How to Troubleshoot an Ashley Indoor Wood Stove

Remove any tree growth near the chimney, which may cause problems when you use the wood stove for the first time in the cold season. Branches and other obstructions, such as birds’ nests, from the summer months can cause a wood stove that was operating properly during the previous heating season to malfunction. Add a screen to the top of the chimney to prevent birds from building nests in it.

Seal up any holes or cracks in the chimney with duct tape or furnace cement.

Check the chimney height to ensure it is tall enough to allow an adequate draft for operating the wood stove. The minimum height is 3 feet. Verify that the flue diameter and the flue liner are both an acceptable size for the model of stove you own. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for your particular wood stove model.

Provide adequate air to your Ashley wood stove through the chimney. Increase the amount of air through the draft if the fire burns too low and decrease the air amount if the fire burns too hot.

Open a window slightly if your Ashley indoor wood stove smokes. A ventilation fan may be pulling too much available air out of the house, or the doors and windows may have insulating seals that don’t allow any fresh air into the home.

Examine the pipe joints on the stove as a source of possible smoke leakage. Seal the joints with duct tape if necessary.

Clean the ash pan regularly as this may cause the wood stove to smoke. Too much fresh wood at each refueling may cause the stove to create excess smoke as well.

Examine the firebox door seal for damage if you seem to be using a lot of wood. Replace the seal, following the manufacturer’s directions. Examine the latch as well to ensure it is closing properly.