Smokey House!!

I live on a ridgetop and it's usually windy. I got a new Buck 91 and my chimney temps aren't as hot as they was when I had the non epa stove. When the wind really gets up, it blows the smoke down the chimney smoking up the house. I've been looking at some chimney caps that's supposed to help but not sure if they work? Has anyone else had this problem and if so, how have you solved it?
Thanks folks!!!

 

I don’t have this type of cap but have heard good things about them. Wind Directional Chimney Caps and How They Work | FAMCO Might be worth looking into.

 

No sir, chimney's clean as a whistle. It happens when the wind gets above 30mph or so. When the winds not blowing it does great. And to be honest, it even draws pretty well. When I'm starting a fire it will sometimes pull so hard its had to keep the match from going out.

 

I appreciate the info! I wonder if they need maintenance or are noisy?

 

Clay chimney liner?
Size, height?

 

It's a 8x8 clay liner. The approx. height is 25'

 

A modern efficient stove on a 8x8" clay chimney is going to be a headache.
Clay runs cool, plus you are WAY oversized. I'm sure that's a 6" stove, so that's a 28.26 sq in chimney, you have 64". That slows the flue gas velocity to a crawl, and that, combined with the clay absorbing the heat, is killing your draft...so when you get wind just the right way, bam, draft reversal.
On top of this all, a square flue does not draft as well as a round one (the corners cause turbulence) and is harder to get really clean.
You can try one of those wind blocking caps, but the best cure would be an insulated stainless steel chimney liner.
Draft better, run cleaner, safer, and almost surely stop the draft reversal. (Nothing's ever guaranteed when it comes to wind and chimneys)

 

Weellll..... the stove has an 8" flue to be honest. And your right, my flue temps are only around 200-300 on the stove pipe, so it does run cooler then my old non EPA stove. I had thought about building a new chimney, but that particular chimney goes thru the center of my home and that'd be very expensive. Plus, I have a really good draft. When lighting a fire on a cold chimney it draws really well.The only time I get smoke into the home is when the wind blows very hard, say above 30+mph.

 

Ok, if that's an 8"stove then that helps, you are still 14 sq in oversized, but much better...being interior chimney helps, A LOT!

 

I'd say the best fix would be to run a chimney liner down through. I have the same stove with an insulated stainless liner down through a clay lined chimney. Never had an issue no matter how much wind we get and it gets windy here coming up through the wide open sloped pasture. Might I also suggest Rockfordchimneysupply.com

 

Smoke is not the only concern, rather carbon monoxide as well. Suggest installing a detector near the stove.

 

So, the chimney is exposed and when the wife and I were talking the other day about fixing the basement up a little and the talk of building a brick woodbox was discussed. Then I got to thinking, wounder if instead of using brick to encase the chimney, wounder if I could use fire brick ? It would absorb heat from the stove, help keep heat in the chimney and also radiate heat .....Just a thought?

 

You know, I've been thinking on that, not only for the apparent problem, but for safety as well. Is it hard to install? I can get to the chimney on the roof pretty easy. The question I have is is it hard the get the liner lined up for the flue opening? Thanks!!

 

My Buck 91 is installed as an insert so I had to cut the existing fireplace damper frame but if you have a freestanding stove going through a thimble it should be easier. 2 man job, one feeding the liner from the top and one at the stove connection. Rockford sells as a kit for whatever your configuration is. I'll attach a link for the liner. I had a smooth wall liner first but it failed then I found that they are not as recommended for wood as much as gas or pellet. Rockford replaced it free of charge, liner and new insulation kit as their liners are lifetime warranted.
Chimney Liner Kits – Stainless Steel Flue Liner DIY | Rockford Chimney Supply - Rockford Chimney
Another tip I'll add that I've shared before is the insulation wrap is put on the liner then a stainless mesh goes over it, I found it helps to then wrap it with stainless wire around the mesh. If you need any other info I'm here to help.

 

I appreciate it!! I have a 8x8 flue liner so I guess I'll need an 8" pipe? And I'll try to find a YouTube vid on how to wrap it before installation. Again, thanks!

 

I never picked up on the fact you have an 8x8 clay liner. You may not be able to fit an insulated liner down as even an 8" round may be tight without insulation if you have any rough mortar joints. You may have to drop to an uninsulated 7" liner or do a pour in insulation

 

A 6" insulated liner would probably fit, but if that's an 8" stove...

 

Just finished looking at the website and video. Would I have to use the mesh since I may not be able to use insulation? And it doesn't look to hard. I have two boys I fed pretty good while raising ....Just saying....