A Troubleshooting Chart For Your Wood Stove Or Insert
This chart offers a convenient way to find information on common problems with your wood stove or wood fireplace insert.
Symptom | Likely Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
Dirty glass (1) | Turning down too much Turning down too early | Fire new load hot until the firebox is full of flames Don’t try to conserve flue gas heat loss |
Dirty glass (2) | Wet wood | Split wood smaller, load crisscross, don’t turn down; be better prepared next year (more Information) |
Dirty glass (3) | Trying to burn continuously in mild weather | Be prepared to light one fire each day when temperature is above 0°C Don’t try turning down to reduce heat Get kindling materials & technique together |
Dirty glass (4) (streaks) | Leaking door and glass gaskets | Replace gaskets |
Inadequate heat (1) | Wet wood | Split wood smaller, load crisscross, don’t turn down; be better prepared next year |
Inadequate heat (2) | Fear of big hot fires Turning down too early | Fire new load hot until firebox is full of flames, then only reduce air so that flames slow down a bit |
Inadequate heat (3) | Excessive charcoal build up in cold weather (non-cats especially) | Rake coals and put one split piece east-west on row of coals; fire hard, repeat |
Inadequate heat (4) | Trying to preserve flue gas heat | Fire until firebox is full of flame. The chimney needs heat, so give it freely |
Inadequate heat (5) | Low draft and excessive charcoal build up due to venting system leak | Check venting system for leaks; seal it |
Inadequate heat (6) | Excessive ash build up | Remove ash more frequently |
Short burn times (1) |
| Use more aggressive loading techniques (more information) |
Short burn times (2) | High draft due to tall chimney and cold weather, mainly with non-cats. (i.e., The Florida Bungalow Syndrome) | See if air control can be adjusted, or secondary air limited; only in extreme cases resort to key damper |
Short burn times (3) | Refuelling at start of charcoal phase Not including charcoal phase as part of burn cycle | Provide information on what a burn cycle is and what to expect |
Stove doesn’t perform as expected (1) | Unrealistic expectations of heat output, heating capacity | Consider purchase expectations; compare to heater selection, climate and housing type |
Stove doesn’t perform as expected (2) | Misled by bad advice and specific flue pipe or stove thermometer readings | Ignore thermometer and bad advice; learn about visual cues |
Smoke rollout when loading (1) | Smouldering fire | Make sure primary air shutter is wide open. Add more dry kindling to help catch the smoldering wood. |
Smoke rollout when loading (2) | Restrictive venting system with too many elbows/changes in direction and horizontal runs | Replace 90 degree flue pipe elbows with 45s Replace outside chimney with inside |
Smoke rollout when loading (3) | Upgraded to EPA stove connected to a marginal venting system | Point out that the new firebox is more restrictive; suggest upgrade to venting |
Cold backdraft at standby (1) | Chimney runs up outside of house | Re-install chimney inside Enclose chimney and keep it warm |
Cold backdraft at standby (2) | Chimney penetrates envelope below highest level | Re-install chimney so it penetrates highest heated level Enclose chimney and keep it warm |
Appliance puffs smoke in windy weather (1) | No chimney cap Ineffective chimney cap | Install a proper chimney cap |
Appliances puffs smoke in windy weather (2) | House is leaky or open windows on downwind side | Describe how house can be depressurized by wind acting on leaks; seal leaks, keep windows closed |