We had a Harman pellet stove installed in December. Picked Harman because we heard it was an excellent product. When the installer fired it up, it smokes quite a bit in the room. We were told because it was new, although a showroom model so used a little, it would need burn-in time. Since we've been using it, I wake up with a sore throat and cough a lot. Is this normal? It's been almost a month now. Today it is 11 outside so it is the first time we used it all night. Love it except I feel like I am sitting downwind from a campfire all the time and feel like I need to open the window to get some fresh air which defeats the point of getting it.
Pellet Stove outgas
- Thread starter Crazy Corgi Lady
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Can you smell smoke or a campfire smell?
If so have the installer back to check that the chimney connections are sealed
In a dark room or at night with lights off a flashlight shone on the joints will show smoke
if there is a leak. Because the stove has a forced draft the pipes if not sealed
leak very easily.
Welcome to the forum
If so have the installer back to check that the chimney connections are sealed
In a dark room or at night with lights off a flashlight shone on the joints will show smoke
if there is a leak. Because the stove has a forced draft the pipes if not sealed
leak very easily.
Welcome to the forum
There should not be any smoke smell from your stove, especially after the short break in period. If there is, you probably have a leak in your venting system.
What is your humidity level in your house? A pellet stove puts out a dry heat. You should have about 40-50% humidity in your house. I run a couple of humidifiers when running my Harman’s.
Thank you for the reply. We recently put a humidifier in the room where the stove is in hopes that would help.
Yes it smells like a campfire in the house, first level and upstairs. Very strong outside first level bathroom which is where our heating system intake is and is about six feet from pellet stove. Figure when oil system is running, intake is pulling smoke in with it.
BigJohnfromCT
Feeling the Heat
Thank you for this additional info. We tried it and yes, there is smoke present. Got a call in to the installer. Hopefully it is an easy and quick fix and I can stop coughing.
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