FAQ - Stove Troubleshooting

Poor Draught Coming from the Chimney

Cause: The draft in the chimney is not strong enough to carry the smoke up and out effectively. A standard chimney draw should be between 12-15 Pascals. When the draught is weak, it can lead to backdrafts, causing smoke to spill into the room. Over time, poor draught can also result in the buildup of tar and creosote inside the stove and chimney.

Solution: Ensure the chimney has a proper draw, and if the draught is weak, consider installing a chimney booster or ensuring the chimney is clear of obstructions.

Flue Height

Cause: The flue must extend at least 4.5 meters from the top of the stove to ensure adequate airflow. If the chimney is too short or excessively tall, it may not create the necessary pressure difference, leading to inadequate smoke evacuation. Extreme weather conditions, such as wind or cold, can further complicate the situation, causing a "cold chimney" effect where the warm air inside the stove struggles to rise.

Solution: Check that the flue height complies with regulations and adjust the chimney height if needed. Ensure the chimney is not too tall, particularly in cases of bungalow houses where wind factors may affect airflow.

Ventilation

Cause: Insufficient ventilation in the room can lead to negative air pressure, which affects the stove's ability to draw in air for combustion. This can cause smoke to spill back into the room when refuelling.

Solution: Make sure the room has adequate ventilation, either through an air vent or by ensuring that the room is not sealed too tightly, which can restrict airflow.

Fuel Type

Cause: Burning fuel with a high moisture content, such as wet wood or turf, can cause incomplete combustion and excessive smoke. Wet fuel can also clog the flue and reduce the stove's efficiency.

Solution: Always use dry, seasoned wood or the appropriate fuel for your stove. Avoid burning wet or high-moisture content materials.

By addressing these factors, you can significantly reduce or eliminate smoke spillage when refuelling your stove.

This could be down to a low flue draught, in which case you need to speak to your installer. This could also be caused by the wood being used within the stove. A moisture content of over 20% could cause this problem as you are burning off the moisture and thus not producing any heat.

If you're using more fuel than expected, it could be due to numerous conditions with your stove.

• Check the seals and rope on your stove to prevent excess draught into your stove.
• Check if your baffle plate is positioned correctly to prevent excess draught into your stove.
• Check that your chimney cowl is positioned correctly and not causing excess draught inside the chimney.
• Burn the correct fuel with moisture level approx. 15%. Burning overly dry wood, such as construction timber or pallet wood, which burns too hot and inefficiently.

If problems persist, it’s recommended to consult your installer to have the flue draught properly measured.

Some of the newly Designed Eco Stoves do not shut down fully to allow for optimal combustion. If there is persistent problems;

• Check the seals and rope on your stove to prevent excess draught into your stove.
• Fire cement – check if new fire cement is required.
• Check if your baffle plate is positioned correctly to prevent excess draught into your stove.
• Check that your chimney cowl is positioned correctly and not causing excess draught inside the chimney.
• Check if the Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Air Vents are not sticking and working sufficiently.

If problems persist, it’s recommended to consult your installer.

If your grate has burnt out and is crumbling, it’s usually caused by over-firing the stove or burning petroleum-based products. Over-firing occurs when the stove is run at excessive temperatures for prolonged periods, which can damage the grate. Additionally, burning inappropriate fuels, like those with petroleum content, can contribute to this issue.

We recommend checking the type of fuel you’re using to ensure it’s suitable for your stove, and avoiding anything other than approved solid fuels or wood. If you're still having issues, it may be worth having the stove inspected by a professional.

Make sure you're not using water-based cleaning products, as these can affect the paint finish. If the peeling is minor, you can lightly rub down the stove and then re-spray it with stove-specific paint to restore the appearance.

If your stove glass has cracked, there are a few common reasons:

• Excessive tightening of glass clips/screws: If the glass breaks near where a clip or screw is located, it's likely that the clip has been tightened too much. Glass needs space to expand and contract, so clips should only be finger-tight to avoid pressure on the glass.
• Wet logs: Burning wet logs can cause steam to build up on the glass, which can potentially crack it.
• Improper handling: Using a badly aimed poker or slamming the doors can also lead to cracks in the glass.
• Impact or Physical Damage: Direct impact or physical stress on the glass, such as banging pots and pans against it or dropping heavy objects on it, can cause fractures and breakage.
• Old Age: Over time, the repeated heating and cooling cycles that stove glass undergoes can weaken the material, making it more prone to breakage, especially if it’s not heat-treated or tempered.
• Excessive Heat: Operating the stove at temperatures beyond its design limits or exceeding the recommended maximum temperature.
• Improper Cleaning: Using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals on the glass surface during cleaning can scratch or weaken the glass, making it more susceptible to breakage.

