Creosote :(

[burnt03]

Have a few pics.... descriptions below

Chimney before cleaning (Feb 2012). This was before our woodstove was installed, I think the previous owner had an old smoke dragon.

Chimney after cleaning by sweep (Feb 2012)

Chimney today after burning for a month.


I seem to have a thin layer of the glaze creosote (at least it looks almost identical to what's pictured in one of the info articles). I always try to burn hot, wood is pretty dry (18-25%) and haven't had to clean the glass since I started burning last month. I'll see a bit of smoke out of the chimney sometimes, but usually only on startup, reload and if I've turned the air down too much (still wood in the firebox, but no lazy flames).

What else can I do? I remember reading on here about some product you throw into the firebox to stop a chimney fire that's already going... what was it called again?

Thanks

 

[Pallet Pete]

Is that a slammer install ? What I mean is do you have anything connecting it to the chimney at all or is it just stuck in the fireplace?

Pete

 

[BrowningBAR]

Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like a glaze.

 

[Pallet Pete]

I keep a chimfex stick around at all times. I don't care if the stove and chimney are ruined as long as everybody is safe and the house is still standing.

Pete

 

[burnt03]

Pete, it's a free-standing stove. And chimfex was exactly what I was thinking of! Thanks

Browning, hope you're right! I don't really know how the chimney is supposed to look so ....

 

[Pallet Pete]

It's a free-standing stove

Ok good sorry but every now and then a slammer shows up and scares the crap out of us here! Your setup looks fantastic by the way. It does not really look like a glaze to me but then I have a steel liner not clay. It seems like clay would build up heavy in the cracks with creosote if it was not burning right. It looks like you have been burning clean.

Pete

 

[thewoodlands]

It calls for a 6 inch chimney same as the 6 inch flue outlet on the stove, what size are your clay tiles?

zap

 

[bluedogz]

Just curious, burnt3- are those photos taken from the top of the chimney looking down, or vice-versa?

 

[corey21]

It may be me but i think i see some fly ash don't like glazed stuff to me.

 

[thewoodlands]

Have a few pics.... descriptions below


Chimney before cleaning (Feb 2012). This was before our woodstove was installed, I think the previous owner had an old smoke dragon.



Chimney after cleaning by sweep (Feb 2012)



Chimney today after burning for a month.


I seem to have a thin layer of the glaze creosote (at least it looks almost identical to what's pictured in one of the info articles). I always try to burn hot, wood is pretty dry (18-25%) and haven't had to clean the glass since I started burning last month. I'll see a bit of smoke out of the chimney sometimes, but usually only on startup, reload and if I've turned the air down too much (still wood in the firebox, but no lazy flames).

What else can I do? I remember reading on here about some product you throw into the firebox to stop a chimney fire that's already going... what was it called again?

Thanks

The first picture looks like you have some moss growing on the inside on the top left. Are you getting water coming in from a small crack?
zap

 

[burnt03]

zap - it's a 6x10 clay lined masonry. Didn't have the cash to line this year and the sweep suggested we try it for the season to see how it works out. That was moss but I think it's just from being near the top with no cap. Just rainfall coming in.

bluedogz - yep, pics are taken from the top looking down

 

[begreen]

You are getting cooling with an oversize, exterior flue, but so far it doesn't look awful. Burn a hot fire first thing of the day and it should be ok for another cord.

 

[burnt03]

One more thing I noticed this morning...

Tried packing it like I normally would to go to work, got it rolling good and cut the air down to a 1/2. Was working fine, active secondaries and no chimney smoke after checking it about an hour later. Check another hour after and it's a couple bigger chunks with a few lazy flames and getting a fair bit of smoke out of the chimney now.

I can turn the air back up and get it rolling again to stop the smoke and then turn it down later, but what can I do during the week when I'm not around? Just leave it with more air open before I leave? Kind of worried it'll get too hot if I leave it with too much air going

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Sure you can turn the air back up.

Is the chimney external? They can cool down pretty quickly so they have to be heated back up before the smoke won't condense on it. I'd line it when you get the chance. I wouldn't worry yet about the creosote, but if it gets thicker you may have to deal with the buildup.

Matt

 

[corey21]

One more thing I noticed this morning...

Tried packing it like I normally would to go to work, got it rolling good and cut the air down to a 1/2. Was working fine, active secondaries and no chimney smoke after checking it about an hour later. Check another hour after and it's a couple bigger chunks with a few lazy flames and getting a fair bit of smoke out of the chimney now.

I can turn the air back up and get it rolling again to stop the smoke and then turn it down later, but what can I do during the week when I'm not around? Just leave it with more air open before I leave? Kind of worried it'll get too hot if I leave it with too much air going

I only turn the air back up if i look outside at the chimney and see smoke done that yesterday when my secondary burn went out.

 

[etiger2007]

The first picture looks like you have some moss growing on the inside on the top left. Are you getting water coming in from a small crack?
zap

Good eye

 

[ScotO]

Nice looking stove and hearth.....

I agree with BeGreen, that flue is waaay too big for the stove, your stove needs a smaller flue to keep the efficiency up. I would definately consider banking the money to get an insulated 6" liner put in eventually. You'll see the performance of that stove go up AND see the flue stay cleaner.

 

[ScotO]

Good eye

You ain't gonna get nothin past Zappy....

 

[burnt03]

More to add to the story! Went up on the roof today to try sweeping the chimney by myself for the first time (before we start getting snow).

Here's the chimney. Been burning straight for about a month and a half.

Before shot of the chimney looks pretty much the same as above. This is after the sweep (ran a 7x11 brush up and down the 6x10 chimney 3 times).

Got this out of the cleanout. Fairly fine grains, biggest chunk was about the size of 1/2 a golfball.


So, I'm wondering if I should continue sweeping monthly during heating season (until I can save up for a liner that is) or....? Wood was 25% or less after splitting but did go through a bunch that were wetter on the outside since I didn't get the pile covered up soon enough.

Thanks!

 

[Nickolai]

I had almost the exact same setup in my last house basement. Only difference is that my chimney went through the building envelope, my stove burned ok and would get pretty good secondaries but not for long so I ended up loading it and eventually turning the air back up to keep it from slowing way down as the larger size flue cooled.
I installed a 5 1/2" liner as my tiles weren't lined up very straight and couldn't squeeze the 6" down there.
The stove ran almost the same but it was more efficient as the secondary burn lasted quite a bit longer.
At the end of last season the SS flex liner looked much better than the clay did in the 2 years prior.

 

[ridemgis]

I keep a chimfex stick around at all times. I don't care if the stove and chimney are ruined as long as everybody is safe and the house is still standing.

Pete

Curious, what sort of damage will a chimflex flare cause? Although, like you, I do hand one ready to rock if needed, regardless of any potential damage.

 

[milleo]

How about using Rutland chimney cleaner granules in your fire a couple times a week just for extra measure of safety?

 

[burnt03]

How about using Rutland chimney cleaner granules in your fire a couple times a week just for extra measure of safety?

I've never heard of those before, I'll be checking google! Anyone know where I can find it (or something like it) in Canada?

 

[etiger2007]

Any store that sells wood burning supplies should carry it, big box stores.

 

[milleo]

tractor supply or any hardware store.