How to Check a Wood Pellet Stove for Gasket Seal Leaks

Why Does the Pellet Stove Smell Like Smoke?

Pellet stove maintenance and regular cleaning keeps the stoves efficient, safe, and clean. One question to ask yourself is when should I check the pellet stove gasket for leaks. Some people may not know that a pellet stove gasket is actually a rope gasket that fits around the door to keep the seal tight, the air in, and your home warm.

The pellet stove gasket gives off a smokey smell when your stove has a seal leak. A new pellet stove may have a "burn off" smell that goes away once it is broken in. A stove will usually give off a smoke smell the first time it is fired up for the burn season, but that smokey smell is normal. A smoke smell that gets worse over time and does not go away with different wood pellets indicates a seal leak.

Check a Wood Pellet Stove for Seal Leaks - Visual Inspection

A visual inspection of the rope gasket is an easy and important part of pellet stove maintenance.

The first step is to check out the rope gaskets. The pellet stove gasket is a white rope that forms a seal around the door and the ash basin door. Gaskets will wear out, crack, and loosen over time with normal use of the pellet stove.

Check out the pellet stove seals on the door and the ash door (if there is one). Look at the width of the rope gasket. The rope gasket should be full enough to make a tight seal when the door shuts. A good rule of thumb is to make sure there are approximately 3 centimeters of rope rather than a flattened gasket.

After looking checking the gaskets around the ash bin door and the main wood pellet stove door, check the gasket seal.

How to Check or Test Pellet Stove Gasket Door Seal with a Piece of Paper:

1. Get out a piece of paper to check the wood pellet stove gasket seal.

2. Open the pellet stove door.

3. Close the paper in the pellet stove door.

4. Hold the paper with one hand. Shut the door on the paper and then try to pull it up and out. If the pellet stove's gasket seal is good then the paper will not come out. If the gasket/seal is thinning and not tight the paper will come out of the closed door.

The paper should not come out. If it does then the pellet stove probably needs to have the rope gasket replaced. Make sure to use a piece of paper that is long enough to test the gasket.

5. Move along all of the openings around both the main wood stove door and the ash bin door repeating the same close, pull, open actions to test the wood stove seal. If the paper stays in place then the gasket is good. If the paper comes out then the rope gasket should be replaced. Pellet stove rope gasket and glue can be purchased at Ace Hardware and other retailers.

6. Repeat this process when needed in order to keep the stoves in good working order.

Wood Pellet Stove Safety Tips

One danger posed by pellet stoves is the carbon monoxide the pellets give off when they are burning.  Pellet stoves require proper exhaust venting to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  These are a few safety tips for using wood pellet stoves:

• Always use a carbon monoxide detector when burning a wood pellet stove.
• Get out of the house immediately if you suspect a carbon monoxide leak.  Carbon monoxide is an extremely dangerous (and deadly) gas that is odorless and colorless.  People die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, particularly because it cannot be detected without a CO2 detector, so the deadly gas renders people unconscious and can be fatal.
• Place a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of the wood pellet stove.
• Clean the pellet stove chimney and exhaust pipes in the late fall when it's time to prepare for winter.  
• Hire a or hire a professional to perform pellet stove maintenance when necessary.

Write and Educate About Addiction Without Triggering Cravings in an Addict

Drug addiction is programmed into the brain. When a drug addict sees something that reminds them of using it creates a very powerful physical urge, or craving. Psychology 101 teaches students about Pavlov's Theory of Classic Conditioning.  Feed a dog at the same time a bell rings.  The dog's mouth waters because it sees food.  It hears the bell, too.  After awhile the dog will also salivate only when it hears the bell ring because the bell is associated with food.  That explains triggers and drug cravings.

Drug Images

Do not post pictures of the drug or alcohol. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes people make when writing about addiction drug recovery. The drug addict already knows what the drug looks like and showing him or her a big pile of it doesn't help.

Television advertisements tap into us mentally and earn millions of dollars.  A beer commercial can sometimes drive me insane because it makes me crave alcohol so badly.  Triggers and drug cravings are usually worse in early recovery. Addicts are taught to avoid triggers and throw away reminders.  The drugs and the brain remember just fine. Do you really want to post a picture of a crack rock at the top of on an article about cocaine detox?  No.  Most likely the picture is a turn off and people wont even read your information.

Drug Paraphernalia Images and Pictures

Do not use pictures of drug paraphernalia. A syringe picture teaches nothing about addiction. The image triggers cravings in some addicts. It also repulses people. Most people judge addicts by the way they use drugs and IV use tends to take the cake on extremes. Do not use pictures for a shock reaction because they will usually have the wrong effect.

Think about your favorite food or your favorite activity.  Let's say you love to golf. Does a golf club (the paraphernalia) make you wish you were golfing? Do you feel a tinge of excitement and desire to play?  If so, you were just triggered.

Routine is part of addiction. Alcoholics and addicts have a routine that involves paraphernalia. It's hard to quit smoking cigarettes because of the hand to mouth fixation and routine. Phones calls are hard to make without craving a cigarette.

Remember Pavlov. The theory of classical conditioning found that if a person rings a bell then feeds a dog eventually the dog will salivate when it hears the bell. This simple conditioning happens fast. It may take years before an alcoholic can hear the crack of a soda can without their mouth watering with the expectation of a cold beer.

