Stove top temp VS stove pipe temp

I started a smallish fire this AM. Used a bunch of kindling, mainly 2" stuff and added a small-medium split about 1 1/2 x 6. I let the fire get going, then as always shut the air supply down. Not allot of wood/fuel to begin with. Just wanted to take the chill off, and did

Now the stove top thermo reads about 650, and the thermo on the stove pipe (+,- 18 inches above top of stove) reads 225-250. I'm wondering about creosote build up, with the pipe temp so low. However, as the stove/fire box temps are still high, I would think that the gases/debris that turn into creosote would be pretty well burned off, before they get a chance to enter the pipe.

Question is.... will this type of burn cause or encourage, or lead to creosote build up? Both thermo's are Condars.

fyi..... Stove is a PE Alderlea, pipe is about 20 feet straight up through the roof.

Whatch'a think??

Highbeam said:

Is this a probe thermometer on the flue? If so, you are doing exactly what you shoudln't be doing. Sending cold flue gasses up your flue. The normal range on that condar should indicate a temp of 400-900 or so right? With below 400 being the creosote forming range. regardless of stove top temp, the water is being burnt off of your wood and will condense in the flue if you keep it too cold.

I'm a new probe meter owner and this is the exact reason I bought a probe meter.

If you are reading surface temps with a mag meter on the flue then everything is different.

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Yup, it is a magnetic thermometer on the pipe. Initially when I shut down the air supply the thermo on the pipe was at around 525-550 and stove top was about 700-750*. Small fire... the fuel consisted of 7-8 good sized kindling with 1 split about 2 x 6 on top. Fire had been going for quite a while and had burned down allot when I posted. But when I did post, stove temps were 650ish, and pipe was about 225-250.

I like the idea of a probe thermo. When I get the pipe hot enough the magnetic thermo will loose its grip and actually slide down the pipe. Any advice on what brand of probe, or where to look for one?? Thanks!!

madison - Pipe coming off the stove is single wall. There is a bit of a gap between the body of the thermometer and the pipe, as the magnet protrudes out from the body of the thermometer, maybe 1/16 in. or so. Of course the gap increases due to the shape, or circumference of the pipe itself. I doubt of these types of thermometers are really accurate to begin with. Then throw in a gap here or there, and consider location of the thermo, God only knows what yer gonna come up with LOL

Highbeam - Thanks for the info on the probe type. I'll check out the source / site you mentioned, as I would like to pick one up. Might pick up a hand held infa-red (spelling??) as well. That would be nice to have for the stove and I could also put it to good use monitoring oil temps of my boat engine

Thanks for the input and info everyone. It's much appreciated.

Thanks BeGreen!! What type/brand of probe thermometer are you using??

For the record.... When I had the chimney cleaned after the last burn season the sweep got about 1/2 to 3/4 of a small coffee can of crap out of the chimney. So I'm confident that the way I'm burning or should I say the way the T6 is burning, all is well. I just wanna keep it that way ;-)

BeGreen said:

Condar.

Click to expand...

Thanks again...