Salt in fire for creosete?

TSP not salt. Salt is corosive..

swestall said:

TSP not salt. Salt is corosive..

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ditto that!!

I have heard of people putting laundry detergent in the fire to do the same thing...

BG is right on here. I only brought up TSP because salt is a no no. But, burning good wood in a good stove with secondary burn is the best way to avoid creosote. And, getting to know your stove so you can make sure you don't burn with smoke being emitted (creosote factory) is what you need to do.
After you have a couple of seasons under your belt with the stove and understand how it operates you will be able to minimize buildup.
And, if you check the flue every couple of months, you will gain a feeling for how much you are emitting and how you need to clean.
Most of the "old" advice on TSP and other cleaners applies more to fireplaces and Classics than to today's efficient stoves.

I have heard the tale of puting rock salt in a hot fire to lessen the creosote buildup in your flue and I also heard that it is a definitel,NO,NO. As stated, it is extremely corrosive.
I have also heard of throwing potato peels in a hot fire. I never got a official ruling on this method of creosote control.
There is a product that comes in spray bottles or by the gallon container, its called Ant-Creo-Soot. or ACS for short. It was recomended by several chimney sweeps to me and I used it and it seem to be very effective with very little effort. You can either spary it on your burning fire or on the insides of the firebox or you can soak a piece of wood in the liquid if you by it by the gallon.
It seems to turn the creosote into a harmless ash type material.
It is sold at most hearth supply shops.
You still should check your chimney often and never fore go a good brushing if build up is present. Nothing is a good substatue for inspection and brushing.

it should be pointed out folks that "creosote removers" or similar products should not replace inspection and proper cleaning of flues. ya still gotta look down the pipe occasionally and you should still sweep the flue accordingly. "even though you change your oil every 3K miles, you still should pull the dipstick every once in a while"

Beyond being corrosive, burning salt is toxic - I am not a chemist but believe it converts to chlorine or similar on burning which is why burning sea soaked drft wood is not a great idea.

stoveguy2esw said:

it should be pointed out folks that "creosote removers" or similar products should not replace inspection and proper cleaning of flues. ya still gotta look down the pipe occasionally and you should still sweep the flue accordingly. "even though you change your oil every 3K miles, you still should pull the dipstick every once in a while"

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I totally agree 100%. These products aid in easier brushing of the flue. They dry out the shinny, tary, crostote and make it flakey, loose material, that I believe is less flamable. But it still has to be brushed off the sides of the flue and vacumed out of the ash pit where it collects when it falls or is brushed off the sides of the flue liner.
The best item that cleans a flue the most efficently, is on good, hot , chimney fire. When the fire dept. puts it out, (and if your house is still standing),I will guarantee one clean flue. But I pray to God, no one out there is ever unfortunate enough to experience one.

FJLayes625 said:

what is tsp? how are the logs that you buy for the creosete? or is there anything else besides using the brushes?

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Yes there is something else.

1. Burn only well seasoned wood and know what seasoned wood is.

2. Burn hot fires as much as possible.

3. Don't believe everything you hear. Case in point is the salt idea. Do some research before you do something you might be sorry for.

4. Look inside your chimney 2 or 3 times during every burning season. Clean if necessary. Most cleaning will be at the very top of the chimney and the cap.

5. Do the above and you won't have to be so concerned about a creosote problem. Checking it often will give you peach of mind too.

6. Good luck as a new wood burner. Do things right and enjoy both the heat and the lower heating bills.

Since salt (sodium chloride) is corrosive why would your recommend TSP(Trisodium phosphate?

Agreed with burning dry wood hot.

[Since salt (sodium chloride) is corrosive why would your recommend TSP(Trisodium phosphate?

TSP is not a chloride and the chloride is the problem.

Also note: Adding any such products to a fire in a catalytic stove is probably a bad idea....you can damage or destroy the efficacy of the catalytic element.