Burning Creosote

[Bill]

I was talking with the local country people at the cottage and showed them my old chimney I had taken out. They said it looked fine, I thought the flaky creosote looked a little thick. Now I am not advocating this but here's what they tell me they do. Have a rip roaring fire, since it's SS and it's straight up you can burn it out, never ever seen one have a chimney fire, or get it clogged. But they have seen screens clogged in the cap. Probably never have to clean it. I will admit they have a long history and lots of experience in burning wood.

I have heard these kinds of remarks before like shoot a flame out the top, bingo bango no creosote build up. Put a load of cardboard in and let it rip. etc.

Is there any truth to this lets call it urban myth?

 

[begreen]

Burning hot is a generally good practice. Letting the fire rip once a day, particularly at startup has worked for us. This is the opposite of loading the stove up and dampering it right down and letting it smolder, which next to wet wood, is probably the best way to build up creosote.

 

[smirnov3]

I think Smokey was saying that them 'country folk' was recommending that he burn out the creosote that's already there, in the pipe.

 

[Corie]

Yeah, you probably won't be able to the get a fire hot enough to burn out all of the creosote. And even if you did, the temperatures inside the pipe that were burning the creosote would probably be dangerous.


Removing creosote should be done with a brush, or with chains in the case of the really stubborn stuff. A hot fire won't suffice.