Is This True?

[tarzan]

Not trying to be a nuisance but I've never seen the Ashford in person. Is there a hole through the cast that the probe slides through and then through the steel or is there a cut out or similar that allowes the probe to set flush on the stove body?

Just trying to get an idea of ways you could check for smoke or better seal if need be, the probe hole.

 

[Parallax]

I don't blame you a bit for fixing a continuous smoke leak from a woodstove if you can find it. Truth be told, when on low burn I can sometimes catch a wiff of smoke from the stove top from the area of the cat probe. Only if I'm close to the stove though and it is entirely possible that the actual flue collar joint is leaking too.

That is probably more likely actually given that getting that joint tight is impossible without sealant. It's not normally important to 100% seal that joint either but if you're looking for leaks, that's just as likely as the probe hole. With double wall pipe you can't even inspect it.

I asked BKVP about the fact that the stoves and pipes aren't air tight. He said as long as there's adequate draft, there should be no back flow.

 

[Parallax]

Not trying to be a nuisance but I've never seen the Ashford in person. Is there a hole through the cast that the probe slides through and then through the steel or is there a cut out or similar that allowes the probe to set flush on the stove body?

Just trying to get an idea of ways you could check for smoke or better seal if need be, the probe hole.

Yes, there's a hole in the cast iron top and, beneath that, a hole in the steel box. The probe slides in. The meter sits on top of the stove body; only the probe enters the stove.

 

[Highbeam]

I asked BKVP about the fact that the stoves and pipes aren't air tight. He said as long as there's adequate draft, there should be no back flow.

Yeah, well, if there was adequate draft then smoke wouldn't be coming out of the probe hole or anywhere else for that matter.

 

[HotCoals]

I hate to bring it up but you could buy a power vent if you really do have a draft problem.
That said I would wait till colder weather and it maybe fine the way it is.
No big deal if you can't burn in the warmer part of the shoulders.

 

[EJL923]

i would wait until it gets colder, problem may be solved. Humidity and warm air could cause this. My in laws house always smells of wood, but i think its more them always burning green wood They say its seasoned, but they wont listen to me. the black glass says otherwise. im lucky i suppose, never had the house smell of wood. People usually think its a gas insert.

 

[Cynnergy]

It is still ridiculously mild up here Parallax - I'm assuming you're the same. This is really unusually mild for this time of year - I don't even think we've had a frost yet. I just checked and our average frost date here is Oct. 9. No sign of anything that cool in the forecast at all...

 

[Parallax]

It is still ridiculously mild up here Parallax - I'm assuming you're the same. This is really unusually mild for this time of year - I don't even think we've had a frost yet. I just checked and our average frost date here is Oct. 9. No sign of anything that cool in the forecast at all...

Where are you, Cyn?

 

[Cynnergy]

I'm in Campbell River, BC right now. Cabin with the stove is a bit north of here.

 

[Parallax]

It's probably cooler where you are. It's 52 here right now. High was 59 according to the report.

 

[Highbeam]

I'm up at 750 in the foothills below mt rainier and our nighttime lows are barely making it into the 40s. Super mild burning season thus far.

 

[Parallax]

Sounds like a beautiful place. Very rural?

 

[Highbeam]

Sounds like a beautiful place. Very rural?

We really like it up here, relatively close to the cities but far enough out to enjoy most of the stars. It was 56 this morning. So warm.

 

[Parallax]

That's how we feel too. Bellingham's a small city and we're out on the edge of a neighborhood in the forest, backed up against 2.5 miles of woods. Unfortunately I can't see those photos you posted.

 

[smokedragon]

the black glass says otherwise.

That isn't necessarily a sign of wet wood. I have a partially sooted glass right now, and my wood is measuring 13 - 16% that I am burning. But I am burning 400 - 450 degrees with softwood.

 

[Parallax]

So little time; so much to know.

 

[Charles1981]

I am hopeful for you that as it gets colder, draft improves, and the issue becomes moot.

 

[Parallax]

Thanks.

 

[smokedragon]

I hate to bring it up but you could buy a power vent if you really do have a draft problem.

I wonder if you shouldn't consider this (especially given the wife's sensitivity).

When our stove was delivered and install finished, it was 50 that morning and 68 that afternoon. I lit a break in fire and it was 64 outside when I lit the fire. My stove drafted quite well in that temperature. Maybe it really is a draft issue......I guess it helps that I have an interior chimney with 26 feet of liner. If this continues once it gets colder, I would seriously look at other options to increase draft.

 

[tarzan]

I took the probe out of my stove. Lit a toothpick and held it over the hole. Within 3/8 inch or so flame and smoke is drawn into the probe hole.

Had a small fire left in the stove with the blowed off at the time.

Candle would probably work better but I couldn't find one

 

[Parallax]

I took the probe out of my stove. Lit a toothpick and held it over the hole. Within 3/8 inch or so flame and smoke is drawn into the probe hole.

Had a small fire left in the stove with the blowed off at the time.

Candle would probably work better but I couldn't find one

Suppose I could try that and see if there's draft.

 

[Parallax]

I wonder if you shouldn't consider this (especially given the wife's sensitivity).

When our stove was delivered and install finished, it was 50 that morning and 68 that afternoon. I lit a break in fire and it was 64 outside when I lit the fire. My stove drafted quite well in that temperature. Maybe it really is a draft issue......I guess it helps that I have an interior chimney with 26 feet of liner. If this continues once it gets colder, I would seriously look at other options to increase draft.

Is a power vent really expensive? I seem to recall someone saying it was two or three thousand dollars, installed.

 

[Tenn Dave]

I wonder if you shouldn't consider this (especially given the wife's sensitivity).

When our stove was delivered and install finished, it was 50 that morning and 68 that afternoon. I lit a break in fire and it was 64 outside when I lit the fire. My stove drafted quite well in that temperature. Maybe it really is a draft issue......I guess it helps that I have an interior chimney with 26 feet of liner. If this continues once it gets colder, I would seriously look at other options to increase draft.

You are confusing 'sensitivity' with 'good sense'. Indoor air pollution can be a serious problem, especially for the very young and the elderly.

 

[Parallax]

You are confusing 'sensitivity' with 'good sense'. Indoor air pollution can be a serious problem, especially for the very young and the elderly.

True. It's just hard to know when one is getting levels of pollution that are potentially harmful and when one is just getting trace smells that really ought not to be a concern.

 

[Tenn Dave]

True. It's just hard to know when one is getting levels of pollution that are potentially harmful and when one is just getting trace smells that really ought not to be a concern.

If I were you, I would check with your Pediatrician. I would also do everything possible to eliminate the smoke problem. Hopefully colder weather will solve the problem. Best of luck.