Strange fog horn noise, coming from new Pacific Summit Stove

Well, I did get the new Pacific Summit installed in the house, a few weeks ago. No fire yet, been too warm.

However, we started noticing a low fog horn noise in the house, intermittently. At first I started searching for source of the noise, thinking it was electrical. It was hard to locate and would start and stop, so the minute I got tired of listening to it, it would stop. Then I would give up and it would start again sometimes.

At first I though it was the Dish Network box up stairs, or the TV and shut it all down. Then I though maybe it was the ice maker in the fridge, and I also suspected the electric hot water heater, because I had recently replaced the elements in it. And I also wondered if it was a leaking stool valve, which can sometimes cause a similar sound. But no, it was none of those.

I was starting to suspect the stove at that point, and one windy day, it was more obvious. I opened the door to the stove and it stopped. I closed the door on the stove and the sound would eventually start again. I noticed the damper on the stove was closed, so I opened the damper and the noise stopped. I have had the damper open ever since. No fire yet, still too warm for that. But the fog horn noise has not been heard ever since I opened the damper.

Apparently, the damper doesn't close completely, and there is a draw on the chimney pipe which is over 20ft tall, two story house and all. The wind or no wind causes the sound to be intermittent.
I have not removed the square cover plate on the back of the stove yet, for room air. I wonder if that will make a difference. I haven't removed it yet, because I don't know if I should since my chimney pipe is so tall. I obviously have lots of draw on the stove, anyway. I never removed the plate on the old stove because the installer of the old stove, many years ago, told me it would create too much draft with the tall chimney pipe.

But the current sales person and also the installer, told me they always removed the plate for room air.

Anyway, I am curious how it will all go, but too hot for a fire yet. I hesitate to remove the cover plate for room air, yet. I want to fire the stove and see how it does first.

What do you guys think?

 

When you refer to damper are you talking about a damper in your stove pipe or your stoves air control?

 

Check your plumbing also. Fog horn sounds can be caused by faulty toilet ballcocks in addition to other sources.

 

Noises like this seem to prompt people to start threads on the issue a few times every year...some end up solved eventually, many aren't...often times it happens only when the fire is lit though. If you don't have a pipe damper now, putting one in may be enough to interrupt things and solve the issue...or you cold just do like you have been with leaving the stove control open...

 

Wondering if you were to plug up the hole for a bit. At least if you know that's the source of it it's harmless?

 

Stove air control

 

Yep, I mentioned that in my opening post.

 

I went ahead and removed the room air cover plate, like what was recommended by installer. I think it's just the wind at times, maybe. I am not hearing it now, and have the stove control in the shutdown setting. It might have something to do with outside temp vs. inside temp, and draft or something. At any rate, I think it was just the close relationship of the damper which probably doesn't close all of the way, anyway, sort of acting like a tuning fork, or something. Not really a problem, now that I know what the source of the noise was.

 

My apologies then, sir,

Cripes, you'd think that if you took the time to type it, I should at least take the time to read it.....entirely!

 

I know a lot of people say you don’t need them but I like having a pipe damper. I only need it a few times a year when we have high winds but glad I have one. Simple to install also.

 

No problem, actually I highly suspected it to be a toilet tank valve, but it wasn't.

 

Yep, about all of the old setups had one.

 

Funny thing, I have not heard the noise since the day I removed the room air cover plate on the back. But I am not sure that was it. The weather has cooled off a little bit since then, maybe that makes a difference, Who Knows?

 

Is it foggy out when you hear this noise?

 

Nope, and no water big enough to float much more than a bass boat, within several miles.

 

Sounds like you got the musical instrument upgrade.
"It's not a bug, it's a feature"

 

I have a friend that works in a pipe organ factory...he could probably tune it for him!

 

I have a Pacific Energy T6 which has a similar firebox as yours (I think).We also have a tall stack through the roof of our 2 story house. We would sometimes get the same noise you described t only happened with the door latched and the combustion control fully to the right in the “closed “ position. We have a strong draft as I think you do too. As you guessed, the combustion control does not fully close off the intake air. I think that with a strong enough draft and the intake constricted just right you get the whistle effect.

When you start using it, be watchful of not being able to tamp down the fire, especially in winter when the temps fall. If this happens, it may be due to your strong draft feeding it too much air. Add a flue damper. I had this issue and the damper made all the difference.

Sean