We got a new Vermont Castings catalytic wood stove (Encore) installed last year. All last winter it emitted a strong smell, not like wood smoke at all but sweeter and more like exhaust. It is not as acrid as the burn-in smell. We followed all the breaking in instructions very carefully, but have had to replace a couple gaskets, and the griddle on the top cracked at a very low temperature. I have no idea if this is related, but the stove does seem to have some issues. The chimney seems to draft pretty well and we rarely get a smokey smell, just this weird exhaust. It makes me feel slightly ill and gives me a cough, but does not affect my husband at all.
We just had the chimney cleaned and fired it up again, and it still gives off the same smell. Sometimes it doesn't smell right by the stove, which is in a very open room, but gathers elsewhere.
We just had the chimney cleaned and fired it up again, and it still gives off the same smell. Sometimes it doesn't smell right by the stove, which is in a very open room, but gathers elsewhere.