Expert: James Ball - 5/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: we recently installed a napoleon 1400. seems like no matter what we do the house gets real smokey. otherwise i love how well it heats the house 3000sq.

ANSWER: Hello Eve, if it smokes when you open the door or it is coming down another flue then the problem is Negative Pressure, in your home (house stack effect) that is hot air rising in your home (and getting out through the attic vents, doors, lights, another fireplace (is it closed?)) your house is a better chimney than your chimney. Also kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans, clothes dryers, Radon systems and the boiler/furnace all take house air out of the house (mechanical negative pressure) your house needs make up air, perhaps an open window in the basement? Or stop the air from getting out the attic and other area’s.
Trail and error until you get this unit to work for you, maybe close off the room from the rest of the house to use it (close doors)
Or it could be dirty? 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.
James


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 5year old mobile home.  we have an outside air kit on the stove and pulls air from under the home. there are no bends in the chiminey and the stove is 6 months old. is it possible that the flu needs cleaning already?

Answer
Welcome back Eve, how much wood has been burned? 1/2 to 1 cord of wood or more then yes it might need a cleaning, the chimney might not be tall enough, there are special building codes for wood stove/fireplace installations in mobil homes, did the installer pull a permit? if not you should have the local building inspector check this install, and a certified sweep take a look.
hope this helped
James