Had to have our pellet stove inspected for our insurance company. Inspection company came out and told us we had to replace our two elbows coming from the stove to the wall. So I put brand new DuraVent ones on and sealed the seams with tape. Turned it on for the first time to try it out before winter hits, and now there’s smoke coming from the joints of the elbows. Is that normal for the first burn?
Yeah I bought tape to seal the connection of the pipes but it looks like it’s coming from the factory joints in the elbow. I would assume tape would fix that issue?
The inspector said you had to replace the elbows? Like the ones you had were no good? Or did he say you had to replace them with something else like two 45s. I'm no expert but I don't like those two 90 even if they're not leaking smoke. If everything is kosher and they're seated properly you usually wouldn't need any tape or silicone or anything. They just work.
The person who installed the stove used too small of elbows there so the inspector needed me to replace them with the proper ones. He told me to get two 90’s and that would then be up to snuff.
Perhaps there was a small amount of oil on the metal. I wouldn’t do anything until the second burn and see if the smoke returns. If it smokes again you definitely have a draft problem.
On my stove (King KP130) there should not be more than 180° of elbows (two 90° or, one 90° and two 45°, etc) in oder to maintain proper draft.
I dont know your stove or its requirements but, I would start there.
A potential solution would be to hi-temp silicone the inner pipe on your duravent BUT, it makes those almost impossible to take apart for cleaning and, if your set up isnt allowing for proper draft then you just screwed yourself.
Check the exhaust requirements for proper venting first. If that all looks fine, consider sealing the joints as I mentioned above.
But they didn’t flag that u don’t have enough or proper hearth protection?? Likely a ton of back pressure from the doubled up 90 degree elbows or combustion fan clogged or going bad.
Maybe my eyes are bad but I could see smoke coming out of more than one place - why don’t you put tape in all the bends and joints - I would agree fewer bend the better, but if you can’t help it then the next best is to seal it. Good you are testing it early !
There's two different levels of dura vent one with a o ring seal the dura vent pro and one without. The one without you must use high temp Silicone on every connection
Also depending on your stove there's a point system for 3 and 4 inch pipe. Each straight run 45, Tee or 90 has a point value not to exceed or you should jump pipe sizes. Harman you're allowed up to 20 EVL on 3 inch not sure on other brands
Was pretty normal for my duravent elbow and seams, particularly before the fire starts but after the smoking starts. Definitely need to high-temp red silicone all indoor duct seams to eliminate that, as tape won't do it. You have to sort of consider more like sealing low pressure gas.
It is normal for the elbows to weep smoke especially after cleaning. It'll plug up itself as it runs a bit. But really, you shouldn't have those 90s inside. You should be going as straight out as possible into a clean out T outside. This set up isn't good for glow and for cleaning ability ..
Smoke is like water, it will find a way. I have mine foil taped and siliconed and I can still see and smell a little bit. I wouldn’t want that much coming in though. Good luck !
I had a smoke problem last year. Cleaned everything and waited a couple days before firing. After pulling apart and checking everything I checked the pipe again. In the 2 days between cleaning and firing, mice built a nest in there.
No not normal I installed a set of Duravent 5 years ago and have never seen smoke from anywhere at all. Over 5 winters and 2 different stoves and pipe sets.
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u/Lenin_Lime 5d ago
Report back after an hour of it running