When I sweep my chimney the soot is a dark brown color but today I had some real fine black soot, what would have caused that? I am burning seasoned oak.
Chimney swept and different color soot?
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Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
The dark brown is soot and the black is creosote. So long as you only get a little you are okay but it does bear watching.
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Yes but is not bad. Could be if you let it go though as in time it will plug the chimney. If only a tiny amount though I would not be too concerned yet. Just keep an eye on it.
Black or brown either one if fine and powdery is Stage 1 creosote. Color is influenced by what you burn just as much as how you burn. If it is the same fine powdery consistency as it always has been it is nothing to worry about as long as it isn't a thick accumulation.
BrotherBart said:
Cheers, what is the color we should be aiming for? Is black soot worse than dark brown soot?
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Once again, yes but not so bad in small quantities. Even in our chimney. My wife still has to check the chimney every so often. We used to have to clean our chimney 4 times per year or more until we got the Woodstock stove. Now we're into our 5th burning season and have cleaned only once. But, she took the cap off the bottom to look up the chimney just a week ago. On that cap was just some fine black stuff. The rest of the chimney is clean. We've cleaned that chimney one time since installing the Fireview. So we do not worry about that tiny bit at all. If you get a lot, then worry.
" Is black soot worse than dark brown soot?"
Nope. Same stuff. Even glazed stage 3 creosote, the really nasty tar stuff, can be either black or brown.
I kinda cringe when people post that they had soot but no creosote when they cleaned their chimney. It is all creosote.
Stage one is fine black or brown powder known also know as soot.
Stage two is usually black and is the flaky crispy stuff.
Stage three is the sticky tar or hard glazed variety. Tar usually brownish and glaze usually black.
Nope. Same stuff. Even glazed stage 3 creosote, the really nasty tar stuff, can be either black or brown.
I kinda cringe when people post that they had soot but no creosote when they cleaned their chimney. It is all creosote.
Stage one is fine black or brown powder known also know as soot.
Stage two is usually black and is the flaky crispy stuff.
Stage three is the sticky tar or hard glazed variety. Tar usually brownish and glaze usually black.
I got about a quarter of a bucket full this morning after 3 months of burning, I have a flexible liner in my chimney and only burn small hot fires and my wood reads below 20% so I cannot understand it.
BrotherBart said:
Chimney is about 22 foot and lined, only a small metal bucket that would hold a couple of gallons, had another look and it was about a quarter full so not a great deal of soot but a bit worrying as have never had much soot when I have swept before, it could be that I have been burning smaller fires as it has been so mild in the UK and with the door being opened more often to throw on a couple of splits the chimney keeps cooling down.
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