Well I just had this beautiful cabin built. Yeap I had them follow the plans the the woodstove is definitely NOT in the right spot. It is a Lopi Republic. Yes I burn wood that has been cut split and stacked properly to 2 seasons (oak).
Wood stove has a directly connected combustion air vent to the outside under the deck.
Fires start up ok but even when I get it rip roaring, open the air control all the way and crack the door open for a while, I can't add wood with at least a little smoke pouring in once I open the door (even with the entry door adjacent to the stove open). Had the extra 3 feet of chimney added this summer. It didn't seem to make much if any difference.
Short of moving the stove to a spot between the doorwalls, which due to the fieldstone surround and slat the stove sits on would be very difficult, is there anything I can do to improve my draft? From what I've been reading the extra 3ft up top might have actually hurt me as now I probably have as much pipe out in the cold as I do inside. Also, since it's double walled pipe all the way up, wouldn't that retain some heat between the two walls and tend to help me once I really get it going?