Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers WITH EPA-Certified Models => Portage & Main => Topic started by: Mr. Maple on November 09, 2014, 03:49:46 PM
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.. Does anyone else that has one of the Ultimizer series have a lot of smoke wafting out of the stack and the door while loading? I realize the heat is not going straight up the chimney like it did with our old boiler, but it is quite hard to see to load the furnace with wood, smoke gets in your eyes etc, then when you close the door there is a tremendous amount of smoke pouring out of the stack, thought they were supposed to be practically smokeless? Wondering if maybe need a second length of stack to help with draught?
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I do get some smoke, but I try to only load for 12 hours and there usually isn't much wood left when I go to load the next time. Also see if you can catch it when the fan is on
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Sceptre is exactly right, if you are getting that much smoke, something is not right, what are you burning and how much are you loading, I PM'd you about 2 weeks ago, did you get my PM?
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Hi Slim, I am loading about 3 wheelbarrow loads to fill the furnace, to hold it for about 24 hours. I load it when it is down to a good bed of coals or a few sticks still burning, rake the base to make sure there is lots of airflow. After I load the first load into the furnace, when I return and open the door for the second and third loads, I wait about 10 seconds from the first catch, but there is still a lot of smoke to contend with, as well as a lot of smoke billowing out of the stack. I did receive your pm, tried to respond to it, wrote a long list of observations, questions problems etc, but I could not attach pictures to the email, my wife tried and deleted my reply to you in trying, so I have not gotten around to re writing you, probably took me 1/2 hour or more to write the letter in the first place!!
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It's definitely different than loading my old boiler. If the fan is on it throws sparks. If the fan is off it smokes. I would guess 1 heaping load would be better twice a day than 3 loads once. I'm slowly figuring mine out but I've only been running for 4 days. I try to catch mine with the fan off. I don't like hot sparks in my face. I crack the door, spark a lefty and sit for a few. Then load with a small flame instead of a roaring fire. May not work for everyone.
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You will burn much less wood if you load Only the amount needed until the next loading. 12 hour intervals is ideal.
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I don't get too much smoke while loading, I fill my hand cart with as much wood I need for a 12-16 hour burn & quickly toss it in. But if I decide to walk away to my wood stack (15 feet away) to grab 1 or 2 extra pieces to throw in, by the time I return, smoke is pouring out the loading door. I pretty much expect this with the low hanging baffle in the rear. :)
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Mr. Maple, I will PM you my Cell #, sometimes it's easier than typing, Merril, good talking to you last night, hey that comment about the lefty, of course you mean the sparks are coming from the left side of the door >:D
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Hi Slim, I am loading about 3 wheelbarrow loads to fill the furnace, to hold it for about 24 hours. I load it when it is down to a good bed of coals or a few sticks still burning, rake the base to make sure there is lots of airflow. After I load the first load into the furnace, when I return and open the door for the second and third loads, I wait about 10 seconds from the first catch, but there is still a lot of smoke to contend with, as well as a lot of smoke billowing out of the stack. I did receive your pm, tried to respond to it, wrote a long list of observations, questions problems etc, but I could not attach pictures to the email, my wife tried and deleted my reply to you in trying, so I have not gotten around to re writing you, probably took me 1/2 hour or more to write the letter in the first place!!
Try bringing all the wood needed for the load up to the stove before you open it. When you start to load the stove and the door is open, it will start to "burn" or smolder causing the smoke. When you close the door, that smoldering smoke builds and when you open the door for the 2nd and 3rd load, it pours out. Pile your wood needed for 1 load before you open, then toss everything in quickly.
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:post:
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I maybe wrong but here is what I do. I do not open the door unless the fan on the back is running blowing air into the firebox. If my water is 185 and the fan is off and I need to load due to leaving the house, I change my set point on my aquastat to 200 or so just to get the fan going. Wait a minute or two to clear the firebox of smoke and ignite the fire. Then I put my 3M filter mask on, with a pair of safety googles, my welding gloves and then open the door. No some and I can go to town moving the ashes around to get them to fall to the bottom of the ash drawer. Then I load the wood that is needed for the next interval and shut the door. I then go back and turn back down the aquastat to 190 and the fan will turn back off. I love wearing a breather and safety goggles, no smoke smell, or coughing etc..... the best one to use is this:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395637_200395637 (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395637_200395637) you will never smell a bit of smoke... I learned the hard way not using googles or mask. burning eyes, and burning lungs is not for me.
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One other hard lessoned learned as to why I make sure the fan is on. If you are lucky enough to go load the boiler soon after the fan has turned off, the fires is smoldering starved for oxygen but not yet out. I cracked the door paused for a few seconds then opened the door. Bammm, backdraft took place, as the oxygen poured into the firebox. The shed roof shook, fire poured out the front and I nearly lost my eye brows. Now, I do not open the door unless the fan is running.
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Thanks EE Farm Boy, great tips!
I'm going to get me the mask since I heat the smell and feel sick after. I'm thinking the long team effects cannot be good for you. I have also had the fire coming out of the front door, rather scary to say the least. I like that thought of turning up the set point to kick the fan on if you need to load, something I'll try.
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Avoid any risk of blow-back. I like my beard.
If I have to add some wood when the fan is off I always open the ash door first and watch to see the smoke start comming out the chimney, then I only open the door to the first latch position and wait, only then do I open it.
I do the same thing if the fan goes off while I am still loading, as I keep the door nearly closed when picking up some more wood to continue loading. I could be wrong but I feel that if I leave the door wide open then the smoke establishes the door as it's escape channel instead of the chimney. With the door closed the smoke follows the chimney pathway ( it stays full of hot rising air which helps draw up smoke when I re-open the door ) and so when I open the door again I get much less smoke while I toss in more wood. Also the area around the door stays clean. Maybe a poor explanation but it works for me. Of course if you have all the wood you need at the door, that's different.
Make sure you close the ash door though.
Another reason for the mask is when you cleaning the sides, creosote stuff is bad for your lungs I have been told by chimney sweeps.
Bob
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Thanks Pinehouse4, for that suggestion. I'll try that out for a few days. The only scary part, is to remember closing the ash door afterwards. Still definitely worth trying. Getting smoke into the eyes really smart. :'(
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Yes just try and work with that idea for a few days and tell us if it helps you.
At first the loading door gasket was too sturdy to stay close to being closed without latching it but now I can push it closed and almost no smoke leaks out. Then when I come back with the next armload, or a big block I can pull it open and load quickly. I think if all of that exhaust channel is hot and rising then that updraft must continue to draw some smoke up to take its place when the door is first opened, gives you a chance to load quickly then close again. :)
Hope this helps you out,
Bob
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My short experience matches those that already posted. I normally crank up the heat in my house and garage. By the time I get out to the boiler and get wood ready to load, the fan has kicked on. Find it to be the best time to load new wood and ensure ashes are cleaned out if stuck in corners and even out un-burnt wood and coals.
If I feel ambitious, I remove any ash using the tray. Amazed at how little ash is left to disposed of after a burn cycle.
Oh, don't forget to turn the heat down after loading wood. Embarassed to admit I have done this and had my house at 80 degrees while it was in the teens outside.