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Fischer grandpa unused rear outlet smokes

Discussion in 'Non-EPA Woodstoves and Fireplaces' started by Alv, Oct 28, 2019.

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  1. Alv

    Alv

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    Hello, my mobile home came with a Fischer grandpa (not sure what year model. Mobile from the 70's).
    It has 2 outlets and the top one is being used.
    The rear one has a flipping cover.
    Smoke cones out of it when damper is closed
    Can I seal the rear outlet? What is it used for?
    Thanks,
    Alvin
     
    Alv, Oct 28, 2019
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  2. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    That cover is for if you need a rear outlet to hook the chimney up...you move the cover up top then.
    If it is smoking out the cover it sounds to me like you are closing the (pipe?) damper too far...close it down until smoke comes out, then open it back up just a smidge. Should take care of the issue.
    Oh, and welcome to FHC too! :tip:
     
    brenndatomu, Oct 28, 2019
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  3. Alv

    Alv

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    Thanks, brenndatomu.
    I am used to dampen fully to save on wood. Why not seal the rear outlet?
    I forgot to mention, outlet pipe has been cleaned.
     
    Alv, Oct 28, 2019
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  4. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    You could seal it if you want...I would say a tube of furnace cement is the right product to use...should be available wherever you buy stove supplies
     
    brenndatomu, Oct 28, 2019
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  5. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    I guess I first suggested opening the damper a bit more because if you don't have enough draft to keep the smoke in the firebox, you don't have enough draft to make a clean burning fire...which means a bunch of stinky ole smoke for the neighbors, and a fire hazard for a chimney...
     
    brenndatomu, Oct 28, 2019
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  6. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Nice to meet you Alv :)

    Glad to hear your pipe has been swept, you never know if the previous owners burned unseasoned wood and if there's a ton of creosote up there waiting to catch fire and burn your new home down. Yes, we inherited a VERY bad chimney when we bought this place :hair:. No chimney fire and "professionally swept" but the next summer when we redid things we found huge chunks of it choking the air flow just waiting to catch fire. (except it was a chimney, not pipes), we got lucky. The other stove in the new home below though is pipe like yours too.

    Try using the air control knobs on the front doors to control the fire (open all the way unscrewed for rip roaring heat, or closed down, screw down almost all the way or totally for low fire so your wood doesn't burn so fast), and the damper only as needed when it's windy. The damper won't help save wood like the knobs up front will do, and like brenndatomu mentioned, if a damper is closed too far it will stop the draft so the smoke stops going up the chimney and sits in your stove. I ran a stove like a Fischer for a couple decades without a damper, moved here and made the same mistake when we moved here and I finally had a damper. Ick, smoked out the house quickly.
     
    wildwest, Oct 28, 2019
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  7. Alv

    Alv

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    Thanks for the input.
    I burn one oak log for the night, with inlets 1/2 a turn left from closed.
    With dumper not horizontal, the log does not last till morning.
    So no one uses damper completely horizontally?
     
    Alv, Oct 28, 2019
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  8. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Alv, I just posted this on another thread for more input. I could tell you how I ran our stove, but I only had damper for a couple years and live in an extreme wind area. Hang tight :)

    WeldrDave Reddingnative Coaly FatBoy85
     
    wildwest, Oct 28, 2019
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  9. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Depends on your chimney...if you have a real tall high draft chimney, on a real cold windy night, yes you can probably close it...but otherwise...very possible that damper straight up is too much.
    As Wildwest said, the fire should be controlled with the front knobs, control draft with the pipe damper...if you have smoke coming out then it is closed a bit too far.
    I'm surprised you can run on one Oak log all night...sounds like it is smoldering rather than burning.
     
    brenndatomu, Oct 28, 2019
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  10. Alv

    Alv

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    Pipe is not long - low mobile home ceiling, and about 3' above roof.
    I have used it so for a decade.
    Only last winter we started noticing smoke, and this season it got worst, till with a flashlight I saw smoke out rear outlet.
    I sealed it temporarily this evening with aluminum foil and damper is at 45°.
    I'll check in morning if log still has embers.
     
    Alv, Oct 29, 2019
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  11. Alv

    Alv

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    Thanks for responses.
    Keeping damper 3/4 open works to minimize smoke in house.
    There are enough embers in the morning to continue the fire during the day.
    Issue solved.
     
    Alv, Nov 2, 2019
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  12. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    :yes:
     
    wildwest, Nov 2, 2019
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  13. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Perfect!
    :fire:
    By the way...you may need to tweak that adjustment as the outdoor temps drop/winter sets in...colder temps mean you can probably close the damper a bit more...you'll figure it out over time. :yes:
     
    brenndatomu, Nov 2, 2019
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