Smell Coming From Alaska Hopper
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- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 05, 2017 9:33 am
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Hearth Model
I’ve got an Alaska Stoker vented into my fireplace with SS Flex pipe going into my second flue liner.
I’m getting a smell like coming out of my hopper not real strong but it’s there. It smells like coal fumes.
Could this be a venting issue or a combustion fan issue?
I’m getting a smell like coming out of my hopper not real strong but it’s there. It smells like coal fumes.
Could this be a venting issue or a combustion fan issue?
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
You better inspect your liner if you didn't and don't know it's current condition.
It can corrode and become perforate and eventually will reach a point where it will collapse inward to block or restrict the flow of gases.
And then you will have even a greater issue as it will get worse where carbon monoxide will back up into the house *big time* when you least expect it.
A manometer is your friend...and will show you exactly how your pressures behave all the time.
If you don't know about manometers you can Search the topic in the archives here.
If you know your liner is solid from checking it before startup this season then it might just be excess combustion air, turn or dial it back a tad. You're pressurizing the fire box wee bit.
It can corrode and become perforate and eventually will reach a point where it will collapse inward to block or restrict the flow of gases.
And then you will have even a greater issue as it will get worse where carbon monoxide will back up into the house *big time* when you least expect it.
A manometer is your friend...and will show you exactly how your pressures behave all the time.
If you don't know about manometers you can Search the topic in the archives here.
If you know your liner is solid from checking it before startup this season then it might just be excess combustion air, turn or dial it back a tad. You're pressurizing the fire box wee bit.
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- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 05, 2017 9:33 am
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Hearth Model
Thanks for replying. I checked my chimney liner when I pulled my hand fired Harmon insert out and all was well with the clay liners. My Alaska is roughly 15 years old. How do I turn down the speed of the combustion fan? I bought the stove used just a few weeks ago.
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- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 05, 2017 9:33 am
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Hearth Model
Another question I have is with an Alaska hearth model do I need a barometric damper? My chimney has an excellent draft. I didn’t have a barometric damper with my hand fired coal insert and this stove is venting into the same chimney. Stokers are new to me so I have a bunch of questions.
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Regulate fire box air with swing cover on the fan inlet, maybe.
Oh, so you have a clay liner and the SS flex is reaches up to height of 2nd clay liner.
Which version do you have there?...Carpet feeder or paddle feeder?
Baro is recommended.
It is not much chance to have both too strong of draft and to also have pressurized fire box, they are the opposite. But chimney conditions do forever change through out the season.
Too strong of draft can lead to a burn back where the fire will creep back up into hopper, though. But baro adjustment can alleviate this.
You need to figure this out right away.
Oh, so you have a clay liner and the SS flex is reaches up to height of 2nd clay liner.
Which version do you have there?...Carpet feeder or paddle feeder?
Baro is recommended.
It is not much chance to have both too strong of draft and to also have pressurized fire box, they are the opposite. But chimney conditions do forever change through out the season.
Too strong of draft can lead to a burn back where the fire will creep back up into hopper, though. But baro adjustment can alleviate this.
You need to figure this out right away.
Last edited by McGiever on Sat. Nov. 11, 2017 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Older Carpet feed types have one motor for both feeder and fan, so no independent air control.
Can up upload any pictures of stove?
Can up upload any pictures of stove?
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- Member
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 05, 2017 9:33 am
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Hearth Model
I put all new gasket on the entire grate system. Put a meter on for draft and with the barometric damper all the way closed I’m reading 0.30-0.35. I’m going to let it burn for a while and see if I get any smell