Sulfur Smell When Reloading...

Skinsfan · Post by **Skinsfan** » Fri. Dec. 04, 2009 8:19 pm

This is my first year burning coal. I have a new Mark III. My stove is the basement of my bi level 2400 sq. ft. home. I've attached a pic of my setup. Each time I shake down and reload, I get a decent amount of sulfur smell throughout the basement and upstairs. Am I doing anything wrong or is this common? I think I have a pretty decent draft. My manometer reading is usually aroung .04-.06. I'm pretty sure my baro is set correctly. It flutters when the mano reaches .06. I haven't had any of my CO detectors go off. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Dec. 04, 2009 9:18 pm

I will also get a sulfur smell if I don't open the ash door a couple minutes before reloading and let the fire liven up. Also, I only have the loading door open when I am throwing the shovelful of coal into the firebox and then I close it quickly while refilling the shovel. For me this solves the sulfur smell issue.

jpete · Post by **jpete** » Fri. Dec. 04, 2009 11:11 pm

I think it has a bit to do with the coal itself. Last season, I got a strong sulfur smell inside and outside the house on a fresh load. But this year and other years, none at all.

I find I get a little if the coal is damp too.

duck · Post by **duck** » Fri. Dec. 04, 2009 11:15 pm

Have been burning coal for a little over 20 years wood before that and as a kid grew up around coal stoves and furnaces. It seems as thought the older non air tights didn't emit much odor. We just got a new Hitzer and even with a good draft we get some sulphur odor everytime we reload. Would be interested in what other folks have to say.

warm now · Post by **warm now** » Sat. Dec. 05, 2009 1:32 am

I get the sulfur smell sometimes with my Mark III, but not all the time. That smell reminds me of spent gunpowder, a sharp, acrid smell. I happen to like it. I'm weird, I know.

Jack Magnum · Post by **Jack Magnum** » Sat. Dec. 05, 2009 2:11 pm

I sometimes get the smell but generally when I am done reloading there's nothing. I have notice that rotten egg smell outdoors. My neighbor asked me last year if somebody around the lake had a septic problem. They didn't even know I burned coal cause you really don't see smoke etc.

9mmruger · Post by **9mmruger** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 2:19 pm

The only time that I have had the sulfur smell is when opening the hopper door on my 30-95, and only then if the hopper was nearly empty. I think that the unburnt gas collected in the low hopper and ignites when the hopper door opens allowing a burnt sulfur smell.

Not all that unpleasant to me, but my wife asks me if I flatulated?

wlape3 · Post by **wlape3** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 3:11 pm

I get it if the coal is wet, but only when the hopper door is opened. If the hopper is full there is no smell.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 9:41 pm

9mmruger wrote:
Not all that unpleasant to me, but my wife asks me if I flatulated?

Do what I do......blame the dog.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 9:45 pm

Happens more in warmer weather, but I hardly notice it. I've abused my nose in many ways over the years .... I'm an 80's child, whaddya want?

GeorgiePorgie · Post by **GeorgiePorgie** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 9:52 pm

it is common to have a sulfur smell during reloading, especially if you have any circulating fans running, to minimize the smell, try to increase the draft prior to opening the stove for reloading, you can do that by increasing the burn for a while, a higher temperature helps increase the draft by creating a bigger temperature differential between the inside and the outside of the house.

Best of luck

Body Hammer · Post by **Body Hammer** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 9:55 pm

I get that smell when my wife cooks BROCCOLI !!!!!!! Yuck!!!!!!

wlape3 · Post by **wlape3** » Mon. Dec. 07, 2009 9:56 pm

titleist1 wrote:
9mmruger wrote:
Not all that unpleasant to me, but my wife asks me if I flatulated?
Do what I do......blame the dog.

Bet the dog pees in your shoes!

flatliner1000 · Post by **flatliner1000** » Tue. Dec. 08, 2009 1:13 am

i never get the smell in the house when reloading my hand fed keysoker , but on really cold nights I can smell outside the house at times .

Skinsfan · Post by **Skinsfan** » Tue. Dec. 08, 2009 4:28 pm

Thanks for all of the replies . Sounds like it's not all that uncommon to get the "stink" sometimes. I'll follow through with a couple of the suggestions that have been made to minimize it a bit.

Another question.... Maybe I should add another post, but I'll start here. WHen I shake down, it's extremely loud. I do it in the morning before I go to work while my wife and kids are still asleep. Needless to say, I've been yelled at a few times. Is there any way to minimize the noise, or do I need to just accept it?

Sulfur Smell When Reloading...

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