Stove flue priming help - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Stove flue priming help

Posted: 12/8/2018 9:33:41 PM EDT

LOL, I don't know what to say, I've been building fires for 40 years, but need some advice.

I normally hold a couple pieces of burning newspaper up the flu to reverse the cold air so I don't smoke up the house. For whatever reason, I'm having issues with an old wood stove. It has a top stack that bends 45 and runs through the wall for about 5 feet. Then up a good 15 feet or so.

Well, no luck tonight. It took me 30 minutes of smoking up the entire house before the flow reversed. For 25 of those minutes, the top of the stove heated, but the stack was ice cold 2 inches higher.

What are some other ways to prime the flue and reverse the cold air flow. This is an old Franklin stove and there is no way to come close to sealing the doors.

Thanks

Posted: 12/8/2018 9:43:50 PM EDT

[#1]

Did you try opening one of the house's windows slightly?
Air can't go out, without air coming in from somewhere.

Posted: 12/8/2018 9:47:25 PM EDT

[#2]

Yes, but not for the first couple of minutes. It cleared up and is sucking all the crap up and out now... My eyes are still burning.

Posted: 12/8/2018 9:55:19 PM EDT

[#3]

Well at least it's going now.
Some times atmospheric conditions make it very difficult to get it going.

Posted: 12/8/2018 9:59:54 PM EDT

[#4]

I was starting to think there was a squirrel nest or something in it

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:05:04 PM EDT

[#5]

When was the last cleaning?

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:07:35 PM EDT

[#6]

Crack a window.

If you have a stove with the upper control that opens the flue directly for starting, don't pull that lever until you are ready to start.
Light a wad of paper on top of the wood near the flue, THEN, pull that lever.
That should help prevent the cold stack of air in the flue from rushing into the house.

Cold air is denser, when that damper opens, it pours into the house via gravity.

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:12:23 PM EDT

[#7]

There is a heavy draft, even with the flue closed. It's a rotating butterfly style. It took a Sunday paper to reverse the flow. Most of which was blown out due to the extreme down draft. I need something like a propane torch or road flare... JK.

In my upstairs fireplace, a single sheet of paper will work. Oh, well. I just need to be more patient and not rush it.

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:14:17 PM EDT

[#8]

You probably have to crack a window. Was something else running in the house that draws air? Dryer, furnace/boiler etc? If so it’ll be drawing air in down through the chimney.

This happened to me once. I was trying to start a fire and all the smoke kept pouring in the house. It dawned on me my wife was running the dryer, as soon as I cracked a window to defeat the negative pressure I was all set.

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:15:24 PM EDT

[#9]

You said the stove pipe/chimney extends about 15', is your roof only 10'?

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:19:02 PM EDT

[#10]

Your stove pipe is getting dirty. Soot collects in the pipes disturbing its ability to draw air correctly.

Chinook3

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:21:51 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
There is a heavy draft, even with the flue closed. It's a rotating butterfly style. It took a Sunday paper to reverse the flow. Most of which was blown out due to the extreme down draft. I need something like a propane torch or road flare... JK.

In my upstairs fireplace, a single sheet of paper will work. Oh, well. I just need to be more patient and not rush it.

View Quote

Try these?

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:24:20 PM EDT

[#12]

Map gas tourch

Posted: 12/8/2018 10:29:36 PM EDT

[#13]

Yes, the torch!

Furnace on the same level was running full ahead.

I'm eyeballing the height. Flue stack is 4 feet up. Horizontal 4 feet out. Maybe 15 to 20 feet up?

Floor to ceiling is 8 feet. It exits mid run (13 feet?). Then up above the roof 4-5 feet?

Posted: 12/9/2018 9:41:12 AM EDT

[#14]

A small box fan, on low, in the window, for a couple of minutes is all it takes.

Posted: 12/9/2018 10:29:07 AM EDT

[#15]

Crack window, make sure your furnace is turned off. And clean the thing out!

Had my fireplace cleaned professionally last year for the first time in over 20 years. My only other cleanings were 2 chimney fires I got lucky with.

Cannot believe how much better my fireplace works now.
MAP gas torch would be a quick heater

Posted: 12/9/2018 10:30:41 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yes, the torch!

Furnace on the same level was running full ahead.

I'm eyeballing the height. Flue stack is 4 feet up. Horizontal 4 feet out. Maybe 15 to 20 feet up?

Floor to ceiling is 8 feet. It exits mid run (13 feet?). Then up above the roof 4-5 feet?

View Quote

I’d bet money your furnace was the “issue”, since it is drawing air from inside the house to run. With your stove door closed it’s drawing air in from every crack and crevice in the house it can, when you open the stove door, suddenly the path of least resistance for air to enter is down your flue. Once that air path is established it’s going to be hard to reverse it no matter how much heat you’re trying to push up it.

Just be mindful, if you hear your furnace or dryer running when it’s time to light your stove, open a window near your furnace first and leave it open until your stove draft is established.

Posted: 12/9/2018 10:37:31 AM EDT

[#17]

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to give it another go tonight.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Stove flue priming help

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