I have an older Century FW24007 wood burner with a new 6" stainless chimney that is straight (no bends) 24 ft long. I have only used it a handful of times since the new chimney pipe install a few months ago until last week when I have been using every day with the colder temperatures. I noticed it was getting harder and harder to get a good draft and it was getting hard to reach the 800-1000F flue temp during the first burn of the day. Yesterday I noticed a lot of back draft and with the wood burner door open it would smoke profusely from the pipe joints. I figured there was a restriction at the cap since it was such a low time of use. I climbed up the roof today in 16 inches of snow to find the spark arrestor was almost plugged solid with a dark dry ashy substance. What could have caused that with only a total of a month's worth of use on a new chimney? The wood I burn is very dry, aged 5 plus years in a covered woodshed. It tests at an average 5-7% moisture content with some pieces reading 2% or less. Its mostly a mixture of oak and ash with a few pieces of dry pine mixed in. I reduce the draft at night to try to slow the burn and prolong the fire but I try my best to keep it with a flame and not smoldering.
I had added the spark arrestor to the cap to keep birds out etc. should I just leave it off?
Thank you.
I had added the spark arrestor to the cap to keep birds out etc. should I just leave it off?
Thank you.