Monday, February 6, 2017

Main reasons why wood burning systems smoke


 
There are three main reasons why some wood burning systems smoke:
1. Bad system design: There are design characteristics that can make a wood burning system more likely to spill smoke. Most of these characteristics result in low flue temperature and low draft. Outside wall chimneys and long flue assemblies before exhaust reach the chimney are just a couple.
2. Extreme negative pressure in the house: Energy efficiency practice and new building code rules are making our houses more and more air tight. This makes the house energy efficient, but also makes them sensitive to depressurization when air is exhausted from the house. Other exhaust appliances used in the house can cause extreme negative pressure in the house when they are operating.
3. Improper woodstove firing technique: When a wood fire is starved for air it smolders, producing a relatively cool, smoky fire. The temperatures throughout the system are low. During a smoldering fire, the chimney will not be receiving the hot gas it needs to produce strong draft.



And remember, when refueling first open the by-pass before opening the firebox door.

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