Soot or creosote? Also insulate or no?

[kingston73]

We had a flex liner installed last year and put about a cord or maybe a bit more through it last winter. I just had it cleaned today and they told me it had about a 1/2 inch of soot built up but no creosote. I always thought they were the same thing but this guy said they are different, so what is the difference?

Also, our liner isn't insulated and is about twelve feet tall (outside section is about six feet), would insulation help soot build up in a system this short?

 

[BrotherBart]

Soot is first stage creosote. At the second stage it gets gummy and at third stage it hardens into a glaze. Excess moisture allows the stages to progress.

 

[ScotO]

12 feet is kinda short, but any insulating you can do would probably help the situation. What would help more would be to know what kind of fuel you are using, how long do you season the wood, etc. Those factors do a lot more in determining why you are getting soot.

 

[corey21]

12 feet is kinda short, but any insulating you can do would probably help the situation. What would help more would be to know what kind of fuel you are using, how long do you season the wood, etc. Those factors do a lot more in determining why you are getting soot.

+1 sounds like the wood may have a lot to do with your soot problem.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Generally, white = fly ash. Brown = soot. Black = creosote.