thin black sticky film?

[csierotnik]

Hey everyone!
So, I went up on my roof today and checked out my liner.
I have a Lopi answer A-2 and I have been burning off an on for 3 weeks. I wanted to check things out on top because I know my firewood is not fully seasoned. Its only about 6 months since its been split. Anywho, I took of my liner's cap and I looked at the bottom side of vthe cap and there was a sticky black film covering the complete under side. The liner didn't have any sticky film on it just some black ash on it. What is the black sticky film? and how often would you be sweeping/cleaning the liner under thses conditions. I also know I haven't been burning my stove hot enough. This is my first year burning and I am still getting comfortable with it.
Thanks
CJ

 

[wkpoor]

Black n sticky is creosote and the burnable kind. The dry kind in the pipe isn't dangerous. The smoke is hitting that cool cap and condensing the creosote on it. So you pretty much hit it yourself, marginal wood and low stove temps can add to the problem.

 

[csierotnik]

What do you use to clean the sticky stuff off with?

 

[ecocavalier02]

What do you use to clean the sticky stuff off with?

heavy rain cleans my cap back to clean every year

 

[agartner]

Wire brush it. Should be able to get a sweep kit at a local stove supply or even an ace hardware. More concerning though is the creosote buildup. The woods not ready, not after sitting for only 6 months. If its your only supply, check around to see if you can get some biobricks, ecobricks, or something similar. With unseasoned wood, its going to be a real challenge to keep the creosote down and get good hot burns.

 

[HotCoals]

Wire brush it. Should be able to get a sweep kit at a local stove supply or even an ace hardware. More concerning though is the creosote buildup. The woods not ready, not after sitting for only 6 months. If its your only supply, check around to see if you can get some biobricks, ecobricks, or something similar. With unseasoned wood, its going to be a real challenge to keep the creosote down and get good hot burns.

Right..and you will get more creosote by letting the fire go out and relighting then if you kept it going 24/7.