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[MiHawkeye]

I work in an ER in Michigan and just took care of a family of 4 who were lighting their stove for the first time after having it installed this summer.  Dad, mom, and 2 teenagers couldn't get the thing started, saying they were using paper and wood just like their campfires.  So they thought it would be a good idea for a small amount of gasoline...  That worked out well.  The dad was half bald from being flashed burnt on his head, mom now has short hair from the same thing, one of the teenagers had a sprained ankle from jumping back and falling over a piece of wood, and the other one had a cut on his head  because he was laughing so hard and his brother hit him in the head with a stick.  People like this keep me in business.

[andyhowardcity]

Have you posted anything about your experience with your Heiss heater?

[MiHawkeye]

Andy,  was actually just about to.  Check the main board here in about 15 minutes.

[CountryBoyJohn]

Well, I figure this is a good place to tell on myself.  I had a little mishap last night.  I'm still not exactly sure the order of events, but I will do my best to summarize.  I went out, opened the door and shifted around the coals and remaining pieces of wood, as per normal.  I threw in 2 pieces of wood toward the back.  It started to smoke a bit, so I turned on the fan by adjusting the thermostat to call for heat.  Again, as per normal.  So, the fan kicked on, changed the smoldering into a fire on the remaining wood, and the thick smoke thinned out, as per normal. 

Now, this is where things get fuzzy.  I think, for some reason, I closed the door.  I'm really not sure why I did that, but I think at that point, the fire extinguished, even though the fan was still going.  A few seconds later, I hear a WOOSH, and flames came out of the chimney!  I was a little startled as a 10' flame erupted and continued to burn out the top of the chimney.  See attached picture.  But, that wasn't the bad part.  What I didn't know, was that the WOOSH had re-extinguished the fire.  The flame was just the creasote burning off the chimney.  So, I turned off the fan and went to open the door.  When I opened the door, I saw how pitch black it was inside.  At this point, the exact course of events is a little fuzzy.  I didn't black out, but the adrenaline dump must have erased my memory.  I remember seeing how black it was inside, I remember thinking "not good," then I remember the biggest WOOSH and fireball I have ever seen!  It was so strong that the water gauge right next to the chimney was sucked out of the stand pipe and fell to the ground! 

Somehow, with the fan, the smoldering, the wood gases, the fire going "out" and the door opening had created the perfect storm for a massive backdraft!  I think I lucked out.  No singed hair, no stove damage, no fan damage.  A new pair of underwear and I was good to go!

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[Roger2561]

CountryBoyJohn - That flame shooting out of the stack is most impressive.  You gotta watch for low flying birds, though.  And, a spare set of underwear is also very important.  Roger

[stratton]

Glad to hear your o.k.