In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Catalytic or Non-catalytic?

Discussion in 'Modern EPA Stoves and Fireplaces' started by Andyshine77, Sep 13, 2024.

  1. Andyshine77

    Andyshine77

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    Well I got the over firing under control.

    However something else happened. FYI I haven't had a fire since Thursday.

    The good. The coals have lasted until this afternoon.

    The bad, I have a bit of a backdraft now that everything is cooled down, and I just happened to look at my CO monitor and it was reading 25ppm, I have the alarm set to 30ppm.

    So now I'm looking at a solution, maybe cap of some kind that prevents some downdraft. I've always had a bit of a problem with this but the coals will burn out before any backdraft would occur.

    It has really strong draft pretty much as soon as I light a fire, but I have been warming the flu up l foe about 30 second or so with my torch before I like the actual fire.

    Any input? You guys have been a great help.so far.
     
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  2. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    Someone much smarter than me will have a better answer.
    I've never even thought about back draft and CO2.
    My house breathes extremely well, we even get snow in the basement sometimes.
    But would one of those wind directional chimney caps help?
    Is your chimney high enough above the roofline?
    Really happy your mods fixed your overdraft
     
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  3. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    What all do you have that ventilates the house...bath and kitchen fan, clothes dryer, central vac?
    My bet would be that the "backdraft" happens when one of those items is on...
     
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  4. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Backdraft during lighting or after going and door shut?

    We have two stoves, pre-epa in lined exterior masonry chimney, other the BK40 out here which is piped. Both have wind proof caps. Neither of them are used consistently. Old stove in exterior masonry chimney is guaranteed backdraft, so blow drier for several + minutes up flue before starting fire. BK40 that is piped and in a warmer area of the house has yet to backdraft at all while starting.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2024
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  5. Andyshine77

    Andyshine77

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    Yup exernal Masonry. When she's cold I preheat.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2024
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  6. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    We've not used a torch for the flue before, but I had a cheap travel hair dryer (ask your wife, like the little hot dumb ones on hotel bathroom walls lol) that was a Christmas gift that hung around for years. Worked awesome on frozen main water line at old house many times and heating the external masonry flue here! Cheap blow dryers are on sale now during Christmas, like $10.
     
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