Specifications

9
Problem Description Can Occur when.. Possible Solutions
The building is too tight A heating appliance needs
air for the combustion
process. If the building is
tight and the proper amount
of combustion air can not be
supplied, a smoking
replace or stove may be
the result. If opening a
window or door close to the
replace solves the
problem, an outside air
supply should be installed.
• The house is built too tight
to begin with.
• New and better
insulated windows have
been installed.
• The building has been
properly insulated.
• Install a properly sized
outside air intake ducted to
the bottom of the replace.
This must be relatively large
and should in most cases
exceed a 6 inch ID. Actual
size depends on the
replace opening. It could
be powered by a fan or
blower.
• Provide supply air to the
room in which the replace
is located.
• Install a mechanical
venting system, but make
sure air can be drawn into
the room in which the
replace is located, and it
does not adversely affect
the operation of other
heating appliances.
There are odors from the
heating appliance when not
used
Draft is highly dependant
on barometric pressure
and temperature. On a hot,
humid and rainy day there
is not much natural draft
in a chimney and the ow
may reverse causing it to
produce the odor. This is
more of an indoor air quality
problem than a draft
problem. The chimney may
work ne once a re is built
in the heating appliance.
• Have the chimney cleaned
thoroughly and make sure
all creosote has been
removed.
• Install a chimney cap
• Install a tight tting
chimney top mounted
damper
• Install a tight tting set of
glass doors
• Install a mechanical draft
system
2.1.3 Problems associated with the building/house
In the past, heating engineers often used high indoor
pressure to keep cold air from inltrating. When
houses were leaky (before energy awareness), it was
thought better to force warm air out through cracks
to prevent cold air from inltrating. In current homes
and buildings, pressurized conditioned air is being
pushed through walls and ceilings. If the pressurized
air is moist – which it often is – water is being pushed
into the walls where it will soak the insulation. This
can lead to mold, mildew or rot.