Hearthstone Castleton I glass and stone stained

[Geezer77]

After running our VC Intrepid I I mod 1308 for 33 years we replaced it with the subject stove this past summer. We really like the new one (now that I learned how to light it from the top down!) Do miss the ash pan and top load but that's a different thread. The problem is it develops a brown stain (smoke?) only in the upper right corner of the glass (about 2.5 x 2") and on the soapstone directly above it. Had the dealer out last Monday and he checked everything, did the dollar bill test (told him he should use a sawbuck, too expensive was his reply). He could not find anything wrong, maybe just breaking in? He did try to fluff up the gasket a little. He said they had not experienced this condition before on HS so we're just kind of hanging. It came off easily with the Rutland glass cleaner. After 5 days of burning (not overnight) the stain is back! arrgh! Has anyone out there had this problem? Why only one corner? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[begreen]

There should be no smoke leakage showing out the outside stones. If so, it's also getting into the air you breath. It needs to be fixed.

 

[wetwood4life]

It doesn't sound like you have my problem, but figured I'd share in case it's helpful for diagnosing.

We have chronic draft & smoke problems with our stove (Castleton & class A chimney installed a couple years ago). I often have to keep the stove door cracked so the fire doesn't smother. When I do this, the smoke coming into the room tends to stain the stones at the top right of the door (not the glass though). I think it's because the open door creates a left-right draft sucking air in. The smoke stain cleans off the polished stones with a wet paper towel and a little elbow grease.

Maybe your top hinge is a little too far out, or the latch closes too loose/tight on the left? I guess your dollar bill test says they're all fine.

Another thought: I believe the stones are set around the cast iron door frame. Maybe your door/gasket/frame is fine, but you have some little leakage between frame/stones? This might let air in while burning strong (making dirty glass) and let smoke out during weak burns (making dirty stones).

Good luck...

 

[Geezer77]

It doesn't sound like you have my problem, but figured I'd share in case it's helpful for diagnosing.

We have chronic draft & smoke problems with our stove (Castleton & class A chimney installed a couple years ago). I often have to keep the stove door cracked so the fire doesn't smother. When I do this, the smoke coming into the room tends to stain the stones at the top right of the door (not the glass though). I think it's because the open door creates a left-right draft sucking air in. The smoke stain cleans off the polished stones with a wet paper towel and a little elbow grease.

Maybe your top hinge is a little too far out, or the latch closes too loose/tight on the left? I guess your dollar bill test says they're all fine.

Another thought: I believe the stones are set around the cast iron door frame. Maybe your door/gasket/frame is fine, but you have some little leakage between frame/stones? This might let air in while burning strong (making dirty glass) and let smoke out during weak burns (making dirty stones).

Good luck...

There should be no smoke leakage showing out the outside stones. If so, it's also getting into the air you breath. It needs to be fixed.

Yeah, I cleaned it off yesterday, will try a little different burning and if it comes back (pretty sure it will) I'll call the dealer again. Tks for your input.

 

[coloradoblueskies]

It doesn't sound like you have my problem, but figured I'd share in case it's helpful for diagnosing.

We have chronic draft & smoke problems with our stove (Castleton & class A chimney installed a couple years ago). I often have to keep the stove door cracked so the fire doesn't smother. When I do this, the smoke coming into the room tends to stain the stones at the top right of the door (not the glass though). I think it's because the open door creates a left-right draft sucking air in. The smoke stain cleans off the polished stones with a wet paper towel and a little elbow grease.

Maybe your top hinge is a little too far out, or the latch closes too loose/tight on the left? I guess your dollar bill test says they're all fine.

Another thought: I believe the stones are set around the cast iron door frame. Maybe your door/gasket/frame is fine, but you have some little leakage between frame/stones? This might let air in while burning strong (making dirty glass) and let smoke out during weak burns (making dirty stones).

Good luck...

I'm having chronic draft and smoke problem with my newly installed castleton as well. I have to leave the front door open or it will die out about 50% of the time. I've had to start a fire from scratch as many as three times in an evening. My chimney is 6" to the celing, then it dumps into a 8" for about 8 feet thru the attic, then a three foot roof chimney. I've been told by others on the forum the 8" attic section is a problem, and the roof chiney needs to be at least 5 feet. My installer told me the 8" section shouldn't be a problem, and that i should get my room pressure tested. They don't do pressure testing, and they don't know who does. Talk about passing the buck. Throw me a ball i at least have a remote chance of hitting. Basically they don't want to talk about the 6" to 8" chimney diameter change.
My wood is seasoned pine way less than 20% moisture. I've been told I don't know how to build fires, even though I've been doing it for 60 years since a boy scout.

 

[coloradoblueskies]

ple

After running our VC Intrepid I I mod 1308 for 33 years we replaced it with the subject stove this past summer. We really like the new one (now that I learned how to light it from the top down!) Do miss the ash pan and top load but that's a different thread. The problem is it develops a brown stain (smoke?) only in the upper right corner of the glass (about 2.5 x 2") and on the soapstone directly above it. Had the dealer out last Monday and he checked everything, did the dollar bill test (told him he should use a sawbuck, too expensive was his reply). He could not find anything wrong, maybe just breaking in? He did try to fluff up the gasket a little. He said they had not experienced this condition before on HS so we're just kind of hanging. It came off easily with the Rutland glass cleaner. After 5 days of burning (not overnight) the stain is back! arrgh! Has anyone out there had this problem? Why only one corner? Am I doing something wrong?

please excuse my ignorance, when you say "light from the top down", what do you mean?

