We recently bought a Fireview after struggling for years with our Vermont Castings Defiant Encore. We installed it at the end of February and love the stove - the long burn times (a great bed of coals after burning for 8 - 9 hours), the amount of heat it puts out, how evenly it heats and how clean the glass stays. We did experience some backpuffing, but that seems to have been resolved by turning it down very slightly. My question is that periodically there is a smoky smell that causes a slight respiratory irritation. It's almost like the irritation from being near somone who is smoking a cigarette. We did have problems w/backpuffing w/our VC and Woodstock told us the problem was probably our 8' flue. Our house is a cape w/an unfinished, unheated 2nd floor - our chimney is 2 flue, cement block [covered w/ brick on the first floor - just cement block on the 2nd floor] w 8x10" clay flues. We did buy a 6" flue liner from Woodstock but haven't installed yet. Our wood is seasoned (2 1/2 years old) - we do use a tarp but bring the wood in and use a hoop wood rack to make sure it is dry before we use it. I am wondering why we get the smoky smell if the stove is not backpuffing and if the irritation may be small particulates. I am also wondering about creosote, because the door usually has a thick, black tarry coating, although the rest of the inside of the stove seems ok. The stove has been running almost constantly and we haven't checked the chimney yet. Also, is the stove running correctly when the cat is not glowing and there is no flame - just glowing coals? It seems to be running great when it runs like that but I'm not sure it's running properly.
I would appreciate any input.
Thank you.
I would appreciate any input.
Thank you.