Looks like the time might be right

I think it was Tony who asked to see what our chimney was like. My wife is the one who usually checks but today I took the cap off the tee and took a picture up the chimney. Here is what I found:



By my feelings, it is time to clean. Sure, we could get by longer but not gain anything. So I think maybe tomorrow I'll run a brush up there. Notice there is not black creosote and we like that as that brown stuff is simple soot and a bit of fly ash.

For those who don't know, the horizontal section comes out the rear of the stove into about a 2' run. That has a bit over 1/2" rise per foot of horizonal into the tee. Then it is up about 12'. Short? Yes, by all accounts it should now work but it does.

We put the new chimney up in 2007 when we installed the Fireview. We did clean the chimney after the 2009 burning season (about a cup of soot) so what you see is 3 more burning seasons with no cleaning.

Wow. I have chimney envy.

Thats great, You can tell by the pic not a trace of creosote. What stack temp do ya average with that Fire View cat? I know your wood is A-1 seasoned !

Nice.

Yup, me too.

You better hurry up and sweep that thing, I'm sending some cold weather your way.

I have'nt swept my chimney in 3 yrs,its always clean.

Dennis can have the cold,....just send the Princess to me.

Maybe next year.

Well, unless the new BK mid/large would work here.
Otherwise, it'll be the 30.

Dennis,
The results from your burning high quality fuel in a high quality stove speaks for itself. I hope to get similar results with my new installation, but I am sure that there is a learning curve with every stove and install. Having only made the first payment on the Fireview, I still have plenty of time to read, listen and learn while my stacks age.
Take care,
Tim

Dennis:

It was me that asked what your chimney is like - I forgot about that!

I think someone neglected to teach your stove about the principles of thermodynamics. No stove run as often as yours should have a chimney that looks like that especially with only a 12 foot rise! Absolutely amazing - it HAS to be that Dennis wood! but only a 12 foot rise??? Totally amazing!

Earlier today I looked and with stove top at 550 the flue was 320. That's about where it will run in winter months. We do get the flue a bit higher on reloads before engaging the cat and turning the draft down but the flue temp comes down quite fast.

We are well prepared. I even put the windshield on the atv today.

Tim, you are absolutely correct that there is a learning curve with this stove as there is for others. The really good news is that the learning curve is very short and you have folks here willing to help you get over that curve quickly.

Thanks Tony and don't forget that pictures is after 3 full years of burning. For the benefit of those who are not aware, we heat 100% with the Fireview. Also, we had cleaned the chimney after 2 winters of burning only to get about a cup of soot from the cleaning. We do get some fly ash on the cat which we brush off with an old paint brush and also when we remove the cap on the tee a little bit of ash will fall down. But the really nice part is there is not black creosote! A testament to both the stove and the fuel.

That's about what mine looked like after 2 seasons. My sweep said I should wait at least three years next time. Gotta love well seasoned wood and a clean burning stove.

That sounds good Steve especially knowing you burn mostly oak.

Actually I haven't burned any Oak yet in the Fireview. So far its been Black Locust, Cherry, Ash, and one or two of the Maple varieties. The oak will be ready this year and I am really looking forward to it. I burned a few pieces last spring so I know its ready now.

Sounds good Steve. We've burned some oak but not a lot. Probably will burn more this year....depending upon the winter we have. Won't burn it unless it gets really cold.

Oak is pretty much all I've got for this year.

That's it! I am dropping my flue by 24 feet, buying a new stove, filling my entire 1.5 acres with wood for the next 6 years......that photo is just awesome!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. My flue looks just like that........for the first couple fires after I clean it.

Yep, right at the top and cap.