Major issue with wood-stove - Need advice!

[rswyan]

I know these have been mentioned a number of times each, but I don't see how That stack could be brushed out given how high and location is.

See if this visual aide helps:

So it must be running choked up.

Not necessarily ...

Second, as others have said yo need a safe installation. Running a home made stove in a barn or something is one thing. With a house full of kids or even yourself, the CO could easily have killed.

Not very likely at the levels the OP reported, over the time period involved.

(It's always about "the children" ... )

Time to get rid of it.

Easy for you (and others) to say - the guy is out of work (among other life complications) - which likely means he doesn't have much in the way of income.

I'm sure that all those advocating he junk this resource (rather than bring it up to a operational level where it is safe) will no doubt be making an immediate monetary donation to the MossflowerWoods Winter Heating Fund forthwith ...

In fact, I think that's the ink I hear drying on the checks as I type ...

It's "in the mail", right ?

 

[RobertBrown]

Wood stoves are a fire hazard, get rid of it.

I suggest you get one made of metal.....preferably cast iron.

Hope this helps

 

[rswyan]

lol ... :thumbsup:

 

[TomSeller]

1. See if this visual aide helps:
Not necessarily ...

2. (It's always about "the children" ... )

1. I am not seeing a clean out and Moss has not mentioned one yet he is mentioning the symptoms of a choked up stack.
2. Unconscionable that anyone would roll their eyes and dismiss the possibility of killing a basement full of kids with CO poisoning with this setup. You don't know until it is too late with CO

 

[rswyan]

1. I am not seeing a clean out and Moss has not mentioned one ...

He's also said he's a complete noob (that's someone that can benefit from data and a little education) ... it's possible that he could be looking directly at a clean out and not understand that is what it is.

yet he is mentioning the symptoms of a choked up stack.

Possibly ... in fact, he's said that the draft/draw on it, when running, is awesome ...

That sound like "choked up" to you ?

He's been using the unit intermittently since last May, apparently with no issues ...

His recent issue seems to be with a fire that he tried to let go out .. but which continued to smolder (thereby failing to generate enough heat to sustain a good draft)

Could be a number of reasons why he's detecting CO ... other than a clogged chimney ...

One of the (college) kiddies leave a bathroom fan on, undetected ?

Weather (temperature inversion) ...

2. Unconscionable that anyone would roll their eyes and dismiss the possibility of killing a basement full of kids with CO poisoning with this setup. You don't know until it is too late with CO

Oh yes ... the horror ! ...

After all ... it's the "children" ...

FWIW, I'm not dismissing the possibility ... but I ain't having a hysterical, knee-jerk reaction either ...

 

[TomSeller]

Not worth responding to

 

[westcliffe01]

"redneck" chimneys like that, when actually used, will typically need to be cleaned several times per season. If the OP has not seen what a chimney fire looks like, it might be worth doing a search on Youtube to get educated.
One example below. Have to imagine what happens to the parts of the house and siding close to the pipe in such an incident. Example on video is class A pipe with 1" thick insulation.

 

[MossRoad]

From one Moss to another... I know your situation. I've followed your posts. I am a fellow wood burner. We've heated our house for 6 years with wood. The gas furnace is just a backup should we let the fire go out. I pretty much burn continuously. I've used one match in the last 30 days and that was back in the first of November. Fire's still going. We average 6 cords per year and maintain the house at 72 degrees inside all year. I in no way consider myself an expert, but by no means a novice.

You have some serious issues with that setup that you really need to consider addressing. Those being...
- The stove is home-made.
- You may not be covered by insurance should your house burn down because of that setup.
- Single wall pipe and long horizontal run inside the house.
- Don't know what the outside pipe is.
- Don't know if there's a cleanout at the bottom of the pipe outside.
- Don't see how the chimney is supported to the house other than where it goes through the porch floor.
- No cap and screen on top of the pipe.
- Don't know when or if the chimney has ever been cleaned or inspected.
- Extremely long run of exposed pipe that cools smoke and promotes creosote buildup.
- Don't know if the stove seals at the door, which could allow gases to seep back into the house, or allow oxygen to feed a runaway fire. Its a two-way leak.

I was going to install my own stove, but after checking with our homeowner's insurance company, they required we have a certified installer do the work and submit the paperwork before they would cover the house. It added $25 (twenty-five) dollars per year to our homeowner's insurance. So my main concern for you would be that if you would suffer a fire, you may lose it all and not be covered by insurance. Not to mention the risk to you and your children. It only my opinion, so take if for what its worth, but if I were you, I'd not use that until you have all those issues addressed and you are sure its safe and you are covered by insurance. Good luck to you and yours. :thumbsup:

 

[rswyan]

If the OP has not seen what a chimney fire looks like, it might be worth doing a search on Youtube to get educated.
One example below. Have to imagine what happens to the parts of the house and siding close to the pipe in such an incident. Example on video is class A pipe with 1" thick insulation.

That one isn't particularly impressive ...

About 15 years ago we had one (a chimney fire) in one of our 12 x 12 masonry chimneys.

We have three chimneys - all are interior and masonry, and in a common masonry work - two for fireplaces (first floor and basement) and a third (basement) for appliances (originally a furnace and hot water heater)

Chimney fires can be pretty impressive. Ours sounded pretty much like a freight train ... right next to you ... it actually shook the house. The flames were shooting out of the top of the (uncapped) chimney probably at least 8' to 10' ... kinda like a blowtorch ...

It was also largely impossible to stop (starve for air) ... because it was in a chimney whose fireplace had a wood burning insert in it.

You can close off the insert's air inlets ... but the metal trim piece that surrounds the insert and covers the rest of the fireplace IS NOT airtight.

Was very scary ...

We now use this:

Stage One Creosote Remover - Rutland Products

(In addition to the brushes used for cleaning ... )

 

[rswyan]

Not worth responding to

Then why did you ?