chemical smell from stove

I have a Vermont castings wood stove. Works well but has always been missing the center grate. I’ve looked for the replacement part, but no one has it anymore. After emptying the ashes and starting a new fire, the fire falls down into the ash tray below. So, I made the mistake of putting a brick in there to cover where the grate should be. Big mistake. Ever since then, I get a bad chemical smell anytime I burn a fire, most noticeable when I open the door to add more wood. This gives my wife a headache right away, so this must be fixed! I’ve had the chimney swept, and I cleaned out the fire box and ashes, but I still get the smell. How can I get rid of this odor? Have I ruined my wood stove?

 

Welcome aboard LoveMyWoodStove18

I can't answer your question specifically, but it would seem unlikely that the stove is ruined.

How many fires since the brick was removed?

What is in place of the grate currently?

Pics might help a lot here.

Edit:. Stove model would be helpful as well.

Was 'brick' sitting on top of the firebricks?
Could they have been 'contminated'?

What type of brick was added?

 

Thanks for your reply!
I've had about 12 fires since the brick was removed, bad smell each time. I hoped I could burn it off, no such luck.
I have nothing in the place of the grate currently, I'll cover it with a log, start the fire above it, it catches and burns, and falls in to the ash tray below. Once the ash tray is filled, this is no longer a problem and I'm best off just removing enough ash so the missing grate is still covered.
The stove model is Vermont castings federal airtight FA264CCL.
Thanks! Any advice is appreciated!

 

Stove Parts - Consolidated Dutchwest Parts - FA264CCL - Black Swan Home

Maybe you can identify the part you need from that.

The smell - what's the chance that something has contaminated your wood?

 

Welcome LoveMyWoodStove18! I'm sure someone here will be able to help you out. I'm curious to hear what it may be from the experienced burners.

 

Seems that unit has a catalytic combustor, perhaps something on the "brick" fouled up the catalyst,
Any thoughts guys?

I don't like to just start throwing parts at the problem, as that just get's too darned expensive too quickly.

Not being familiar with the innards of your stove, I assume the base is lined with firebrick.

What type of brick was put in there anyway, are we talking a masonry brick, or a firebrick set over top of the grate opening?

If it was firebrick, I wouldn't think that would cause the smell.

Was it over-fired at all, temp wise?

 

I have replaced fire bricks in a few stoves and never had any sort of a smell. I have been around a stove that stunk horribly (not mine) it smelled toxic and when I asked the owner what the heck was that smell he said he burned whatever he could get and had been burning left over Pressure Treated scraps...not smart... I doubt you have been doing that. I would try a few small fires with wood that I knew was good and see what results you get (maybe you have done this already). Look forward to more information to help figure this out.

 

It was a masonry brick, appeared fairly clean.
I burn red and white oak from trees I had taken down, no trash or pressure treated stuff.
There’s no firebricks in the stove, iron all around.

 

Glad you said that. I have been wondering the last few years why my first few fires smell like a new stove. I put the big tub of Damprid in it early spring like you recommended, but last year same smell. Doesn't bother me,but my wife and daughters every year put their nose up to it. 2 maybe 3 fires and it's gone. I don't here them complaining when it's 5 degrees out and 75 inside.

 

Welcome to FHC, I'm sure you will get this sorted out. First question is has the ash pan been removed and the space where it goes into thoroughly cleaned out? I mean fully checked with a flashlight and ash vacuumed out?

I had problems when pulling the ash pan out, coals fell through the grate when removing the pan. When the empty pan went back in, the coals built up and the pan did not go in all the way causing a leak on the ash pan door. I did a thorough cleaning and I let the pan fill up and never empty it. I just scoop ashes as needed. If the ash door does not seal, air can enter and the fire can draw in that air causing the blast forge effect under the grate that causes grate failures and possible over fire situations.

The only chemical smell I can think of is smoldering pieces of wood that did not fully combust and burn. It can be pungent. Is it possible that a little smoke is rolling out on reloads? Keep us posted.

 

Here’s pics of a similar brick, could this be the culprit?

 

That looks like a patio paver to me. Not a fire brick. As for the smell of one when it's heated, not sure.

 

So if it's a paver brick and not a masonry brick, what can I do now? How do I get this smell out, or have I ruined the stove?

 

I would not think you ruined your stove. Take them out and get fire bricks. Menards, Tractor supply, Farm and fleet, any stove dealer should have them.

 

I took the brick out after 1 fire due to the smell. Several fires later, the smell is still there. I've had the chimney swept and I cleaned out all the ashes. Any other suggestions?