We dont use ours often either but if we see evidence of a fire we use it always. But really we usually only use our cam about once a month.
My neighbor saw flames coming out of my chimney...
- Thread starter Poindexter
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
- Status
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I did my own camera inspection once, using handheld cam and a pruning pole set. Worked very well.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
That number will be influenced by several variables. Draft, type of thermometer (length of probe), air movement if there is a bimetallic spring, moisture content of fuel, single wall or double wall and how far above the flue collar?
But, a range of 250F- 500F has been verified in our lab.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
Hey guys, I met a dude that built an adapter for his cell phone and used it to check his pipe. It was pretty clever and he was going to take it to the market...should have got his card.
I hear tell you can also use the ferret to clean your chimney as well.
Yes - but the stove must be below 200F but above 100F to be effective.
Diabel
Minister of Fire
Thank you.
Again, I don't have a BK stove but get similar readings.
I am sure, there are many, many wood burners out there that had small chimney fires and did not even knew about it.
BKVP
Minister of Fire
Hell the ferret might eat the chimney, stove and all! I'll stick to using my badger!
craigbaill
New Member
I can see it now...the great " My ferret chimney cleaner is better than your badger chimney cleaner" debate. let the 1000 plus post thread begin!!
I like badgers for cleaning best...
MishMouse
Minister of Fire
Once in a while about 2x so far in about 5 years especially if I am burning any pine when temps are well below zero, the stuff on the cap catches maybe that is what the guy saw? Chimney perfectly clean, but stuff does get caught in the cap and a ember could light it off.
As for stuff in the pipe at last cleaning (last week) after a years worth of burning I had about 4-6oz worth of stuff in the chimney.
As for stuff in the pipe at last cleaning (last week) after a years worth of burning I had about 4-6oz worth of stuff in the chimney.
maple1
Minister of Fire
Just noticed this thread, couple points.
550f measured with a magnetic guage on double wall pipe is WAY hot. When my internal pipe temp is 200c, the magnetic guage beside it reads 100c. That is on single wall.
If you really want to know if you just had a chimney fire, look inside it with a good light. If it is shiney clean, chances are you did. Might be able to look from top or bottom.
That roof looks like its pretty safe for getting on. Unless it's steel. Then no way, for me at least.
550f measured with a magnetic guage on double wall pipe is WAY hot. When my internal pipe temp is 200c, the magnetic guage beside it reads 100c. That is on single wall.
If you really want to know if you just had a chimney fire, look inside it with a good light. If it is shiney clean, chances are you did. Might be able to look from top or bottom.
That roof looks like its pretty safe for getting on. Unless it's steel. Then no way, for me at least.
It is very reare that a fire burns a chimney clean i have only seen it twice so far out of many fire inspections.
I guess I get to wrap this one up. The consensus both here and at my local BK dealer was that I did have a small chimney fire.
Pretty evident there was maybe 1 tablespoon of shiny black creosote accumulated in the chimney from the last sweeping, but my kid found a way to light it on fire.
Indeed, as Diabel pointed out above if the neighbor hadn't come over to tell me about the flames I never would have known about it.
I called all the sweeps in town, the options were to go up on the roof myself, not run the stove at all in the coldest weather we have had this winter while waiting two weeks for a sweep, or gamble on burning the house down.
Thursday night I went to my local BK/Excell dealer to look at a new piece of chimney pipe on the show room floor and get their opinions. I also swept out my chimney as the stove was cold. I got out about 1/3 of the total ash I would have expected, and zero shiny black bits.
Tonight with a borrowed ladder I got up on my own roof. I did find an egg shaped plume of soot particles, about 18" in diameter around the flue and maybe 30-36" long in the undisturbed snow on my roof pointing downwind. My reporting neighbor and I have two story homes, the houses between us are one story. He has a pretty good view of my stack from his living room, and I have a pretty good view of his living room from my roof.
Careful inspection of the interior wall of the chimney with (very bright) 600 lumen flashlight showed me factory smooth metal with some crud on it.
I got off the roof without breaking anything, though coming down was way more exciting than going up, as expected. Got the stove fired up, and have decided to spring for a camera inspection this summer after the snow is melted off the roof.
Thanks for your input on this one, in general you guys and the pros at my local shop said the same thing. Probably fine, but if I wanted to be sure I needed to leave the stove cold until it was inspected. I wanted to be sure.
Also, my ICC Excell class A chimney is warrantied against damage from chimney fire as long as a I own the house. Knowing I get free pipe and only have to deal with install labor makes springing for a chimney-cam inspection every once in a while seem like good insurance. My local dealer agreed to stay late to exchange my pipe after hours tonight if I found any buckling, warping or damaged welds.
All's well that ends well. I wonder what kind of flue temp monitor performance I could get with duct tape and a wolverine...
Pretty evident there was maybe 1 tablespoon of shiny black creosote accumulated in the chimney from the last sweeping, but my kid found a way to light it on fire.
Indeed, as Diabel pointed out above if the neighbor hadn't come over to tell me about the flames I never would have known about it.
I called all the sweeps in town, the options were to go up on the roof myself, not run the stove at all in the coldest weather we have had this winter while waiting two weeks for a sweep, or gamble on burning the house down.
Thursday night I went to my local BK/Excell dealer to look at a new piece of chimney pipe on the show room floor and get their opinions. I also swept out my chimney as the stove was cold. I got out about 1/3 of the total ash I would have expected, and zero shiny black bits.
Tonight with a borrowed ladder I got up on my own roof. I did find an egg shaped plume of soot particles, about 18" in diameter around the flue and maybe 30-36" long in the undisturbed snow on my roof pointing downwind. My reporting neighbor and I have two story homes, the houses between us are one story. He has a pretty good view of my stack from his living room, and I have a pretty good view of his living room from my roof.
Careful inspection of the interior wall of the chimney with (very bright) 600 lumen flashlight showed me factory smooth metal with some crud on it.
I got off the roof without breaking anything, though coming down was way more exciting than going up, as expected. Got the stove fired up, and have decided to spring for a camera inspection this summer after the snow is melted off the roof.
Thanks for your input on this one, in general you guys and the pros at my local shop said the same thing. Probably fine, but if I wanted to be sure I needed to leave the stove cold until it was inspected. I wanted to be sure.
Also, my ICC Excell class A chimney is warrantied against damage from chimney fire as long as a I own the house. Knowing I get free pipe and only have to deal with install labor makes springing for a chimney-cam inspection every once in a while seem like good insurance. My local dealer agreed to stay late to exchange my pipe after hours tonight if I found any buckling, warping or damaged welds.
All's well that ends well. I wonder what kind of flue temp monitor performance I could get with duct tape and a wolverine...
- Status
Similar threads
