Coalpail.com Forum

Like the title says.... I smoked out my basement. There is little to no wind outside however the temps are dropping. I started the stove like normal; take a piece of crumpled up newspaper and stick it near the baffle, then let that go and light the rest. Its been a proven method for me over the past month but not tonight. I should have figure this would have been a problem as when I opened up the front door I felt a backdraft right in my face of outside fresh air. ...at the time I didn't think much about it.

So, I really have no idea how to get this thing going. I took a torch and held it down the flu pipe for 5 minutes or so but that didn't really help. The smoke was just pouring out the front, sides and any other place it could find. I'm wondering if an animal is stuck in my chimney? I hope not!!!!!

I don't have the best setup nor the shortest length of run either so.... any suggestions?

Sounds like a blockage to me. Can you post some pics of your set up? Would help other members more knowledgable then myself figure out what's going on.

Short of a blockage I shouldn't be that hard to establish a draft.

Check any inside pipes--& then panic & check the chimney.

Well, I just went upstairs to my fireplace and opened up the damper as if I were to make a fire.... Got blasted with fresh air from the outside... The air continued to come into the fire place so I shut it. So, the atmosphere is acting up apparently. Mother nature doesn't want me to get a fire going I guess...

I'm willing to bet I have nothing stuck in my flu/chimney... Just back draft or positive pressure coming in.

AD, I don't buy that rational for a second

If it's coming in the house it has to be leaving the house, got a window open somewhere..

It could well be the chimney effect of the house itself. Open a door or window near the stove and see if it makes a difference.

Might need some extra length on that chimney up top too.

2' higher than anything 10' away ...

Real good point SMITTY

i don't get it, I think I just read that you have a positive pressure air egress in your basement too , is that so ? is there a chance pressure is building into the chimney from down there ? just thinking out loud.

how is the top of your chimney situated ? there must be something amiss, I have had some low draft issues but never actual back pressure into the stove and house from the flue.

.....maybe now is the time to reconfigure that very long horizontal run behind the stove to the chimney. Going diagonal and adjusting the elbows you are uphill right from the get go. The shortest distance between two points is........

[quote="KingCoal"]i don't get it, I think I just read that you have a positive pressure air egress in your basement too , is that so ? is there a chance pressure is building into the chimney from down there ? just thinking out loud.

how is the top of your chimney situated ? there must be something amiss, I have had some low draft issues but never actual back pressure into the stove and house from the flue.[/quote]

Some good points to consider also. You mentioned another heating appliance in the basement, maybe fighting for oxygen. Possibly a clothes dryer?

Ahhhhh, that's the critter we're lookin at--something to fix ASAP--there was always the possibility of that erector set up acting as a block--that would be the first thing I reconnoitered AD--sorry I didn't put your set up together until ma mentioned it. Me bad:(

put a bunch of newspaper in the stove and open the ash pan a crack after it's lit. it'l reverse; also open window(s) on the lowest level of your house.

Sounds like an exterior stack that's WAY too short (much less tall than the highest point of the roof of your home).

Great points everyone!

Just checked the local weather station near by and we have 3-4mph winds and the temp is 27d. Here is a pic of the back of my stove in the basement and the top of my chimney. The total length of pipe from my basement to the top of the chimney is approximately 45'. My fireplace which is on the fist floor has a length of around 30'.

It isn't uncommon for the house to smell like "fire place" every once in a while from draft coming down the chimney after a night of a fire in the fireplace.

No windows open however I do have a leaky old farm style house. There is a water heater and boiler in the basement which isn't helping the cause when they kick on... But, I also have positive pressure coming down the fireplace flue too...