Fire coming out the barometric damper

Wow, until things get changed she needs to keep that manual damper wide open or someone is going to get poisoned!!

rockwood wrote:

NorthernIndiana wrote: she's spent her life burning coal

Seems to me that someone left the ash pit door or primary draft open causing over-firing condition, then panicking and closing manual damper forcing combustion gases into the home and causing puffbacks/flames to shoot out around the edges of the baro (gasses in opposite direction would force baro gate to close).

I talked to her again and she had left the ash pan door open, then closed off the MPD. Sounds like Rockwood must have a crystal ball.

Glad they came over and got me. Not that I knew what to do, other than open the windows and open up the MPD. Wife and 5 young kids in a room full of CO. Scary stuff.

I love this forum. Thanks guys, great info!

OMG! Five young kids! She needs to shut it down and get a pro in there before someone gets killed...

NorthernIndiana wrote:Sounds like Rockwood must have a crystal ball.

Oh, I don't know about that
I'm just glad you were able to help them out. That's what good neighbors do

Be sure they understand how serious this situation is with their damper configurations (if this incident didn't convince them then I don't know what would) and if they don't have CO detectors, urge them to get at least one.

yup, two stoves in one flue, not really a safety issue... BUT mpd between baro and stack... she's lucky she's not dead. ditch the mpd entirely; it's too risky for someone like them to use, a baro is more failsafe and leaves the path for exhaust gasses open even as it reduces draft.

Im glad everthing worked out ok

Last winter I heard of an Amish woman killed along with her children while she was trying to liven up a failing stove fire w/ kerosene.

Then this season heard an Amish fellow did the same stunt again, w/ kerosene.

So that would prove the point that the Amish can be as lacking in knowledge as we can. These stoves are NOT toys nor conversation pieces. They are tools to be used properly. I am so thankful for this FORUM having been here when I started my coal venture. Thanx guys & gals.