Expert: James Ball - 10/24/2009

Question
My wood heater outside does not draw.  We have a 6" flu pipe that is about 2 feet above the house.  The heater will smoke out the door instead of going up the flu.  We have just put the flu on so it is not stopped up.  What do I need to look at?

Thank you and God bless  

Answer
Hello Deb, I think you are telling me you have a new wood stove and out side pipe going up past the roof 2'? and it smokes when you try to use it? sounds like Negative Pressure, 1st thing I would do is try running the stove with a door fully open if it works then the house needs make up air (10 gallons of air going up the chimney 10 gallons of air has to come from he house and exhaust fans, cloths dryers, boiler/furnaces', other fireplaces, even attic doors and fans can pull air out of the  house making it harder for the chimney to draw. you have to stop the air from getting out or give the house more make up air.
also 2' above the floor is not to code, check with your building department
I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have they should be able to help.
Hope this helps
James