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HearthStone Quality Home Heating Products Inc ® Tribute Model 8040
22
TROUBLESHOOTING
Your Heating Needs
Virtually all woodstove operators experience basic common
problems at one time or another. Most are correctable and
generally require only a minor adjustment of the stove,
installation, or operating technique. In cases where weather
conditions dramatically affect stove performance, the
problems are typically temporary and solve themselves
once the weather changes.
If you question whether your stove is producing adequate
heat, the best way to troubleshoot the problem is to monitor
the temperature of the stack. A 400 degree F (200 degree
C) stovepipe confirms the stove is supplying sufficient heat.
Keep in mind that your house itself will regulate
room/house temperatures. How well the walls, floors and
ceilings are insulated, the number and size of glass
windows, the tightness of outside doors, and the
construction or style of your house (vaulted ceilings or
other open spaces which collect large percentages of heat,
ceiling fans, etc.) all are determining factors of room
temperature.
Your stove's performance is also dependant on its
installation. One common cause of poor performance is an
oversized chimney flue. Oversized chimney flues result in
decreased draft, which prevents the smoke from rising out
the chimney. Oversized flues are also more difficult to heat
effectively, especially when burning a high efficiency
stove. Cool flue temperatures inhibit the establishment of a
strong draft (and encourage the accumulation of creosote).
The lack of a strong draft will
cause the fire to die down and may even force the smoke to
pour into the room.
If your chimney is the proper size and a strong draft is not
easily established, there is the possibility of the chimney
being too cold. Again, hot chimneys promote a stronger
draft.
Other draft guidelines are as follows:
AN "AIRTIGHT" HOUSE: If your home is super-
insulated or especially well sealed, the (infiltration) air
supply to the interior of the house may be inadequate. This
phenomenon of air starvation within the building can be
exacerbated if exhaust fans, such as clothes dryers,
bathroom fans or cookstove exhaust fans, are in operation
within the home. Outfitting your stove with the optional
outside air supply adaptor connected to an air duct which
leads to the outside of the building should correct this
problem.
TALL TREES OR BUILDINGS: These obstructions,
when located in proximity to the top of the chimney can
cause chronic or occasional downdrafts. When selecting a
site for a new chimney, take care to consider the placement
of other objects near the proposed chimney location.
WIND VELOCITY: Generally, the stronger and steadier
a wind, the stronger (better) the draft. However, "gusty"
wind conditions may cause erratic downdrafts.
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE: Chimney drafts are
typically sluggish on balmy, wet or muggy days. This is a
weather-related phenomenon, which generally is self-
correcting as the weather changes.
BRISKNESS OF FIRE: The hotter the fire in your stove,
the hotter your chimney and, therefore, the stronger the
draft.
BREAKS IN THE VENTING SYSTEM: An unsealed
clean-out door at the bottom of the chimney, leaky
stovepipe joints, a poor stovepipe-to-thimble connection,
missing caps, or a leaky chimney may cause inadequate
draft.
SEASONAL FACTORS: Early fall and late spring are
generally difficult seasons in which to establish proper
drafts. The colder the outside air is (relative to room
temperatures) the stronger the draft.
Operating the Stove
There are days when a draft is not easily established. As
outlined above, seasonal factors or a cold chimney may be
the cause. Try starting the fire by using small kindling and
fuel to obtain a quick, hot fire. Tend the fire frequently
with small fuel until the chimney is hot and the draft is well
established.