Wispy white smoke?

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kayakkeith

kayakkeith

Member
Sep 20, 2010
211
West Virginia
So I have a Keystone and notice every once in awhile when cat is engaged I see some wispy white smoke coming out of chimney . Most times I don't see any smoke. Now I am getting a new cat sent to me as I just found some deteriation in mine. They are sending me a new ss cat for free as my old one was ceramic . It's about 3 years old.

So is the smoke normal - I seem to remember that it is but that's why I am asking
 
Is it smoke, or steam? White wisps that fairly quickly disperse are most likely steam.
 
Hogwildz said:
Is it smoke, or steam? White wisps that fairly quickly disperse are most likely steam.
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That's a good ? You know I am not sure
The chimney is fairly high but Ill have to look , like I said it doesn't happen all the time but noticed it here and there
What's the difference if its steam or smoke? Is one worse then the other?
 
Steam is a by-product of combustion. A little is going to be apparent, especially when it's cold and dry outside. No harm at all. Smoke means you are not burning cleanly. This means possible creosote depositing and annoyed neighbors.
 
kayakkeith said:
That's a good ? You know I am not sure
The chimney is fairly high but Ill have to look , like I said it doesn't happen all the time but noticed it here and there
What's the difference if its steam or smoke? Is one worse then the other?
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Sounds like it is just steam It will disappear very quick if it is steam.
 
Pretty common to see it this time of the year. If you really want to check, stand outside for a while and see if it disappears shortly after leaving the chimney or can you see the smoke for a long distance. Chances are, it is only a very short distance you see it. No problem.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Pretty common to see it this time of the year. If you really want to check, stand outside for a while and see if it disappears shortly after leaving the chimney or can you see the smoke for a long distance. Chances are, it is only a very short distance you see it. No problem.
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Yep really cold and dry day 20 degrees and snowing fluffy powdery stuff
Yea when I do see it it does disappear real fast- it doesn't flow like the smoke that comes out of chimney when you are starting a new batch of wood before you engage the cat- that is always white and travels a little way before it disappears.
Like I said this seems to be more of some white whispy stuff so I guess it is steam like

Thanks as always
 
Sounds like you have it right Keith.
 
kayakkeith said:
Yep really cold and dry day 20 degrees and snowing fluffy powdery stuff​
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Lucky. That darn mountain hogs all the snow:mad: Guaranteed there will be blowing and drifting snow
 
I am get snow
 
kayakkeith said:
I see some wispy white smoke coming out of chimney .​
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When the temps are in the single digits to teens and the stove is cruising along at 750, I get a ton of steam pouring out of the chimney.
 
So the question is, did they ask for the old cat back? If not, bonus, you'll have an extra cat when yours does actually start to fail a few years down the road.

I mistook some 'smoke' that I saw coming out a few weeks back, when I watched it I noticed it was much more transparent and didn't last much beyond 2 feet after it left the chimney. The stove was running quite hot then so I bet I just had a split that wasn't fully seasoned, it was also bitterly cold outside and extremely dry. (-10F or so outside)
 
Not steam but water vapour or condensate. Steam like most gasses is invisible.
 
Even dry wood Has water i it..A fresh load of cold wood will produce some steam.
 
HaTaX said:
So the question is, did they ask for the old cat back? If not, bonus, you'll have an extra cat when yours does actually start to fail a few years down the road.

I mistook some 'smoke' that I saw coming out a few weeks back, when I watched it I noticed it was much more transparent and didn't last much beyond 2 feet after it left the chimney. The stove was running quite hot then so I bet I just had a split that wasn't fully seasoned, it was also bitterly cold outside and extremely dry. (-10F or so outside)
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No - I just sent them a pic to see what they thought and they said they would send me one for free
 
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