Help!😩Smoke Billows in Room! NEW Majestic Biltmore 42”

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

Do you mean two braces, one on each side? Or more like one at 7 o'clock and one at 11 o'clock?

 

[stoveliker]

It needs a bracket every 5 ft.

 

[BC_Josh]

If this doesn't work maybe it's time to get a refund?

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

If this doesn't work maybe it's time to get a refund?

Ha-ha, ya, right! I'd have better chance of winning the lotto 🙄

 

[stoveliker]

Normally it's a circle around the pipe with two rods that are fixed to a rafter.

X

Post in thread 'Ashford 30.2 install thread'

Oct 25, 2024

Decided to get the roof brace attached. Figured it couldn’t hurt, well other than a roof leak lol. Helped to straighten it up a bit and hopefully take a little stress off the top elbow. Still waiting on stove. It’ll be 4 weeks tomorrow since we went to buy. I really hope it’s not going to be a 2 month wait.

• xshmoox

• 

Here is a pic of one brace. You'll need (at least two.

 

[begreen]

I thought there already was one at the 5 ft level but maybe that is why the guy is coming out? Lost track in this long thread. If it is taken up to 11' it will definitely need 2 braces. One at 5' and another at 10'.

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

Update!

We had the inspection done today to check for any damage after the chimney fire. The inspector used a camera both bottom-up and top-down—everything looked good. I also took new photos of the cap (attached), and he said the cap appears fine.

We tried what BeGreen suggested: popped the cap off and started a fire. Could close the windows with minimal to no "smoke show" coming inside. The issue is, there’s no other cap option available, and modifying the current one could be an insurance problem.

So, on Thursday when the guy who installed it comes out:

1. Do you agree these photos of the cap I attached look fine - no need to replace it?

2. Should we have him start with a 2' section, and then add a 4' if the 2' doesn't help?

Thanks again, I sure hope we're getting close!

 

[begreen]

The cap pictures look like after cleaning except for the last one. If the fireplace is venting fine with windows closed when the cap is off, that's a good sign.

 

[moresnow]

The issue is, there’s no other cap option available, and modifying the current one could be an insurance problem

Have you been so advised by your inspector?
Have you been so advised by your installer?
Have you been so advised by your homeowners' insurance rep?

Simply curious.
Not at all questioning the actual insurance written rule.

That cap design leaves some to be desired. Looks like tight vent spacing. Guessing it may plug easy as well.
Not to mention wet blowing/freezing snow? Icing?
Huh. Just another example of questionable design specifications at the manufacturer level.

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

The cap pictures look like after cleaning except for the last one. If the fireplace is venting fine with windows closed when the cap is off, that's a good sign.

BeGreen, are you saying they look good except the last photo (if so, what's wrong with that photo)? Also, I don't need to replace this cap due to fire damage?

Thanks again.

 

[brenndatomu]

That cap looks like it belongs on a gas burner, not a wood burner!

 

[begreen]

BeGreen, are you saying they look good except the last photo (if so, what's wrong with that photo)? Also, I don't need to replace this cap due to fire damage?

Thanks again.

The last photo looks like it was taken pre-cleaning that's all. I'd have liked to see the same inside view of the cap before cleaning to see how badly those vent slots were sooted up.

What makes you think there was a chimney fire?

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

What makes me suspect there was a fire:

The day I believe we had the fire, as soon as we lit the fireplace, smoke started billowing into the room, even though we had the windows open like we always do.

1. The first image attached shows what the chimney looked like before this incident, where everything below the cap was still shiny stainless steel.

2. The second photo was taken right after the suspected fire. You’ll notice a white residue on the cap. From what I’ve researched, this residue, often referred to as calcium carbonate or lime deposits, can result from extremely high heat exposure. This happens because intense heat can cause a chemical reaction with the metal surfaces, leaving behind this powdery residue. It’s similar to what you might see on the exterior of a house that has been through a fire, where there’s black charring mixed with these white deposits.

3. The last photo shows dark smoke stains extending about a foot or two below the cap, which wasn’t present before the incident.

I'm very frustrated about this restrictive cap... Does anyone happen to know of a cap that would work on this application? As mentioned, I love the idea of modifying it; but with insurance companies always searching for reasons not to pay - forbid we ever had a problem, an inspector finding a "modified" cap would certainly cause us grief.

 

[brenndatomu]

You can't help if the wind blew your cap off, and somehow it got some holes poked in it, but it looked basically ok, and it was raining, so you just put it back on...oops

 

[stoveliker]

Caps are often changed.
What is the exact language in the manual that makes you nervous?

 

[kborndale]

So how did this new guy access the top of the chimney that the installer says he can't?

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

Attached is what Majestic said abut the cap.

Now the guy who installed the thing phoned today and changed his mind and doesn’t want to be responsible for the braces etc to fix his fireplace that doesn’t work - so he says he’s not coming out tomorrow.

If I can convince him to come and add a 4’ section for me to do a burn and see if that helps the draw —Whether or not it works, will the 4’ section be able to be removed without damaging it, or damaging the section below?

Reason is— if it works then we’d look to get that chase built up to the proper height, and then reinstall it. I’m just not sure whether those components that snap together get too damaged when you take them apart…?

 

[kborndale]

Who was this installer? Does he have any ability? I would not let him back to your house. He is incompetent and potentially dangerous. How can a chimney installer be afraid of heights and bracing a chimney???

 

[Wisco Shepherd]

Now the guy who installed the thing phoned today and changed his mind and doesn’t want to be responsible for the braces etc to fix his fireplace that doesn’t work - so he says he’s not coming out tomorrow.

This guy sucks. A chimney installer who is afraid of heights and can't brace a chimney??

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

I think it’s more that he doesn’t think he should pay for it.

Nonetheless, he’s now agreed again to come out tomorrow to put the 4’ section on — try a burn, and regardless whether it works or not, we’ll have to take it off since the chimney would then be at 11’6” tall without bracing.

If it does work then we would get the chase raised to the proper height and then reinstall that 4’ section.

I hope this is a decent plan.

 

[GG Woody]

I do think that that cap is very likely to plug up. At our last house I had one that was half as restrictive as that one and I despised it. The higher that cap is installed the more I would dislike it.

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

What's everyone's thoughts on this???🤔

I’ve attached photos showing the chimney cap from the underside.

You can see that the part of the cap that inserts into the chimney is a bit dented—it’s more of an oval shape rather than a perfect circle.

My question: Since it’s not fitting flush and tight against the chimney wall, could this warped shape be causing some of the smoke to get disturbed or caught as it exits?

Would the gap affect the draft since the liner isn’t pressed snugly against the chimney opening? If so, enough to be our culprit?

Appreciate any insights!

 

[GG Woody]

I don't think that the smoke has a preference of ovals or circles or perfect circles. I think that the smoke wants to go up, and out and the cap is not helping.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Does the Venturi principle not have an effect on the smoke exiting the cap? It seems as there could be very little venturi effect with a cap that restrictive?

 

[begreen]

What's everyone's thoughts on this???🤔

I’ve attached photos showing the chimney cap from the underside.

You can see that the part of the cap that inserts into the chimney is a bit dented—it’s more of an oval shape rather than a perfect circle.

My question: Since it’s not fitting flush and tight against the chimney wall, could this warped shape be causing some of the smoke to get disturbed or caught as it exits?

Would the gap affect the draft since the liner isn’t pressed snugly against the chimney opening? If so, enough to be our culprit?

Appreciate any insights!

No

 

[No More Smoke-Shows:(]

Thanks for all of your insights. I just received this from Majestic: