Cold Start advice on Fireplace Stove Insert

[ultrarunner]

My home is rented to a retired couple.

Every two weeks they want to have a fire going for their Bible Study group now that the weather has turned.

So far, it has been a disaster...

Sweep checked out everything and no problems... the smoke has to overcome a massive column of cold air in the masonry chimney to draw.

Any advice I can pass along to my tenants... sounds like the smoke has already done a job on my new interior paint.

Sweep mentioned mechanical ventilation as an expensive option for seldom used fireplace inserts... said there would be no ongoing issue if the stove was used regularly...

 

[groundcover]

Prime it first. (Don't climb up on the roof and poor a bucket of water down it ! :laughing take some newspaper ,ball it up and hold it up as high in the stove as you can. If the house is really tight open a window an inch or two. Once you get the air in the chimney warm it should draw fine. I had to add a draft inducer to a stove once but only needed it on very windy days.

 

[sailorman]

I 'd go with Groundcover 's idea . I do a similar thing with my fireplace . Wadded up news paper on top of firewood with the flue partially closed . Let paper burn to the point where smoke is just about to come out of fire box and open flue completely . The blast of hot air in box sucks the smoke right up the chimney. Oh, while I 'm letting the paper burn, I am lighting the fire .

 

[PILOON]

Another trick that works is to 'pre heat' using a 100 watt light bulb.
As stated by groundcover, opening a window helps as well.
You need to start that upwards draft, heat rises but on the other hand cold air (which the chimney is full of) is denser and heavier thus wanting to stay at the bottom, need to move that out.

 

[dave1949]

Open a window a bit and open the fireplace doors about an hour before the fire is wanted. Warm air from the house will rise up the chimney. Start the fire with a ball of newspapers, give the fire plenty of air until its burning well with a bright flame covering most of the wood.

 

[jdjdjd]

I start my fires with a self-igniting propane torch. Hold the torch so that it heats the column of air in the chimney.
Fast and easy to do.

 

[GBOUTDOORS]

I start my fires with a self-igniting propane torch. Hold the torch so that it heats the column of air in the chimney.
Fast and easy to do.

That's what I do hold the torch in the stove to the count of 20 then light the wood. Also always open window near stove a few inches works every time.

 

[dave1949]

I start my fires with a self-igniting propane torch. Hold the torch so that it heats the column of air in the chimney.
Fast and easy to do.

Are these renters torch worthy??? :laughing:

 

[hosspuller]

It's not only the column of cold air, I'll wager the flue is a large diameter tile. The tile has to be heated too for a good draw. Any heated air is cooled by the cold stone of the flue. The wad of newspaper may not do the trick. I noticed an immediate draw improvement when I installed an insulated SS pipe into the tile flue of my house. Perhaps lighting a candle in the insert an hour before trying to light a load of wood. The candle is slow but sure.

 

[westcliffe01]

Gas logs fueled by propane or NG ?????