26
Vermont Castings Defiant
Negative Pressure
Good draft also depends on a supply of air to the
stove; a chimney can’t pull in more air than is available
to it. Sluggish draft results when a house is tight
enough to prevent the ready flow of air to the stove, or
by competition between the stove and other equipment
that sends indoor air outside - especially power-driven
equipment like range hoods, clothes dryers, etc. If the
chimney draws well with all other equipment turned off
(or sealed, in the case of fireplaces and/or other
stoves), then you simply need to be careful with timing
the use of the other gear. If you need to crack a nearby
window or door to enable the chimney to pull well,
that’s a sign that you should install an outside-air
intake to bring combustion air directly to the stove. An
outside air adapter will attach to the stove to connect
an air duct for outdoor combustion air.
Conclusion
Wood-burning is an art rather than a science. Once the
stove and chimney system are in place, you can only
vary your technique, mostly your timing, to achieve
good results. If you keep track of your burning habits
and relate them to their effects on the stove’s opera-
tion, you’ll be rewarded with good performance and a
safe system.