Clean burning: Is it possible to avoid white smoke entirely?

This season will be more 4th year burning (I have an Avalon fireplace insert). I've learned a lot and have adjusted a lot along the way by participating on forums like these, reading, and asking a lot of questions.

One of my current goals is to burn as efficiently and cleanly as possible. I know the primary way to accomplish that is by using properly seasoned, dry wood. And part is technique.

My question is after the initial phase is it possible to avoid white smoke altogether?

I ask because most of the time I go outside and see nothing but clear vapors. This makes me happy! But sometimes I go out and see some white smoke in the middle of a load. Is this normal? Are there times you just need to increase the airflow to avoid that?

Sorry if this is basic, I'm just trying to burn more efficiently and be a better neighbor! Especially since I don't want to be like my black-smoke neighbor across the street!

 

Sure it's not steam?

 

In my experience I will get white smoke on start up or sometimes reloading, which seems reasonable. It's just when it continues for a long time that is a problem. Just my opinion.

 

Isn't the steam translucent? I don't see smoke often (except during new fires & reloads), but sometimes do.

Could certain weather conditions contribute to steam appearing like smoke? Like if its foggy?

 

If you're getting smoke mid burn, with dry wood, you've choked the air off too much. Any smoke or steam is from an incomplete burn - the combustion temps need to be hotter. You should let it preheat longer.

I came home today at lunchtime and had a perfect burn going. No smoke, 74 degrees in the house, draft 90% closed, and a belly half full of soft maple coals. I can just gradually open the draft to keep the temp where I want it. In about an hour, I'll open it the rest of the way and let it ramp up in preparation for a 5pm reload.

[EDIT] I have a pre-EPA airtight stove.

 

I get white steam when it's frigid cold out. I assure you it's not from bad burning or unseasoned wood.

 

It sounds like a fairly normal operation Bill. The amount of smoke I generate has gone down each year with better wood and better operation.

Unfortunately wood burning is almost more of an art than a science. Obviously it's not as simply as twisting the thermostat up, so some variation in operation can be expected....it's the human factor.

 

I'd say it's pretty normal to see some white smoke (steam). There will always be a certain amount of moisture evaporating out of your wood, especially in the early stages of your burn. Next time you might try opening up the air a little and watching to see if that helps, then you'll know.
But as far as clean burning goes, if the glass on your stove stays clean (no black), and the inside on the stove has only a light tan color and doesn't have black soot deposits, then you are probably doing a good job burning cleanly. That is a far better general indicator of how cleanly you are burning then watching for smoke out your chimney.

 

Thank you, that is very helpful.

I don't get the black smoke inside the door anymore (I used to!), but I do get some white film sometimes. Is that pretty standard?

 

I am in my 3rd year burning a pre-epa stove and have significantly lessened my smoke output. Still have some at times but nothing like some neighbors.

 

Yep. You'll always get some deposits of the glass, but if you are burning hot and clean it should burn off right away and leave that white film which is basically just ash.
I have an old smoke dragon out in my shop and that thing doesn't burn very cleanly, however near the end of a burn cycle I'll often see no smoke coming out the chimney, yet my EPA stove will often show a little white smoke (steam) coming out the chimney even when I have a good secondary burn going on.
Like blujacket says, it's probably more steam then anything.

 

My electric clothes dryer has a white output in the winter-- I assume its not smoke.

 

Could be time to replace the catalytic combustor in that dryer..LOL

 

When my stove is running I don't see anything coming out the chimney, nothing, can't even tell there's a stove burning. Now on startup, or as said earlier, if I have the air choked back too soon, she'll belch out smoke, but when running right nothing can be seen out the chimney.

 

Well hopefully you're not burning your clothes!! Then again, I guess I've seen your propensity for burning clothing related appliances... I'd recommend getting them to under 20% MC, if you want to get rid of that steam!!

I didn't intend to come across critical of anyone's supply or burning habits... But you can put me in the camp of "yes, it's possible." A little bit of translucent, white smoke isn't going to burn your house down or bother your neighbors. But it's possible to get rid of it, in the "middle" part of the burn, if you have dry wood. You don't need an EPA stove to burn cleanly, nor does an EPA stove guarantee you won't have any emissions!

There is an art to it. Everyone's conditions are different - wood types, draft, stoves all vary. I had to make some changes to my technique; even with dry wood, I was still producing a lot of smoke, the way I used to burn. Now that you've noticed the difference, you'll get better at it. Give it some more air if you notice any smoke. I preheat a lot hotter than I used to, and I don't try to pack it as tight. And I'll use some kindling and newspaper even if I have a hot coal bed, to kick things off faster. You want the fresh fuel to smolder as little as possible.

 

I have no idea what you're talking about...

 

Griz, if you would keep that lint filter clean you wouldn't have that problem.....oh wait, that's a WASHING MACHINE

 

Btw, that was white smoke.

 

wait a minute, is that a redneck outdoor fireplace?