What are the signs of combustion air problems?
What are the signs of combustion air problems?
Expert
Maestro
Evidence of combustion air problems includes backdraft through the stove door and heavy creosote deposits.
Some wood stoves have a direct connection to the outdoors for combustion air. These stoves don't use house air, and don't compete with other house appliances for air.
Some air dampers on wood stoves are thermostatically controlled. When the thermostat calls for heat, more air is let into the stove. When the thermostat is satisfied, the damper allows less air in.
Backpuffing is not necessarily the result of poor combustion air supply. Backpuffing can occur when a slow smoldering fire is suddenly fed lots of air by opening the door. The fire can quickly develop and smoke may escape out through the door. As a precaution, open the air dampers before opening the door on a wood stove, if the system has been operating.
The definition of backpuffing offered by Wood, Energy & Technology Transfer Inc. is, The momentary emission of smoke through openings of an appliance when sufficient oxygen is admitted to an oxygen starved fire to initiate the sudden ignition of combustible gases and resultant sharp rise in the pressure within the appliance.
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