New to coal - bad smell in cabin - poor draft?? Photos Attached

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jeepin_junkie
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Hand Fed Coal Stove: Vermont Castings Vigilant II

Post by jeepin_junkie » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 2:52 pm

I am new to burning coal. I bought a used Vermont Castings Vigilant II and replaced the door & flue collar gaskets. However, I am getting a strong coal smell inside the cabin when I am burning coal

My chimney setup is about 13' long straight up with no bends. The distance from the top of the stove to the ceiling is about 7' in single wall stove pipe and another 6' above the roof in chimney pipe. The pipe is 8" diameter. Is it possible that my chimney setup is too short causing an insufficient draft? When I open the glass doors, the smoke seems to be going nicely up the chimney, maybe a little smoke gets out. Also, I don't really see any smoke in the cabin, I can just smell it.

The coal that I am burning is coal that I got for free. I am wondering if it is contributing to the smell, it almost seems like it might be oiled because before it catches it smokes quite a bit. I am not sure if that is normal or not

Here are photos of my setup
IMG-5208 (1).jpg
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IMG-5209 (1).jpg
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lsayre
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Post by lsayre » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 3:53 pm

Seems like you might be burning bituminous coal. Most here on the forum burn anthracite, but not all, so hopefully someone burning bit will come along and offer suggestions. My first suggestion is that you purchase a few carbon monoxide detectors for personal safety. My next suggestion is to get a manometer installed on your flue pipe so you can assure that your chimney is drafting adequately.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 5:10 pm

What Larry said + Why is that piece of gasket rope hangin around the inside pipe?


 
franco b
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Post by franco b » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 7:06 pm

That stove is intended for six inch pipe. Someone changed the flue collar.
There is no floor protection under the stove.
The picture shows the damper in the bypass position, which lowers draft through the stove.

 
jeepin_junkie
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Post by jeepin_junkie » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 7:45 pm

franco b wrote:
Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 7:06 pm
That stove is intended for six inch pipe. Someone changed the flue collar.
There is no floor protection under the stove.
The picture shows the damper in the bypass position, which lowers draft through the stove.
The 8" flue collar was an option according to the manual. Would a 6" chimney make a big enough difference to warranty replacing everything from the flue collar up?

The smell happens when the damper is in the down position

The photo was taken before the hearth went in
Screen Shot 2020-10-23 at 5.34.10 PM.png
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franco b
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Post by franco b » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 8:06 pm

When the damper handle is in the down position, draft through the stove is weakest. You must verify that the side and back flue passages are clean and clear. Cover plates intact and on.

Running with the handle down, flue temperature will be lower than otherwise and a six inch flue will draft easier under those conditions.

An eight inch flue is fifty square inches in area as opposed to twenty eight for six inches, so the six inch is easier to heat.

The original Vigilant had eight inch pipe intended for burning wood.


 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Fri. Oct. 23, 2020 10:36 pm

Besides all the excellent advice already presented...
That chimney needs to be higher by at min. 2 ft. from a point measured 10 ft. horizontially towards roof ridge line...so by adding another section or more of 8 in. pipe would be an improvement for draft but might not be as much draft as a 6 in.

 
woodandcoal
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Post by woodandcoal » Sun. Nov. 22, 2020 9:44 pm

vigilant-manual.pdf
.PDF | 2MB | vigilant-manual.pdf
There are also two removable baffles inside the stove by the ash pan. They stay on for anthracite and are removed for bituminous. Also take them off and ensure there is no clog or fly ash in there if so the stove is starved for are and not drafting properly. I attached the manual, it is also available for download.

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