I use a high temperature chimney sealant every year because I have to take
my chimney apart from downstairs to clean the chimney (top too high to
reach).

Anyway each year when I burn my first few fires, this stuff burns off and
gives a nasty smell. Also smokes a bit. But after this it no longer smells.

I would suggest opening all your doors and windows, then letting the fire
burn at a higher temperature a few times. Then I bet the smell will go away.

(My stove also had a bad smell when new with the first few very hot fires.
Perhaps the paint?)


"HerHusband" wrote in message
We've had our woodstove for about four years now. Late last year, we
started noticing a "plastic" smell when we are using the woodstove. It
seems to be most noticeable when we have a hot fire going. If I damper
down
the fire, the smell goes away.

I assumed it was just the paint on the woodstove or chimney pipe, but the
smell never seems to burn off. And it's strong again the next time we use
the woodstove.

I've cleaned the chimney, vacuumed all dust on and around the stove,
cleaned the door, etc. I've checked the walls around the woodstove to make
sure it isn't coming from an external source, but they rarely even get
warm
to the touch.

We burn only clean dry wood (fir, pine, cedar, and alder mostly), NEVER
garbage or other material that might produce the smell. In fact, we rarely
even smell smoke unless I've opened the door to load wood or something.

Our wood stove (Lopi Patriot model) also gets it's combustion air from an
external source, not from the living space.

I've checked everything I can think of. What am I missing?

Thanks,

Anthony