Harman Draft Problem

hedgehog · Post by **hedgehog** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:32 am

I Recently replaced my woodburner with a Harman Mark III. With my woodburner, I had a good draft but, with the Harmon, my house fills up with smoke every time I open the door no matter what I do. It’s acting like I have a cold chimney. I shut the unit down… Cleaned the chimney and stove also, but still, the same thing. I wondering if anyone else has had a problem like this. Any advise will be appreciated

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:36 am

your coal smoking? what kind of coal?

hedgehog · Post by **hedgehog** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:37 am

With wood I get smoke...Just a bad smell with coal

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:40 am

you using a dampner?? .....yet and or a manometer to actually check the draft.

wood fire burns so hot it makes a huge draft. coal is a different animal and once learned a much nicer one too!

hedgehog · Post by **hedgehog** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:43 am

Yes, I have a damper on it but, it's open all the way. I doesn't matter how hot I get the chimney...with wood or coal... It still acts like I have no draft.

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:46 am

hmm.. many questions...

pics say much.

what kind of chimney, pipes,connections, stove gaskets tight, giving it too much air???

you got a good wood fire going, added coal, added more coal......then added more coal???

coal likes it deep . you shaking ash out? has to have air up thru the coal bed. short choppy strokes on the grates....

hedgehog · Post by **hedgehog** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:50 am

All new black pipe inside connections are tight and screwed. Duravent double wall insulated outside. The strange thing is, the unit works fine. with wood , you can clearly see that the draft adjustment is working. I just when I open the door to add fuel.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:53 am

The trick is to open the ash door first & let the gasses pick up speed ... then slowly open the loading door & close the ash door, then load up.

hedgehog · Post by **hedgehog** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:57 am

I can open ash drawer all the way... It doesn't matter how hot or how much air flow I have. no matter what I do, smoke pours out whenever I open the door. It acts exactly like a cold chimney... I will have to take some pics later

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 11:59 am

som ting wong

are you switching from wood to coal and back frequently?

yes pics will help!

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 12:10 pm

Yeah, sounds like a draft issue. Might want to check out the pipe exit in back of the stove for ash buildup, along with that baffle plate inside the firebox at the very top. Wouldn't hurt to peek down the chimney too.

I burn only coal in mine - never once had a wood fire in it, so this might be normal?? Don't know. I get a little sulfur smell when I load up, but not too bad. It does get worse on warm days when my draft gets low.

Pacowy · Post by **Pacowy** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 12:13 pm

Please excuse the girlie-man comment - I haven't run a hand-fired stove for a while - but I'll second the motion on draft. It sounds like the baro standing open all the way might be part of the problem. Did it get stuck open by a wind gust? Is it set to produce an appropriate draft for the stove?

Mike

hedgehog wrote:Yes, I have a damper on it but, it's open all the way. I doesn't matter how hot I get the chimney...with wood or coal... It still acts like I have no draft.

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 12:18 pm

Pacowy wrote:Please excuse the girlie-man comment - I haven't run a hand-fired stove for a while - but I'll second the motion on draft. It sounds like the baro standing open all the way might be part of the problem. Did it get stuck open by a wind gust? Is it set to produce an appropriate draft for the stove?

Mike

hedgehog wrote:Yes, I have a damper on it but, it's open all the way. I doesn't matter how hot I get the chimney...with wood or coal... It still acts like I have no draft.

hmm... I was assuming it was a manual pipe dampner as he had a wood stove. If indeed it is a barometric dampner and it is open then walla.... low draft

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 12:22 pm

Tinfoil the baro when loading. That may help ... or cure the issue.

hedgehog · Post by **hedgehog** » Thu. Jan. 28, 2010 12:24 pm

Yes, it's manual damper. all pipe is new... stove is clean and vacumed. Chimney is good too. I can't figure out what else can be wrong. Is this just the nature of this beast or do I need a better draft for this unit ?