Outside Air Kit Question (New Absolute Steel Slow to take off )

Hello!

Below is an email I sent to Woodstock but have not heard back so I figured I would ask you kind folks as well:

I am getting used to my new absolute steel stove and am looking for some help for better operation. I have had an issue with smoke coming out the door when I open it and the fire weakening when I close the door. However, once I get everything going and engage the CAT, I do not see any smoke out of the chimney outside, so it seems to be working but not as vigorously as I would have expected. I have broken it down to a few items:

1) Wood: I don't think this is an issue, since this is my first wood stove I bought kiln dried wood. I have split and spot checked a few pieces and all of them were around 15%.

2) Fire Starting: Since this is my first wood stove I have been researching different fire starting methods. Top down seems to work the best. I asked woodstock to see if I could come in when they load the Absolute in their show room as I am a pretty visual learner. I have watched the time lapse video on youtube but its hard to get a feeling for how long between steps. I feel I am probably rushing things.

3) Air: My house is pretty tight and the previous owners had outside air piping installed to an old stove that is 4" hard pipe to the outside. It is hard-piped for about 15', then I tied into it with a flex duct (photos attached). I have to dip the duct under a joist and tie into the hard pipe at almost a 90. Are there suggestions to get better air-flow through an outside air setup? I was thinking I could move the hard pipe back one section and try and get to the hole in the floor more gradually. The stove is on level 1 and the air piping is in the basement.

4) Draft: I am thinking about replacing the 90 above the stove in the living room with two 45's. Question: Is there a minimum vertical rise from the flue collar before transitioning to a 45? It is 24" vertical now into the 90 and will probably get shorter with two 45's.

Thanks!

 

Can the outdoor air go down through the floor into the basement and straight out? Eliminate the long, drooping flex run?

2 X 45* is what I'd try for sure. May be worth contacting WS for a definition on the vertical requirement.

 

How high is the chimney cap above the top of the stove?

 

Maybe a stupid question. Can you use outside air in a basement installation?

 

I've seen instances of people that have. I'd think much depends on your basement configuration.

 

If you have a walkout no problem. Your outdoor air intake location/wall penetration should be level with, or lower than the level of the stove intake connection. Makes most basement installs tough for a OAK application.

 

Yes that will leave my basement out I guess. Underground on all 4 walls. Thanks for the information everyone.