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Russian meteorite found!!!

Post in 'Classic Wood Stove Forums Pre-EPA (prior to 1988)' started by jwalter04, Feb 26, 2013.

  1. jwalter04 Member

    joined: Mar 16, 2012
    9 posts
    Connecticut
    Not really, however suddenly the other night my Fisher insert stopped drawing and began burping smoke into the house. After work today I busted out the chimney brush and found this stuff clogging up the pipe going up through the flu. Kinda reminds me of those snake things you light and they smoke and grow from when I was a kid. Any thoughts?
    image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
    jwalter04, Feb 26, 2013
    #1

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  2. Scotty Overkill firewood hoarder

    joined: Sep 24, 2011
    6,848 posts
    central PA
    You've got some serious issues there. That's creosote, and that's bad to find it in a clump like that. Are you burning dry wood?
    Scotty Overkill, Feb 26, 2013
    #2

  3. jwalter04 Member

    joined: Mar 16, 2012
    9 posts
    Connecticut
    The wood is pretty well seasoned. Most of it at least a year or more. We do use the stove to heat the house and there has been a fire going in it since October. Odd thing is the rest of the chimney was relatively clean. Just the stovepipe was all clogged up.
    jwalter04, Feb 26, 2013
    #3

  4. Scotty Overkill firewood hoarder

    joined: Sep 24, 2011
    6,848 posts
    central PA
    Could be a bad airleak somewhere in there, do you choke the stove way down at night?
    Scotty Overkill, Feb 26, 2013
    #4

  5. jwalter04 Member

    joined: Mar 16, 2012
    9 posts
    Connecticut
    I wouldn't say way down. I would admit the connection between the stove collar and the pipe is not airtight by any stretch of the imagination.
    jwalter04, Feb 26, 2013
    #5

  6. Dave USCG Member

    joined: Nov 14, 2012
    217 posts
    Cape May, NJ
    WTH...:eek: Call Ghost busters..... scary, do they move when you poke it?
    Dave USCG, Feb 26, 2013
    #6
    Scotty Overkill likes this.

  7. Dave USCG Member

    joined: Nov 14, 2012
    217 posts
    Cape May, NJ
    Hey, I don't mean to spook you but I think you may have some issues, If that is creosote and fires off, it could be a very BAD thing!!!.... Just some friendly advise.
    Dave USCG, Feb 26, 2013
    #7
    Scotty Overkill likes this.

  8. infinitymike Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 23, 2011
    1,263 posts
    Long Island, NY
    Take that outside and light it up with a propane torch.
    Take a video and post it because its gonna be cool.
    But definitely not cool if that happens in the house.
    infinitymike, Feb 26, 2013
    #8

  9. tbuff Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 7, 2007
    382 posts
    Central NJ
    Wow, be careful... How often do you clean your chimney?
    tbuff, Feb 26, 2013
    #9

  10. gzecc Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 24, 2008
    2,855 posts
    NNJ
    If your burning oak, a year is no way near enough.
    gzecc, Feb 26, 2013
    #10
    Scotty Overkill likes this.

  11. pen Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2007
    6,076 posts
    N.E. Penna
    Looks a bit puffed up to me, as in what happens to creosote after there was a flue fire that you probably weren't aware of.

    Time to reconsider the standard operating procedure.

    pen
    pen, Feb 26, 2013
    #11
    Jags and Scotty Overkill like this.

  12. fossil Super Moderator

    joined: Sep 30, 2007
    9,160 posts
    Bend, Oregon
    Huh? Isn't that an oxymoron? :rolleyes:
    fossil, Feb 26, 2013
    #12
    PapaDave likes this.

  13. Dave USCG Member

    joined: Nov 14, 2012
    217 posts
    Cape May, NJ
    Yes I suppose! Thanks for clearing that up!
    Dave USCG, Feb 27, 2013
    #13
    Scotty Overkill likes this.

  14. Motor7 Burning Hunk

    joined: Nov 10, 2009
    205 posts
    East TN.
    You really need to consider sweeping at a minimum mid season....once a year ain't going to cut it. I'm not caught up on wood yet so I am burning standing dead...some is dry some not so much. I swept in early Jan and found nothing scary & will sweep again in March..
    Motor7, Feb 27, 2013
    #14

  15. pen Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2007
    6,076 posts
    N.E. Penna
    Exactly, even in a system that has never had a problem, a monthly inspection at least is recommended.

    I check mine monthly and clean every other month, whether it needs it or not. Never know what the stove could accidentally get turned into a light bulb.

    pen
    pen, Feb 27, 2013
    #15

  16. Motor7 Burning Hunk

    joined: Nov 10, 2009
    205 posts
    East TN.
    That's a good idea because once you see this stuff burning at 2,000+ degrees it has a tendency to imprint and give you a healthy respect. When it gets going it will melt right through metal kinda like the slobber from Sigourney Weavers Alien.
    Motor7, Feb 27, 2013
    #16
    infinitymike likes this.

  17. coaly Fisher Moderator

    joined: Dec 22, 2007
    1,028 posts
    NE PA
    Your first post mentions a "pipe going up through the flu" which would be a chimney liner. Next post calls it a stovepipe, which is not normally used on an Insert.... Unless you have an exceptionally high hearth allowing you to reach in and connect a pipe between Insert top and flue bottom. There should be a boot mounted on the Insert top allowing connection of pipe. Unless the Insert is being used as a freestanding stove ?? Perhaps you mean a flexible liner that is connected to the Insert and extends the entire chimney height? If no liner, what is the chimney flue shape and diameter?
    Sealing the air leak into flue forces all incoming air through the stove where it is put to use. When fired hard, this air leak can allow oxygen in where temperature is high enough for secondary combustion of smoke particles in the chimney, igniting any deposits there. (hence deposits below the air leak, clean chimney above the air leak) It is imperative for the chimney to draw ALL air through the Insert.
    coaly, Feb 27, 2013
    #17

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