Downdraft problem, looking for suggestions

We have a similar situation in our basement with a wood stove. The down draft would blow out lit newspaper before I could put it into the stove pipe. Smoked out the basement twice before calling it quits for a bit. Doesn’t help that the stovepipe goes out to the chimney below grade, and an exterior chimney at the North end of the house. Talking to my fil he mentioned the fact that we rebuild our bulkhead door and added an insulated door at the bottom of the stairs. Mentioned opening it to see if that helped. Before it was just a wooden bulkhead that was 40 yrs old and needed work.

I tried it again with the bulkhead door open, and the newspaper stayed lit, and burned quickly when I put it into the stovepipe. Made all the difference having the bulkhead door open. Our house has a fieldstone foundation and is 207 yrs old, so nowhere near air tight. My wife has been happy with the whole house being 70 degrees now instead of the far end being 60 degrees.

 

So I get the concept of the hair dryer, but does that blow ashes or dust everywhere? I would think even pointing it up would stir things quite a bit. Would a heat gun be better since it puts out more heat faster? Or is the fan speed of the hair dryer more beneficial?

I typically use my little green bottle Propane torch to get the warmth started, but am not fighting the basement issue, so I don't need to overcome as much.

 

It can, so gotta be careful where you point that thang!
I'm sure a heat gun would work well too...but a lot more people own hair dryers.

 

I bought a heat fun from Harbor Freight for like 15-20 bucks or something...I figured wth not. Had some use for it at the time, can't remember what. It's proven useful several times. And probably much better for me grab than the hair dryer for domestic reasons.....

 

If you haven't been given permission to use the hair dryer, its just not cold enough in the house yet...

 

Bahahaha...touche!

 

Thanks to everyone for comments and suggestions. I never considered the air flow situation as part of the problem, but obviously to me now, it is. Unfortunately my basement is not conducive to just opening a door or window, but I will come up with something. Preheating flue ideas/tools where also great and I did that to start a fire yesterday in 16 F temps outside.

JDU

 

Your smoke pipe looks outrageously big for the size of the stove. Maybe neck it down to 5””. Somebody on here would know more.

 

I agree, but a 6" pipe fit on the oval opening on stove top, so I just continued rest with the 6". 5" pipe would seem more appropriate and might try necking it down.
5" flue was on several wood cook stoves I used.

 

Should holler when you know you’ll be coming through and stop for a cup o’ coffee.
Yea swede capital is correct. To be clear, you’re talking with a bonafide Swedish festival King. ‍♂️