Building fills with SMOKE!!!!

[David Devuono]

By all means block off that ridge vent until you are ready to put in a ceiling. Sort of make it sealed like a Pioneer or Future Steel arch type workshop. Ridge Vents are to remove moist attic air which will not be a concern until you put in a ceiling. May also have to seal off the gable vent closest to the chimney for the winter as well.

 

[radioman]

I agree the chimney looks pretty short. My question to you is which way does the wind normally blow from your chimney ? For example where I live the winds comes from southwesternly side .If your chimney is on the south west or west side, can you move it to the north or northeast or east side? It would help.

 

[kco]

I have this happen to me almost every spring..after making sure the pipe is well above the ridge line--in my case six feet-- build a smallish fire, and try ang get it hot quickly....play with it some before putting any larger pieces of wood, that would cool it off..after it has gotten good and hot, then add the wood....I think the smoke will leave you alone, most of the time, but not every time. Tony

+1 on this suggestion. Heat the chimney so it will draw better. You can also use lots of crumpled newspapers for the initial heating.

Using thinner pieces of wood for the continuing fire will also help avoid smoke buildup.

 

[8n Bruce]

If the smoke is coming out of the stove inside the building ,its not enough draft in the chimney. If it's coming in from outside you have to seal the building, I get smoke in mine from the neighbours outside furnace that's 500Ft away ,depends on weather.

 

[AHNC]

Code says 3' above anything within 3'. In your case, as pointed out you have three problems. Single wall stove pipe, to short rise at top and your trees being to close to the building. I think the trees have to come down as they create the conditions for a downdraft. For that long a run I would always go with the double wall stove pipe. Your best option may be to move the stove to the center or other end of the building. That removes the gable vent from play and minimizes the pounding that you are getting from the trees.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Most likely scenario is that the flue gas is cooling too much before it gets to the top of that long run which eliminates any draft unless it is a very hot fire. An insulated pipe is likely the answer to your problems, something that gets smaller as the height increases, just like the big smoke stacks.

 

[tcreeley]

I came across the idea of negative pressure last year. When the interior building pressure is less than the outside pressure, smoke backpuffs from your stove and wants to vent itself into the interior - instead of going up and out the chimney. This is improved by letting air in from the outside (increase interior air preassure) to replace the air that enters the stove and vented out the chimney. Most houses, buildings are not tight and air enters easily into the building. The tight ones have the problem.
Try getting some fresh air into the building.

 

[AHNC]

Code says 3' above anything within 3'. In your case, as pointed out you have three problems. Single wall stove pipe, to short rise at top and your trees being to close to the building. I think the trees have to come down as they create the conditions for a downdraft. For that long a run I would always go with the double wall stove pipe. Your best option may be to move the stove to the center or other end of the building. That removes the gable vent from play and minimizes the pounding that you are getting from the trees.

Ooops! 3'above anything within 10'. Sorry for that!

 

[Boeing]

Thanks for all the input guys....I did block off the north end gable vent the first night that I used the stove and it got smoky. I would be interested in blocking at least half of that ridge vent...HOW....does one block off a RIDGE vent? ??
I THINK I found the major source of my smoke, the black stove pipe had dropped (Howd it do dat?) about 2" and was seperated from the insulated pipe that starts just below the trusses and goes thru the roof. The black pipe had somehow dropped and slide sideways about 3" allowing alot of "stack bypass" to come into the building. I aligned the pipes, used a floor jack to lift the stove 1.5" and had steel blocks cut and fitted them under the stove legs. That should prevent the pipe separation from reoccuring.
The wind is NORMALLY from the NW but in rainy weather (warm front) the wind will gently blow from the SE... or be stagnent and the smoke just swirls around the building.

 

[dave1949]

Pipe separation would do it :laughing:

I'm glad you spotted the problem and have a handle on it. I pin stove pipes together with stainless steel screws, about three per joint. The heat and creosote eat away regular steel screws too quickly.