It's important to note that the glass itself won’t crack from heat alone. If you need to replace the glass, be sure to purchase a new gasket at the same time. Additionally, periodically check that the glass clips and screws haven’t become loose to prevent any damage.

If your stove is giving off a smell, there are three main areas to check:

• Flue Leaks: If the flue isn’t sealed properly, smoke may leak into the room when the stove is in use. This is usually linked to poor flue draught and should be noticeable when the stove is firing. If you see smoke coming out of the flue, it's important to have it sealed correctly.
• Paint Curing: A common cause of smells is the curing process of the stove’s paint. This is particularly noticeable when the stove is new. To solve this, it's recommended to do several small burns, followed by a final large burn. This final burn should be a hard firing with a large fuel load to bring the stove to a high temperature quickly. Your installation engineer should provide guidance on this after the stove is installed.
• Environmental Factors: Sometimes, the smell may come from materials close to the stove, such as paint or building materials. If it’s paint causing the smell, you might notice a haze coming from the stove's surface when it heats up. In such cases, an installation engineer can help determine whether the smell is due to the stove's paint curing or other materials in the environment.

If you're unsure about the source of the smell, it's best to have your stove checked by a professional installer to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

It’s not uncommon to discover cracks in the fire bricks of multi-fuel stoves or wood burners, and are often a natural result of the high temperatures that stoves endure. With the right care, fire bricks can still function well even after cracking.

Temperature Fluctuations

Cause: Fire bricks are subjected to repeated cycles of heating and cooling. This constant expansion and contraction over time can weaken the material, eventually leading to cracks.

Solution: It's important to be aware that some degree of wear and tear is natural. Regularly checking the condition of your bricks will help you stay on top of any issues before they worsen.

Heavy-Handed Fuel Loading

Cause: Throwing logs or being too rough when adding fuel can also cause cracks. The impact from logs hitting the fire bricks can result in cracks over time.

Solution: To minimize this, avoid throwing logs into the stove. Instead, use a stove glove to handle the logs gently. This will prevent unnecessary impact on the bricks and ensure they last longer.

Gentle Fuel Loading

Prevention: Always load fuel gently into your stove. A stove glove is a great tool to help you do this safely and without damaging the fire bricks. By avoiding throwing logs into the stove, you can prevent the bricks from cracking due to impact.

Repairing the Cracks

If you notice hairline cracks, you can repair them yourself with fire cement. Here's how:

Step 1: Clean the crack

Once the stove has fully cooled, clean the crack by removing any soot or debris from the surrounding area.

Step 2: Apply fire cement

Use a small amount of fire cement to fill the crack, making sure to remove any excess from the surrounding bricks to ensure a neat repair.

Step 3: Gradual Heating

After applying the fire cement, gradually increase the stove's temperature. Start with low heat and slowly build up to higher temperatures over a period of three to four hours.

Step 4: Cooling Down

Allow the fire bricks to cool completely before using the stove again.

Repeat if Necessary: If the cracks are still visible after the first treatment, repeat the process until they are no longer visible.

If you've noticed cloudy or speckled glass on your stove, it's likely a result of sulphur in the fuel you're burning.

Incorrect Fuel Type

Cause: Using the wrong fuel, particularly fuels high in sulphur, can result in cloudy or speckled glass. When the stove is lit, a small amount of water condensation forms on the glass. If the fuel contains sulphur, it mixes with this moisture, forming sulphuric acid, which then settles on the glass. The acid is corrosive and creates speckles. As the stove heats up, the moisture evaporates, leaving behind a white residue that gets trapped in the speckles, resulting in cloudiness.

Result: This cloudiness is permanent and cannot be removed.

Slumber Burning

Cause: Slumber burning occurs when the stove is allowed to burn at a very low heat for extended periods. In this mode, the vents are closed, causing the fire to burn slowly, and excess condensation builds up inside the stove. This condensation reacts with the sulphur released from the fuel, contributing to the formation of sulphuric acid and further clouding the glass.

Prevention and Treatment

Use the Correct Fuel

Recommendation: Always use fuels recommended by the manufacturer, which are outlined in your stove’s user manual. Using fuels that are not suitable for your stove can lead to sulphuric acid build up and cloudy glass.

Avoid: Do not burn fuels containing petroleum coke (pet coke) or bituminous coal, as these can release high amounts of sulphur, which contributes to the problem.

Avoid Slumber Burning

Recommendation: To prevent excess condensation and sulphuric acid build up, avoid slumber burning. When starting your stove:

• Let it reach the desired temperature and burn hot for at least 30 minutes.
• Once the stove is sufficiently warmed up, you can slow down the fire by adjusting the air vents to control the airflow.

End of Use: When the fire is dying down, open all the vents to let the fire burn out quickly, preventing excess moisture and condensation from building up inside.