The conditioning that happens inside the brain is spot on. Triggers and drug cravings can overwhelm a person and lead to relapse. Never underestimate how strong these urges can be in a recovering addict.

Use Realistic Examples

Fear tactics don't work well. It's not easy to scare people into recovery. Addicts know fear. Addiction is not logical therefore logic cannot fight addiction.

Narcotics Anonymous and drug rehab centers try to use fear to prevent relapse. Sometimes fear is a great motivator. A person may stay clean from crystal meth because they are afraid to have another psychotic episode. This fear is great when people quit meth and still hear voices or hallucinate.

People in recovery are triggered all the time. The longer a person used the more everyday things are intertwined in their addiction.

Simple objects become giant triggers to get high.  Addicts in recovery must resist the urges and fight biological cues every day.

Define the Audience

Refer to these steps when writing about relapse. Are you helping or triggering an addict?  Does what I'm writing educate? Am I sensationalizing? If you're writing to help parents identify black tar heroin then a picture is justified. Write for the target audience.

Bruxism - How to Stop Grinding Teeth and Clenching Jaw

Do You Clench Your Jaw and Grind Your Teeth?

Bruxism is a dental problem characterized by grinding the teeth and clenching of the jaw. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching often occur during sleep although some people clench their jaws during the day. Many people grind their teeth at night and are completely unaware but have side effects like headaches, an aching jaw, and even cracked and sensitive teeth. Bruxism can start in childhood and continue throughout a person's life.

If you don't learn to stop grinding teeth then you could end up in a financial bind. Insurance companies may refuse certain dental procedures like crowns if Bruxism is the cause.  Dental insurance should focus on fixing teeth instead of finding reasons not to pay. Why are our teeth viewed separately?  Dental health is imperative to overall health but we have a horrible dental health system.

Things You Will Need:

• Mouth guard
• Dentist or medical doctor
• Relaxation techniques

Step 1 - Do You Grind Your Teeth

Yes. You wake up with a tired, sore jaw, headache, and have sensitive teeth. Someone told you that you grind your teeth at night. Some people grind their teeth so loudly it can be heard across a room. Listening to someone clench their jaw and grind their teeth is worse than someone snoring. Signs of teeth grinding include cuts on the cheek and tongue from chewing at night, worn down areas on the teeth, sore jaw muscles and/or face pain, headaches, and ear pain.

The signs of your grinding can be helpful in your prevention. If you often wake up with marks inside your cheek on the left side it is likely you are clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth while asleep. The solution may be changing the way you sleep (new pillow).

Step 2 - Ask a Dentist How to Stop Grinding Teeth

See a doctor or dentist to stop grinding teeth. Depending on your financial situation and insurance coverage it may be hard to see a dentist. You need your overall oral health checked. Look for lose or chipped teeth.  Bruxism damages stable teeth and can impair alignment of your teeth.  Sometimes misaligned teeth can cause people to clench or grind. Follow the dental treatment plan.

Tell a doctor if muscle tension is a problem. Massage the jaw muscles to relieve tension. Ask your doctor about trigger points.  Some people have an ongoing problem with muscle spasms and may need medication. 

Step 3 - Reduce Stress

Implement stress reduction activities into your life. Although teeth grinding is usually unconscious it is associated with stress, especially true of people who clench their jaws. Seek counseling or therapy if you have anxiety, depression, or trouble managing stress.  Counseling just might be the key to help you quit grinding your teeth when you sleep.   Stress relief and learning to cope with unresolved baggage helps the body heal and recover faster. 

Some people try medications such as muscle relaxers. Try herbal supplements, calming teas, aromatherapy, or a hot bath with candles. Experiment. Figure out what works for you.

Step 4 - Get a Mouth Guard (Molded by the Dentist if possible)

There are several types of mouth guards. If you can get your dentist to make one this is the best option because he or she can take a mold of your teeth. A guard that fits your upper teeth is best and will stop your back teeth from touching without making your mouth feel too overcrowded. Many people use sports mouth guards but these are usually too big and also hard to mold. The right mouth guard prevents you from grinding your teeth.

Step 5 - Avoid Stimulants

Stimulants include coffee, soda, tea, chocolate, food/drink containing caffeine, cigarettes, and harder chemicals like methamphetamine or cocaine. Prescription medications can also cause Bruxism and dry mouth. Pay attention to your body. Do you feel anxious after eating certain foods?  What about what you drink? It is hard to stop grinding your teeth because it is an unconscious act.  Self-care behavior should help, but if not then return to the dentist or doctor to rule out underlying medical conditions.

General health is very important. Eat a healthy balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, get rest and use stress management tools in your life.

Step 6 - Keep a Journal

Documenting your experience in a journal helps identify patterns. When you catch yourself clenching your jaw during the day write it down. Write down the thought that started it and what you felt. Uncover the emotion that triggers daytime teeth grinding and clenching. Anger and anxiety are big causes.

Grinding can wear teeth down until they crack and break.  Once a tooth cracks it is a matter of time before it becomes a dental emergency.  If you are being treated for frequent headaches, migraines, or other ongoing pain conditions make sure to let the doctor know that grinding your teeth or clenching the jaw is an issue.

Check for medication interactions before starting a new prescription or using herbal supplements.