 

[Geezer77]

ple

please excuse my ignorance, when you say "light from the top down", what do you mean?

Build the fire upside down, big stuff on the bottom, cross the next smaller layer, cross the nest. Kindling on top. Google "top down fire" for pics and a better explanation. The brown stain is much less now and I think it may be draft related. I do get smoke in the room sometimes if I open the door too fast or the fire is smoking some. Coals or a higher burn don't seem to be so much of a problem. I only have 14' of chimney (floor to cap) and it always worked fine with the old VC but I'm told the new stoves are more finicky. I'm on a hill and there is always a breeze at least. I have the old style Selkirk Metalbestos. The dealer has 1.5' and 3' in stock but 2' would have to be ordered. I really don't want to do it as it will look crappy coming out the top of the framed chase (vanity , or what?) and it would make it hard to run a brush down the chimney. I'm good at complaining.

 

[Geezer77]

I'm having chronic draft and smoke problem with my newly installed castleton as well. I have to leave the front door open or it will die out about 50% of the time. I've had to start a fire from scratch as many as three times in an evening. My chimney is 6" to the celing, then it dumps into a 8" for about 8 feet thru the attic, then a three foot roof chimney. I've been told by others on the forum the 8" attic section is a problem, and the roof chiney needs to be at least 5 feet. My installer told me the 8" section shouldn't be a problem, and that i should get my room pressure tested. They don't do pressure testing, and they don't know who does. Talk about passing the buck. Throw me a ball i at least have a remote chance of hitting. Basically they don't want to talk about the 6" to 8" chimney diameter change.
My wood is seasoned pine way less than 20% moisture. I've been told I don't know how to build fires, even though I've been doing it for 60 years since a boy scout.

It certainly seems you have enough chimney. Pressure testing??? Sounds like a crock. Try cracking a window, make sure the dryer and exhaust fans aren't running or the furnace if it doesn't have an outside air in-take. The 8" pipe would be my guess if everything else is checked from everything I've read.

 

[coloradoblueskies]

It certainly seems you have enough chimney. Pressure testing??? Sounds like a crock. Try cracking a window, make sure the dryer and exhaust fans aren't running or the furnace if it doesn't have an outside air in-take. The 8" pipe would be my guess if everything else is checked from everything I've read.

Thanks, thats what I told the installer; A crock, won't stand behind their work. Our house is leaky as it is, you can feel air coming in around the door frame not 12 feet from the stove and no dryer or exhaust fans running. He even told me I maybe don't know who to build a fire.

 

[stoveliker]

I disagree; 14 ft at 4900 elevation is most probably not tall enough.

 

[begreen]

Agreed. The altitude issue was brought up in the other colorado thread. These new Hearthstones like a strong draft. Room pressure can be tested quickly by opening a nearby window an inch. If the fire quickly wakes up by doing this, then the stove would benefit from an outside air supply (OAK).

@Geezer77, how is your Castleton connected? Can you describe the whole flue system including height?

 

[Geezer77]

Agreed. The altitude issue was brought up in the other colorado thread. These new Hearthstones like a strong draft. Room pressure can be tested quickly by opening a nearby window an inch. If the fire quickly wakes up by doing this, then the stove would benefit from an outside air supply (OAK).

@Geezer77, how is your Castleton connected? Can you describe the whole flue system including height?

OK, I think there is some misunderstanding here. I have 14' of chimney but I'm at 850-900', not 4900'. My system is 8' ceiling, 6" double wall connector to the ceiling thimble, then 2, 3' sections of 6" insulated ss Metalbestos Chimney pipe thru about 1.5' of attic and 4' of framed chase on the outside of the roof. Straight up, no elbows. I agree 14' might be a little short, especially when the books almost always say 16' min but....it seems ok and the smoke stain hasn't come back

 

[stoveliker]

It certainly seems you have enough chimney. Pressure testing??? Sounds like a crock. Try cracking a window, make sure the dryer and exhaust fans aren't running or the furnace if it doesn't have an outside air in-take. The 8" pipe would be my guess if everything else is checked from everything I've read.

I was responding to this post.

 

[coloradoblueskies]

Agreed. The altitude issue was brought up in the other colorado thread. These new Hearthstones like a strong draft. Room pressure can be tested quickly by opening a nearby window an inch. If the fire quickly wakes up by doing this, then the stove would benefit from an outside air supply (OAK).

@Geezer77, how is your Castleton connected? Can you describe the whole flue system including height?

i did leave the window open, doesn't make a bit of difference. Its the draft. I guess until i can get a 6" diameter section into the attic flue, there is just not much "gonna change". I've just spent another hour and a half trying to get a fire going, and its basically out. Kindling burns great, anything greater than 1.5 to 2 inches, it just wont burn thru unless the door is open. As soon as I close the front door, it goes out. House filled with smoke again. I'm considering an outside air kit if reducing to 6" all the way up and a taller roof chimeny doesn't help. The installer came yesterday and gave me a bunch of double talk, lecturing me on epa standards and how the stove is engineered to meet those standards, not to burn in a particular situation. I'm a pragmatist, I don't give a toot about theory, give me suggestions and possible answers please , I showed him the door and said "don't come back". Thanks to everyone who has provided substantive feedback.

 

[stoveliker]

I think that a temporary extension may help already until you can replace the pipe to be all the same 6" dia.
If you are comfortable getting in your roof, that is (I forgot if you had said something about that).