Regular Glass Cleaning

Recommendation: Regularly clean the stove glass to reduce the build-up of sulphuric acid and residue. Cleaning the glass every day helps to maintain a clearer view and prevent long-term build up.

Tip: Use a wet cloth or a specialized stove glass cleaner to wipe down the glass, making sure to remove any soot, ash, or residue that has accumulated.

Rust forming on the exterior of a stove is not something that can be caused from the stove’s functioning itself. There are only 2 possible reasons for rust to form on the exterior of the stove:

1. Water falling down from the chimney or flue pipe – which then settles on top of the stove. If left unchecked this will lead to spots of rust forming.
2. Wiping the exterior of the stove with a wet cloth – without drying the exterior, the water residue can settle and lead to rust formation over time.

In the event of the door glass being broken it can easily be replaced using the following procedure:

1. Ensure the appliance is cold.
2. *Optional (can be done without taking door off as some stove doors are difficult to remove) -Unscrew the hinges / loosen the bolts and lift the door off the appliance and lay onto a flat surface with the rear face upwards (*This is optional and can be done without taking the door off the stove)
3. Carefully remove the old rope gasket and old adhesive
4. Take note of the layout of the rope seal. Ensure no traces of the old adhesive or rust / flaky paint is present, as this will result in an unsound joint.
5. Apply the rope adhesive following the instructions on the bottle
6. Press the rope gasketing into the channel on the rear door casting, following the same layout as the old rope seal.
7. Just before the final end, cut the rope seal to length and glue into position.
8. Allow at least 30 minutes before refitting the door to the appliance.

1. Damaged or Worn Gaskets

Issue: Worn or damaged gaskets on the stove door can lead to air leaks, affecting combustion.

Solution: Replace any damaged or worn gaskets to ensure a tight seal and prevent air leaks.

2. Incorrect Installation

Issue: If the stove is not installed correctly, the seal from the collar of the stove to the pipework must be inspected to ensure that there are no gaps to draw in more air.

Solution: Ensure that the pipework, or flexi-liner, is completely sealed with fire cement during the fitting phase.

3. Chimney Draw

When you open the vents in the stove, the fire should rise. Similarly once the vents are closed the fire should close down. This is a sign that the stove is working correctly.

Issue: Unfortunately, not all chimneys are the same. The strength of the draw in the chimney may affect the performance of the stove. Some chimney’s draw may be stronger than others. If there is a particularly strong draw, you will loose heat.

4. Primary Air Controls

The primary air control levers must be in working order to ensure proper output. These must not be loose, rigid or worn due to wear and tear.

Cold Chimney

Issue: A cold chimney can reverse the draft, pushing smoke back into the room, especially on cold days or with external twin-wall chimneys.

Solution: Use plenty of kindling and leave the door slightly open while starting the fire.

Pipework

Issue: A stove pipe longer than 150mm before a 45-degree bend causes soot buildup and risks carbon monoxide poisoning.

Solution: Ensure the pipe length is under 150mm before installing a 45-degree bend.

Flue Height

Issue: A flue under 4.5 meters may not provide sufficient draw, especially in extreme weather or with a very tall chimney.

Solution: Ensure the flue height meets regulations to maintain proper draw.

Correct Fuel

Issue: Burning wet or incorrect fuel increases smoke.

Solution: Use wood with 20% moisture content or less.

Blocked Chimney

Issue: A blocked chimney can cause smoke issues and chimney fires.

Solution: Sweep the chimney at least once a year.

Ventilation Problems

Issue: Insufficient ventilation affects airflow and combustion.

Solution: Ensure proper ventilation and check that vents aren’t blocked.

Downdraft

Issue: Downdrafts prevent proper smoke ventilation, often due to wind or damaged chimney components.

Solution: Install a chimney fan or inspect and repair the chimney for damage. Also, use high-quality firewood for better combustion.

Improper Fuel

Issue: Wet or unseasoned wood reduces combustion and heat output.

Solution: Use only well-seasoned, dry wood with low moisture content.

Room Size

Issue: The stove’s output must match the room size.

Solution: Ensure proper stove sizing during installation.

Damaged or Worn Gaskets

Issue: Air leaks from worn gaskets affect combustion.

Solution: Replace gaskets and perform a door seal test.

Incorrect Installation

Issue: Poor installation can lead to air leaks in the stove pipe.

Solution: Ensure proper sealing with fire cement during installation.

Insufficient Insulation

Issue: Lack of insulation leads to heat loss.

Solution: Improve insulation, especially around stoves installed in existing fireplaces.

Chimney Draw

Issue: A strong or weak chimney draw can affect stove performance.

Solution: Ensure a draw of 12-15 Pascals for optimal performance.