Is It Just Too Warm?

CapeCoaler · Post by **CapeCoaler** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 12:14 am

It is a draft issue...
But if the chimney is setup properly you can burn coal any time of year...
If the flue is too large or the top of the chimney too low your draft will suffer...
Even though my chimney is only 25 feet it is 5 feet over the peak of the roof...
No problem burnin' coal if the temps hit 70* in the spring and fall...
Cold weather will make it easier to burn...

Body Hammer · Post by **Body Hammer** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 6:27 am

Are all the fittings between stove and chimney tight? If you have a baro dampner, cover it with tin foil. You don't need the baro if you're battling with too low of a draft. Any leaks,large or small in this area are stealing draft from the stove. If you succeed in getting a fire going, run it way hotter than you need for a while. The warmer you can get that chimney, the better draft you'll get. It all has to do temperature differential.
Just a reminder,Never leave the stove with the ash door open.
Welcome to the forum!

frank33v · Post by **frank33v** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 7:48 am

Thanks guys..the fittings are tight. The 6" flue pipe extends only 10' up into a large masonry tile fireplace flue (12"x16") which is about 18' total in length. I suspect this larger volume above the 6" piping is the culprit. This was only a 3' pipe with my wood stove but I replaced it with 10' of flexible stainless steel for the coal stove.

Not sure if it is worth it to install a full liner though for the shoulder seasons only..if it will burn fine during the colder months.

Thanks for the "welcome to the forum".

captcaper · Post by **captcaper** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 8:16 am

I use Pea for temps like that. Nut needs lot's of air to keep it going. Pea just smolders and smolders along without blasting me out of my house. I've burnt coal for 20 years now and only starting burning Pea these last 4 years. I wish I had tried it years ago. I was stupid. Better late then never.I tend it only once a day as well in these temps.

Body Hammer · Post by **Body Hammer** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 8:33 am

frank33v wrote:Thanks guys..the fittings are tight. The 6" flue pipe extends only 10' up into a large masonry tile fireplace flue (12"x16") which is about 18' total in length. I suspect this larger volume above the 6" piping is the culprit. This was only a 3' pipe with my wood stove but I replaced it with 10' of flexible stainless steel for the coal stove.

Not sure if it is worth it to install a full liner though for the shoulder seasons only..if it will burn fine during the colder months.

Thanks for the "welcome to the forum".

I think I would extend the pipe to the top of the masonry chimney for sure. You might get fly ash dropping down into the masony chimney because of a lack of draft below the top end of your metal pipe. Pictures of the install would give us a clearer understanding of the setup.
I don't know if Jim d is just having a bad day or what , but there are no dumb questions when you're new to coal, just dumb answers. I had a lot of questions when I went from wood to coal, and found the best answers right here. Theres years of experience in here, and we all are interested in helping you to burn coal to perfection. You won't regret switching to coal. You'll be asking yourself why you didn't do it sooner!

SteveZee · Post by **SteveZee** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 9:48 am

Frank,

It's just too warm. I have 30ft chimneys and they draw well but one day a couple weeks ago when I was doing a 3 day test run, the temp got up to 76 degrees (after being down to 25 degrees 24 hours earlier) and that was about it. Started gettin a little smell and even beeped the detector in this room for about 15 min. At least I know its works!

but that's definitely it. I'm using the below 50 degree (full time) rule of thumb. Till then I've been using the Jotul Allagasser to take the chill off.

EarthWindandFire · Post by **EarthWindandFire** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 10:14 am

I've read about chimney cap draft inducers. Has anyone had or seen one in use before?

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Oct. 21, 2011 10:24 am

frank33v wrote:Yes I am up in MA and Yes I am keeping the ash pan clean. I guess what I am trying to determine is do I need to install a liner all the way up my chimney.

Based upon the way it burned last night I wouldn't even ask the question, but then around noon today it seemed to die out and since I saw no, or very little difference when opening the ash pan door I think the draft was poor . Based upon the responses from most of you it seems like, YES it is just to warm to get a good draft so I will wait until it gets cooler to mess around more with the new stove.

Thanks for all the responses!

This time of year when my hand fed was hooked up I would burn wood at night to take the chill off, it would burn up by the morning when it wouldn't be needed anyway. I wouldn't transition to coal until the temps stayed in the 50's during the day, usually early - mid November for us. Even then I would be opening the windows on occasion during the day if we got a unusually warm day. Since we have a lot of blow downs, it was an easy way to heat for the shoulder months.
I will miss that a little since I am transitioning to a stoker this year.

I remember one Thanksgiving it warmed up to about 70 and I hadn't paid attention to the forecast, I loaded the stove in the morning like I had been, it was pushing 78 in the house even with the windows open and the draft knob barely open a crack. I kept an eye on the CO monitor that day!

frank33v · Post by **frank33v** » Thu. Jan. 12, 2012 8:37 pm

Well it is too warm now

and boy am I a happy camper, as are the animals!

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homecomfort · Post by **homecomfort** » Thu. Jan. 12, 2012 8:52 pm

what a winter. almost mid.January and temps. in 40'and 50;s. still need heat, hate to have to re light every other day, but low draft caused by higher outdoor temps can cause fire to die out. I added a draft inducer in smoke pipe, with a baro damper, and high temp cut off switch to prevent over heating. fan only comes on during light up and low draft condition. works great.

Smokeyja · Post by **Smokeyja** » Thu. Jan. 12, 2012 9:03 pm

I have the lower and upper air controls shut and the mpd as well. It's got the house up to 80F I have the windows open in the sunroom as well.

SteveZee · Post by **SteveZee** » Fri. Jan. 13, 2012 9:00 am

Smokeyja wrote:I have the lower and upper air controls shut and the mpd as well. It's got the house up to 80F I have the windows open in the sunroom as well.

On very warm days with the stove shut right down low, I would keep the MPD open. Just to make sure I still had a draft.

fastcat · Post by **fastcat** » Fri. Jan. 13, 2012 9:25 am

I'll second that one Steve.

Smokeyja · Post by **Smokeyja** » Fri. Jan. 13, 2012 11:39 am

SteveZee wrote:
Smokeyja wrote:I have the lower and upper air controls shut and the mpd as well. It's got the house up to 80F I have the windows open in the sunroom as well.
On very warm days with the stove shut right down low, I would keep the MPD open. Just to make sure I still had a draft.

Good looking out. I thought about opening it last night, but I will keep that in mind for the future. I just left the upstairs deck door open last night to cool it down a bit. Today the stove is needed though !

DennisH · Post by **DennisH** » Fri. Jan. 13, 2012 4:53 pm

Going to be -10degF here in the U.P. of Michigan tonight!! The coal furnace is purring away happily, keeping us warm and happy too!!