Carbon Monoxide

grottorian · Post by **grottorian** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2009 3:28 pm

Hi -- I have a Hitzer 503 insert. I've had it for 3 years & love it! This week though it has set off my CO detector twice... It has the restrictor plate in it -- I put it in a couple years ago & it puts out more heat that way.... I have been burning alot of oak wood in it this winter with the hopper out of it..... the wood doesnt put out as much heat and good when it's not real cold out.... anyway I wondered if it was the wood (with the restricted draft causing the co problem) --- so I switched back to coal (anthracite) only.... but it put out carbon monoxide again today & set off my alarms ---- I guess I could have a creasote buildup? ---- After the stove cools I will take the restrictor plate out & clean the flue if needed... I would like to get some ideas! Thanks!

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2009 3:48 pm

How often do you clean any horizontal surface? (Plates in stove, stove pipe, etc). I'll bet you've got something plugged. Clean it, NOW! Please?

JB Sparks · Post by **JB Sparks** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2009 3:53 pm

A yup, It worked before and now it don't. just gotsta have a plug.

grottorian · Post by **grottorian** » Sun. Mar. 01, 2009 4:13 pm

OK --- I'll get to it...

grottorian · Post by **grottorian** » Tue. Mar. 03, 2009 3:05 pm

Got it cleaned now --- the cap on the chimney was jammed up..... & i'm back to working great..... I'll be cleaning/checking it more often from now on! Thanks!

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Tue. Mar. 03, 2009 3:07 pm

grottorian wrote:Got it cleaned now --- the cap on the chimney was jammed up..... & i'm back to working great..... I'll be cleaning/checking it more often from now on! Thanks!

Hip-Hip-Hooray, for CO detectors!

JB Sparks · Post by **JB Sparks** » Tue. Mar. 03, 2009 3:09 pm

That be good news. Glad your up and running again.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Tue. Mar. 03, 2009 3:48 pm

Make a mental note of how long it took to clog. Next time clean it before that much time has gone by.

I guess they say... check any new stove after 30 days. That will give an idea of how long it'll go. Most people learn what their stove needs. Some each month, some 6 months, some will go a whole season.

NOTE! If you change the brand of coal you are using, check ash build up again. There can be a huge difference from one coal to another.

grottorian · Post by **grottorian** » Tue. Mar. 03, 2009 4:05 pm

Yes - it was different coal & I've been burning oak wood too.... ---- alot of ash mixed with some creasote .... == clog... but I wasn't checking/cleaning .... now I know about this 6" pipe etc... & will keep it clean!