Napolean Fire Place

[dtsinc]

Anyone install fireplaces or familur with the Napolean brand? I bough a Napolean fire place about 3-4 years ago and had Winnipeg Chimney install it during construction of my new house. My problem is I have to burn with my doors slightly open. I blamed this on wet wood the first season but now into my 3rd burning season it still is the same. Seems like it is not getting enough air. Anyone know how to test if it is being restricted or any ideas to what I should do. I have a damper at the bottom left side that is always left fully open. I have attached a picture. Thanks

[Reefer]

First ensure that your wood is seasoned. Do you have a damper lever inside the fireplace that opens a damper in your chimney? These are sometimes connected by a chain, and dissconnect. You should check to make sure it is fully open along with your front dampers. Even if your front dampers are open the upper damper will snuff out your fire. The chimney needs stack action to work so if it's too cold it may take awhile. Try starting a paper/branch paper to heat the chimney first.

[dtsinc]

Originally Posted by Reefer

First ensure that your wood is seasoned. Do you have a damper lever inside the fireplace that opens a damper in your chimney? These are sometimes connected by a chain, and dissconnect. You should check to make sure it is fully open along with your front dampers. Even if your front dampers are open the upper damper will snuff out your fire. The chimney needs stack action to work so if it's too cold it may take awhile. Try starting a paper/branch paper to heat the chimney first.

No damper on my chimney, just on my fresh air intake. I'm going to crawl behind it tomrrow to have a look at it. I think my fresh air is about a 4" duct and about 15' long, my chimney I belive is 7" and about 20', not sure if that makes a difference.

[Jimbob]

Yeah, I would double check the air intake system. 20 feet of 7" chimney should give you lots of draft.
Do you have to burn with the doors open for the whole fire, or just when getting started?

Also, check with this forum:
http://www.hearth.com/talk/forums/th...-fireplaces.6/

They are as hardcore about fireplaces as Trackshare is about ATV-ing.

[Redcrew71]

how tall is your chimney coming out of your roof? you might be experiencing a downdraft partial because of the design of the roof a large tree near you, etc. My folks had a slightly similar problem with their wood burning stove. He added another 3ft or 4ft section to the chimney and it smartened up.

[dtsinc]

Originally Posted by Jimbob

Yeah, I would double check the air intake system. 20 feet of 7" chimney should give you lots of draft.
Do you have to burn with the doors open for the whole fire, or just when getting started?

Also, check with this forum:
http://www.hearth.com/talk/forums/th...-fireplaces.6/

They are as hardcore about fireplaces as Trackshare is about ATV-ing.

To keep the fire going and the glass clear I usually have to burn with the doors slightly cracked. As soon as the doors are sealed the fire will slow down, wood does not burn completely and glass will smoke up.

[Jimbob]

I would double-check the air intake.

There is plenty of debate on whether outside air supplies work better or not:
http://woodheat.org/the-outdoor-air-myth-exposed.html

[dtsinc]

Originally Posted by Redcrew71

how tall is your chimney coming out of your roof? you might be experiencing a downdraft partial because of the design of the roof a large tree near you, etc. My folks had a slightly similar problem with their wood burning stove. He added another 3ft or 4ft section to the chimney and it smartened up.

I have an A frame style house and my roof pitch is almost 12/12. I have a box on the roof top which is about 2-3 feet high to allow the chimney to make an offset to clear a beam. The chimney finishes about 1-2 feet above it.

[Falconatv]

It is usually a draft issue with the chimney rather than the fresh air intake, try opening a window near the unit if this makes a difference it is an air pressure issue.
I am currently installing the same unit for a customer It will be fired up soon so I will be able to see how it burns.

[Redcrew71]

Originally Posted by dtsinc

I have an A frame style house and my roof pitch is almost 12/12. I have a box on the roof top which is about 2-3 feet high to allow the chimney to make an offset to clear a beam. The chimney finishes about 1-2 feet above it.

your chimney is only 1 or 2 feet above your roof? is the top above your peak of your roof? if not possibly that is part of your problem.

your burn will obviously slow down when you close the door then you close off the damper to get a nice slow burn. if you cant keep a burn without opening up your door then you have a damper or fresh air problem. Opening a window near by is not the solution. something is blocking the air or you have a downdraft problem that the fire cannot go up.

[dtsinc]

Originally Posted by Redcrew71

your chimney is only 1 or 2 feet above your roof? is the top above your peak of your roof? if not possibly that is part of your problem.

your burn will obviously slow down when you close the door then you close off the damper to get a nice slow burn. if you cant keep a burn without opening up your door then you have a damper or fresh air problem. Opening a window near by is not the solution. something is blocking the air or you have a downdraft problem that the fire cannot go up.

Chimney would be about 3 ft above roof. I have attached a sketch. Do you still think that is too close to the rooftop?

[Redcrew71]

ic...proly not...but if all else is okay..then might be.

is your chimney fresh air on exterior and exhaust down the centre?

[dtsinc]

Originally Posted by Redcrew71

ic...proly not...but if all else is okay..then might be.

is your chimney fresh air on exterior and exhaust down the centre?

no I have a separate fresh air duct.

[dtsinc]

Originally Posted by Falconatv

It is usually a draft issue with the chimney rather than the fresh air intake, try opening a window near the unit if this makes a difference it is an air pressure issue.
I am currently installing the same unit for a customer It will be fired up soon so I will be able to see how it burns.

what model #?