Minor smoke smell

The other day we started the big Whitfield as the weather had turned colder and the little Whit was not gittenerdone.....

After about 20 minutes I turned the heat selector down to low and within a shot time I began getting a little smoke smell.

Nothing bad or dangerous, but annoying never the less.

Started snooping around and the smell was coming from the heat vent on the stove.

The convection fan HAD to be sucking it in from the exhaust system outflow side.

The firebox is a negative pressure, so it can't really leak outward.

Started sniffing around the vent pipe connections (All taped with foil tape) but I SMELL mild smoky smell from time to time.

The stove ran for another hour and then the smell went away HMMMMMMMM

My install is a horizontal direct vent and is at the max allowed/recommended.

Shut the stove off and let it cool.

Later started another fire and made it real smoky .... got out my laser pen ans started looking around the coupler where the vent connects to the exhaust fan housing.

FINALLY spotted a tiny pin hole in the silicone goop where the Simpson vent connects to the quick disconnect flange assembly.

The smoke was likely leaking internally inside the vent pipe and then found the pin hole in the silicone.... Shut down the stove....

Of course this hole was in a spot I could not see real well or get my good hand/fingers on (Right hand is a bit hinky since the stroke in 2012)

Scared up the tube of goop, some alcohol and a rag and went after it.

Cleaned the area well and then proceeded to SLOBBER goop around the joint.

FIRED up the stove and let it heat up.

No smoke, but sure could smell the acrid vinegar smell of the silicone...ARRRRRRRGH

Ran the beast all night and the air flow is smoke free.

After nearly 10 years this happens.... probably the original silicone had an air bubble in it that had popped over time and thermal cycles that allowed the leak.

I am not a fan of the pellet vent systems.

The inner seal sucks...this stuff could be better.

Tall vertical vents are far less prone to leaking due to the natural draft that keeps air flowing INTO any leaks, rather than out.

Horizontal venting is certainly more prone to leaks due to the more positive pressure..


GOOP ON

 

Hi Snowy
I have fixed many Whitefields and Travis pellet stoves in that area. In the older stoves where the exhaust Flange attaches to the exhaust housing with 4 sheet metal screws, the screws loosen up from age and vibration and break the silicone seal. If they used larger sheet metal screws and were more generous with the silicone this would not happen. So what I do is remove the Flange, clean all the old silicone off with a wire wheel and put new clear high temp silicone on the inside of the Flange piece that connects to the venting and silicone on the outside of the exhaust housing. Then push them together and use larger self tapping stainless steel screws for a better physical connection. Then I take my finger and add extra silicone around the seam to assure a good barrier! Where the venting “appliance adapter” connects to the exhaust Flange that I just resealed, I like to use a radiator clamp so no bolt holes to leak and much easier to remove to service the stove. If the appliance adapter is beat, then I use foil tape under the radiator clamp for a better seal and still easy to remove for servicing the stove. Just my 2cents

 

My adapter like the one in your piccy was fine.

I have a 4 bolt flanged adapter that connects to the aluminum adapter.
This adapter is silicone'd well and was fine.
The issue was one of two places... the connection with the pipe or the lytherm gasket between the two halves of the flange adapter.

I silicone'd both well and life is good again.

 

leaky pipe....Simpson....yup......figures

 

Yesterday I cleaned the beast and had it cold for a couple hours prior to cleaning.

Restarted and had a couple whiffs of lite smoke.

Snooped more and laid on my back to get a good view of the seam in the long run.

Sure enough I found a tiny pin hole in the outer jacket where the welded seam is.

More foil tape.

I will never use Simpson again....

Sad part is the room air fan is sucking from the corner where the pipe runs and just sucks the smell up and blows it out the heat vent.

But, as long as I don't smell it when I come in from outside I'm good.

Not going to tear the vent all out...

Been in there since Feb 2010

A pix of the entire run.

The choices of locating the vent were not stellar, as the location of studs in the wall, location of a downspout outside, location of a fake shutter....

The stove had to go in the corner and I wanted good access to the stove for cleaning and any repairs in the mechanical cabinet without having to unhook and move the stove.
The room is 16' x 25' so the small wasted space behind the stove was a non issue.
Actually is useful to some extent....During the off season we stack the 5 gallon "Shell buckets" on the rear of the hearth and there always seems to be something else that finds it's way back there.

 

I really would not say it is a brand of venting at fault in this particular case. Of course some brands are better than others for sure! I found from experience that 4” diameter Venting does not put as much pressure on the seams and does not clog up with ash so quickly! Also many 4” venting brands are better quality which they call the pro line. I also like the 4” that brings the fresh air in around it. Very efficient.
Then with a radiator clamp around the stove adapter, it is easier to remove. There are also better radiator clamps for complete round clamping,

 

Hey Snowy,
I too have been smelling a hint of smoke, that i can't track down. I see that you mentioned a laser light to spot the smoke, what kind of pen is it? leave the lights off or on ?
I have simpson pipe and i thought i had it taped off good but i guess not

Thx Cliff

 

Cliff, a laser light will work, but a good regular flashlight will work too. Turn lights off and start shining it around suspected areas....you'll see it if it's there.

 

Even more important....how's the flame??

 

Sadly the smoke smell does not always show up well.

Unless there is huge amounts of leakage and a lot of heavy smoke all you get is a little smell now and then....

A pin prick sized hole in a weld can put out enough stink to be annoying as all get out...

 

thx Snowy, will keep looking
Thx

 

Does it seem any more "active"? Do you notice any change at all?

 

Sounds you're back to normal

 

Recently happened to me,slight smoke smell.I have a T about eye level(see my stove picture) and the clean out cap is horizontal.I have removed it usually 4 times a year,but this year,with doing testing and stuff,have removed it lots.Can remove it by hand,before always had to use a strap wrench.Well,looking in there,I saw no rope gasket,under where the cap installs.Never noticed before.Called our buddy Don,he has never "not" seen a gasket there,lol.Well the pipe is 2nd generation duravent,as is the T,but the T was new when i put in the stove.I have a 1st generation T,slightly used,pulled the gasket out and put in where there was none,reinstalled cap.Stove has lit up 3 times today,no wiff of smoke no smell.

 

Space bar. I'm begging you, use the space bar!

 

LOL,you made me research it! Being a mechanic,and failing typing class,in High School,I never knew! I shall try to do better!1 space or 2?

 

1 space after a comma, 2 spaces after a period.