Chimney Won't Draw?

fantasymaker · #1 02/13/13, 05:10 PM

After being in place a year last week my chimney quit drawing! GRRRR I cant open the stove door without getting lots of smoke.
Ok thinking something clogged it up I climbed up on the roof and ran a rod through it. Nothing I looked down it. Nothing.
I took the bottom off the stove Its clean all the way through.
I cleaned the smoke shelf in the stove. Nothing.....GRRRRRRR

vicker · #2 02/13/13, 05:30 PM

Do you suppose it is the weather? How long has it been happening?

**Ross** · #3 02/13/13, 05:41 PM

Certainly low pressure systems affect chimneys. You're burning good dry wood? Start a small hot fire of soft wood even split 2x4 etc. Chimneys are machines that use heat to work, so give it heat!

Nimrod · #4 02/13/13, 06:20 PM

You ran a rod through it. Was there a brush connected? The new stoves went to a 6 inch stove pipe from an 8 inch to meet the emmissions guidelines. Even a little creasote build up will greatly reduce the air flow through the chiminy.

The longer the chiminy the better it draws.

The top of the chiminy must be several feet higher than any roof peak closer than 10 feet. If it's not then the chiminy won't draw properly when the wind is from a particular direction and will draw fine if the wind is from other directions.

fantasymaker · #5 02/13/13, 06:21 PM

Its been going on about a week,the GF bought a load of wood while I was gone but its bound to be better than the green stuff I cut !

I have even tried dry paper with oil on it and I cant build up a good draw.
Sure hope its the weather!
Nope No Brush I was looking for a CLOG but when I looked through it it was pretty clean. Its about ten feet long and straight.

mekasmom · #6 02/13/13, 06:40 PM

If it was drawing before, but not now, then I would sweep the chimney.

jamesdaclark · #7 02/13/13, 07:29 PM

10 feet is not enough pipe. There is supposed to be at least 13 (per code) feet of pipe above the stove to draw. The longer the pipe, the better the draw. A short pipe will build up much quicker than a long one. I would add another 3 foot section to the top and clean it.

jwal10 · #8 02/13/13, 08:14 PM

Open a window or door, will it draw thenwith a good hot fire? I vote for the complete cleanout. If the draw was marginal to begin with add the pipe....James

vicker · #9 02/13/13, 08:21 PM

If you've been burning green, def. run a brush through it. I'm just covering bases here when I ask, are you sure there is no chimney damper on the stove? Catalytic converter?

fantasymaker · #10 02/13/13, 09:08 PM

Opening a door doesnt seem to affect it . The chimney IS CLEAN and has always worked well till now. I built the stove so I am pretty sure theres no converter on it.
There is a stove pipe damper but its working fine.
I am totally mystified!

Alice In TX/MO · #11 02/13/13, 09:19 PM

Not clean if you only ran a rod/pipe down. Needs a professional chimney sweep.

Saffron · #12 02/13/13, 09:32 PM

Sometimes mine won't draw proper and needs a bit of help. So I open the flue and the vents and turn on the ceiling fan for movement, if needed I will sit in front and blow through the vents for a few minutes until I see it catch. That generally fixes it. I have found that it generally happens when the pressure drops a little.

Harry Chickpea · #13 02/13/13, 10:14 PM

That short a chimney... roughly needs to be 35 - 40 degrees F or less to draw. I agree that adding another section would help.

fantasymaker · #14 02/13/13, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Not clean if you only ran a rod/pipe down. Needs a professional chimney sweep.

Why? Can he perform some sorta magic on a clean stovepipe?

fantasymaker · #15 02/13/13, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

That short a chimney... roughly needs to be 35 - 40 degrees F or less to draw. I agree that adding another section would help.

Is worked fine for over a year in temperatures well above 40 LOL unfortunately it worked real good one day in the 60's!
Nothing has fell off the cap was still there when I pullled it to inspect the pipe.

frankva · #16 02/14/13, 05:06 AM

Clean to the inside of the pipe? The warm days that it did work you have wind?
Have you had odd barometric pressure?

Check for a disconnection in the sections. Flashlight down the top, flashlight and compact mirror from the bottom.

You damper handle may work fine, but the damper plate may have loosened up and is staying in the closed position. Mirror, flashlight helper.

All I got. Good luck.

foxtrapper · #17 02/14/13, 06:37 AM

Remember how that draw works. You can get it mechanically with a nice wind over the top of the chimney pipe. You can also get it thermodynamically by having the gasses hot so they rise on their own.

So, if you've got a calm day and a small (cool) fire, you're not going to get smoke to go up the chimney well.

Any chance that this is the issue?

fantasymaker · #18 02/14/13, 08:03 AM

I was worong there are 6 sections so its 12 feet long. When I had it apart at the top and bottom I looked through it. I can see ALL the way through and it is as clean as Ive ever got it with a brush,verging on shinny clean.
One thing I discovered this morning, the side door on the stove is missing about half the seal/gasket.The end door is a barrel stove kit door thats never had a gasket. I cant see how this would make the draw worse?

motdaugrnds · #19 02/14/13, 08:20 AM

I sure am enjoying this thread....so many great people in here with quality information...one reason I frequent these forums.

braggscowboy · #20 02/14/13, 11:19 AM

I vote something to do with damper, other question, does your pipe go straight up, or through the wall with a 90? If it has a 90, may be your problem. Mine does and I can tell when it needs cleaned by the lack of good draw? Also they need air to traw well, house changed anyway to make tighter? I can feel mine draw through the cracks around the front door. Came with outside air draw kit, but I have a rock house and did not want to use it.