dsp210 said:
I am running flue temps the same as previous years somewhere between 350 and 550 on the pie that is getting creosote buildup. I store all of my wood in the garage
I hate to say it but storing the wood in the garage may add to the problem. The reason is that if that wood is not seasoned, and most likely it is not when you buy it, the wood needs air, especially wind, in order to evaporate the moisture from the wood. If it were stored outdoors in a windy area and some sun if possible and left there for a year you would find you would burn a lot, a whole lot, less wood and you would have fewer problems with it.
It really matters not how long people have burned wood; I know a few folks who have burned longer than we have, but some folks still do not realize just how much difference there is between properly seasoned wood and marginally seasoned wood. Once you try it, you won't want to go back.
Here is one good case: I recently let someone cut some wood on our place. They are burning it now...right after they cut it. Well, it is dead so that means it will be drier than what they are even used to. Still, I would definitely not burn that wood until next year at the earliest but they will continue to burn that stuff....and have problems. Some folks do not learn nor do not want to learn. I've tried to help this fellow before but he is the type that you can not teach because he knows! After all, he has been burning wood for most of his life!
I have another friend who is close to my age and he also has burned wood all his life. Yet, he will, year after year, burn freshly cut wood. As for me, I'll continue burning wood that has seasoned for two years or more; preferably 3 years or more. Why?
This year we are burning some wood that I cut during the 2008-2009 winter. It was split and stacked in April 2009. It was dead when we cut it. I can compare that to the 6-7 year old wood we've been burning and can also tell you there is a big difference in the burning of both woods; I'll take the 6-7 year old wood any time.
btw, we are burning with our new stove and chimney now into the 4th year. We've cleaned our chimney one time for about a cup of soot; no creosote. The chimney is still extremely clean. Yes, I'll take extra time to dry the wood before burning.
I hope this helps and good luck to you.