wood stove problem

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We have an old earth stove that is having a harder time keeping a fire going in it unless the door is cracked. We clean the chimney every month or more if it needs it but the same problem arises. The wood is dry. There is a pine tree growing about 40 feet away and another pine across from it. The trees are about 20 feet high. Could the trees be preventing good draft or is there something going on with the stove itself. I noticed last winter the problem seemed to be getting worse. Does the pipe need to be replaced and how do you check for that problem. Any ideas would be appreciated. I don't want to cut the trees down. Lynda

-- lynda (lyndadan@cyberhighway.net), May 18, 2000

Answers

lynda;

Does your stove have a small diameter steel pipe leading from the back of the stove up into the stove pipe (some are about two feet long). Check to see if you have one and see if it is plugged. Also you may check the vent in the back of the stove (the knob on the side of the stove should move the little flapper in the vent) make sure it is not plugged. Some times ash may accumulate in the bottom of that vent. I have also noticed on our earth stove is that the flapper in the vent does not always move when the knob is turned.

Hope this helps

-- Scott S. (scotthom@hotmail.com), May 18, 2000.


Hi, I don't have an earth stove, but heat solely with wood. I know when the stovepipe needs cleaning, as you've done. If you have a damper in your pipe, you may have a clog below it as the sweep can't pass it. You may have to do it by hand from inside the stove. Another thing that affects burning is the amount of ash in the stove. You need a couple inches, too thorough a cleaning makes for poor fires until it is built back up. Too much ash and it won't draft right. Get to know your stove, and you can keep it happy and warm! All the vents/do-dads are not on our stove, so my advice may be void in your situation. Good luck and be careful, an improperly working stove is a house fire waiting to happen. Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@santanet.com), May 20, 2000.

Lynda, did this stove draw well previously with the same load of wood? How many 90 degree bends are in the run? Could you have a dead bird or a nest in the rain cap?

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 20, 2000.

how old is your house? if new or tight try opening a window. if old is chimney on outside wall of home? chimney needs to be warm to create draft. know some about draft,nothing about typing,ask spesific question iwill try to answer. first time i ever tried to answer. new to this

-- ernie (bellyacresfarm@kyk.net), May 24, 2000.

Lynda, I have a very old EARTH STOVE I think it is model 101.....Make sure pipe is cleaned. The control knob on the side, I take the cover off that once a year, spray WD 40 oil on the spring and turn the knob back and forth to make sure your air intake flap is working. Also look inside your air intake and make sure that seal has not come off and fell into your air intake. Also make sure manual flap is not dropping down and stopping air flow into the stove. There is nothing to go bad on the old Earth Stoves.The first won ever made should still burn like a new one.

Bill

-- BILL (BCDEX@webtv.net), November 22, 2000.



Lynda! Your stove isn't getting combustion air [draft]. I'm assuming it worked before at some point in time? If it was in the vent/chimney your house would be filled with smoke. It's smothering itself out because of lack of this "draft" or combustion air. As some have already posted--check that draft for ashes or for mechanical failure. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), November 28, 2000.

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