take pictures of all the venting and seams and post them here, we may be able to help you?

Honestly if were out of "warranty" I would. But it was only installed Feb 20... it's barely a month old so I prefer to let my dealer do all that...

 

[johneh]

Could be that is the route to take and I wish you luck
But it sound like your dealer or maybe just the install crew has no idea what they are doing