Sulfur Smell

rigman06 · Post by **rigman06** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 2:16 am

Hi everyone
i have an efm 520 coal stoker which has a 55gal drum attached via auger pipe.
My question sometimes I will get a sulfur smell in my bedroom (kinda smells like when the drum runs out of coal). I cleaned the ash out today and filled the drum up but tonight I started smelling this sulfur smell again.
this smell comes and goes it is not an everyday thing.....i can't figure out what the problem is so im hoping someone may be able to help me with this problem.
thank in advance

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 2:21 am

What's your draft?

rigman06 · Post by **rigman06** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 2:26 am

Im not sure what you mean....sorry

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 2:33 am

Do you have a manometer to measure the draft of your chimney? Do you have at least one working carbon monoxide detector?

rigman06 · Post by **rigman06** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 2:47 am

I do not have either...what you know how much and where I could get a manometer

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 2:57 am

http://www.amazon.com/Manometer-Accuracy-Stationa ... i+model+25

If you have a back up heating system, I would shut the stoker off now. First thing in the morning go and get a carbon monoxide detector, like ASAP! The sulfur smell may indicate combustion gasses including carbon monoxide are backing up into the house. Carbon monoxide has no odor so even without the sulfur smell it could be backing up into the house. Not something to be toyed with. It can make you dead real fast. Don't want to alarm you but coal should never be burned without at least one, preferably, several carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

rigman06 · Post by **rigman06** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 3:01 am

I will do that...so is this smell caused by improper draft possibly?????

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 3:05 am

That would be my first guess. Poor draft can be caused by many things,.....most of them easy to fix. Without knowing the draft reading, it's hard to diagnose. If you have a barometric damper it could be improperly set or ash could be blocking the smoke pipe or there might be a blockage in the chimney. Hard to tell without the draft reading. If the carbon monoxide detector you get tomorrow alarms, you'll have to shut the stoker down until you figure out the problem.

rigman06 · Post by **rigman06** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 3:11 am

Thank you

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 3:13 am

In any case, I would crack a window in the bedroom for a little insurance if you can't shut the stoker down tonight.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 3:19 am

If you post your location, maybe a nearby forum member can stop by and help you diagnose the problem. We're a trustworthy bunch.

Post by **Rob R.** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 7:29 am

How much auger pipe do you have between the boiler and the drum?

Have you checked the smoke pipe and chimney to make sure it is clear?

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 7:48 am

rm, welcome to the FORUM. PRIORITY!!!! get at LEAST one CO detector!!Are your inside pipes screwed together? Tight fit at the stove outlet? Check all the above suggestions. How long have you been running the stove?

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 8:59 am

No sir, I do not like this persons situation. I hope they log back on soon.

Post by **Lightning** » Sun. Feb. 02, 2014 9:10 am

rigman06 wrote:i will get a sulfur smell in my bedroom

Carbon12 wrote:Do you have at least one working carbon monoxide detector?

rigman06 wrote:I do not have either...

Things like this make my eyes open really wide..

I wonder how many times he (and possibly his family) has cheated death, unaware that the sulfur smell is toting a toxic compound in possibly lethal proportions..