Most Common Wood Stove Problems

A wood stove is a powerful and economical way to stay warm during chilly days and nights, but like any product, performance issues can arise. The good news is the issues aren't complicated and are easy to fix.

Here are the top issues to watch for when buying and maintaining a wood stove. Knowing these issues helps you diagnose them early so you can get that wood stove up and running quickly.  

A Poor Chimney

The secret to strong wood stove performance is the chimney. Buying a new stove means you can easily obtain the right chimney that works best for that product, but if you already own a home with a stove or are buying it second-hand, that stove may not necessarily have the right model or size chimney, which can lead to poor air draws and leaking smoke.

When analyzing your current chimney or purchasing a new one, confirm you have the right size and design recommended for the unit. Keep in mind that if a chimney isn't exactly the same as what would come with a new unit, it may be due to local rules limiting what you can and cannot use. Be sure to check with your local government agencies for recommended or required chimney designs in your area.

Cold Air and Odors

If you have a stove with a chimney attached to the outside of your house, cold air can seep into the chimney and create a reverse draft when the air in the home is warmer. The solution? Install your chimney so that it is inside the house rather than outside.

Creosote Buildup

Creosote is a highly flammable substance that looks and smells a bit like tar. It can build up inside your flue and easily ignite, causing a dangerous chimney fire.

Unfortunately, creosote buildup is common and unavoidable in wood fireplaces, but it can be minimized. The best ways to prevent creosote buildup are to avoid soft woods like pine or cedar and clean your chimney at least once a year. Creosote can also be reduced by limiting cold temperatures within the flue by insulating it. Be sure to also avoid using wet wood.

When creosote forms, you can clean your chimney in many ways. The method you choose will depend on the type of creosote buildup you have, such as solid or liquid creosote. Examples of some common solutions are specialized rotary cleaning devices for hard creosote or treating softer creosote using simple soap and water, creosote-busting fire logs, and chemical cleaners that come as powders or liquids.

Lack of Insulation

Using a wood stove means your flue will get extremely warm to the point where it heats up surrounding wood framing and chimney stones, making them dangerously hot. Insulating the flue helps reduce the heat transfer while also aiding with heat retention in the stove to reduce your heating costs.

Improper Use or Operation

While wood stoves are designed to be safe and efficient, they can pose a fire hazard if not used correctly. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when using wood stoves:

-Not using a stove pipe damper: A stove pipe damper helps regulate the amount of airflow to the fire and should always be used when burning a fire in a wood stove.

-Not using a chimney cap: A chimney cap helps keep sparks and embers from escaping from the top of the chimney and causing dangerous fires.

-Not opening the flue fully: Open your flue completely when starting a fire in a wood stove. Once the fire is going, you can close it down to the appropriate level you need.

-Putting too much wood in the stove: Overloading the wood stove with too much wood can cause the fire to smoke and may damage the stove.

Poor Maintenance

Like any stove, wood stoves need to be properly cleaned and maintained. Here are some common cleaning and maintenance problems that can arise:

-Not cleaning the stove regularly: You should empty ash and debris from your stove on a regular basis, and the firebox should be scrubbed clean of any soot or buildup.

-Not cleaning the chimney regularly: The chimney should be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis to remove any soot or creosote buildup.

-Using the wrong type of wood: Wet wood and softwoods like pine and cedar can create excessive smoke and creosote buildup. Dry hardwoods like oak and maple are the best types of wood to use in a wood stove.

Unsafe Installation

Unsafe installation is another common problem people have with wood stoves. Here are some of the most common installation problems that can lead to dangerous consequences.

-Not having the right chimney height: Wood stoves need to be vented through masonry or metal chimney that is at least three feet tall.

-Not having the right flue: Wood stoves should fit the flue properly and vent through a masonry double-walled or insulated chimney.

-Not having the right clearance: There should be at least three feet of clearance between the wood stove and any combustible materials unless the manufacturer has a lower listed clearance.

-Not having the correct air channeling: If the piping is angled at 90 degrees or has too many angles that restrict draw, you will have more creosote and inferior drafting capability.

-Not having the right type of floor pad: Wood stoves need to be placed on a non-combustible floor pad, such as concrete, stone or metal.

-Not having the right type of stove: Some stoves are not designed for use with wood and can be a fire hazard if used together. Always check the manufacturer's instructions to ensure your stove is compatible with wood.

-Not using a screen: A screen keeps sparks and embers from escaping out of the front of the wood stove. A screen should always be used when burning a fire with the doors open.

A Smokey or Underperforming Stove

When you open the front glass doors, you may experience insufficient heat or smoke leaking into the room. These issues are the result of constrained airflow from a clogged pipe or vent, or it can be the result of an incorrect piping angle. Be sure that the pipe is installed as vertically as possible and avoid any 90-degree angles.

Some other reasons for the smoke may be wet logs or installation issues such as a loose or cracked flue collar or connector pipe.

Paint Smell While Burning

If you have recently installed a new stove, you may smell paint during the first few burns - but don't worry; this is normal because the paint needs to cure. The smell should stop after a few days of use.

Dirty Glass

Even a well-installed system gets dirty over time. You can use chemical cleaners for it, but cleaning may also require some elbow grease. Regular cleaning will limit the buildup, making cleaning easier.

Dirty glass can be more frequent if your stove has no air wash system, has a loose or broken glass seal, or has a poor draft. And if it is too wet or too dry, the smoke and resulting particulates can dirty up your glass.

Low Air Intake

Wood stoves need oxygen to do their job right - but not too much. Leaving your glass door open will lower the performance of your stove.

To properly regulate your air intake, keep the door closed and make sure the air vents are open and remain unblocked. If you still experience issues, the issue may be the stove's draft performance related to the flue, in which case you should make any necessary adjustments or cleaning.

Spotting Issues Early Will Help

Stay mindful of the above issues to keep your stove in proper working order so you get the most out of your system for your dollar. Thankfully the work isn't very complicated. If you catch the issues early, you should be up and running again in no time.