Smoking stove!

[SquidgyMaltLoaf]

We have a multifuel stove and I've just noticed that we get the occasional puff of smoke out into the room. We have the chimney swept last year and hardly used it until about a month ago (when we worked out how to use it properly..!). Does this mean it needs sweeping again?

Also the back of it seems to be cracked with pieces kind of jigsawed together. Is this normal or something to worry about?!

Are you using wet wood, unsuitable fuel (house coal), opening the air vents properly?

Agh is there unsuitable fuel? What type of coal should we be using?

It needs to be smokeless. If you use bog standard house coal - intended for open fires - you will get smoke (we did it once by mistake!).

I think in the early stages of a wood fire, you do get this sometimes.

When you light it with the kindling, make sure the chimney is drawing really well before you add logs (you may need a bit more kindling). There can be a bit of a temperature differential as the fire warms up that leads to a very small amount of smoke coming out.

Ah thank you - will try smokeless!

Squidgy' can you post a photo of the cracked back please?

Normal house coal in a stove can be really dangerous. There was something in the paper last year about a blokes stove exploding and putting him in hospital due to him using house coal.

I think I'd contact a local stove seller and show them the photos. I'd also get the sweep to take a look (you don't want a chimney fire). I think I'd buy a carbon monoxide alarm if you don't have one in the interim (just to cover all bases).

Do you regularly get the smoke or is it a recent thing? We usually have an excellent draw, but we have to try extra hard to get the fire to take if it is a cold, misty day.