creosote build up

[bigealta]

Your wood is not seasoned enough. If it was you would not be getting the creosote coming back after every sweep.
What is the stovetop temp for your normal burns?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The Sooteater will not take glaze creosote off. Until you solve that problem I wouldn’t rely on the sooteater.

Since there appears to be a history of creosote issues you might want to get a sweep to send a camera down it to make sure there isn’t any fire damage.

 

[bholler]

https://www.amazon.com/Gardus-RCH205-B-SootEater-Chimney-Cleaning/dp/B0010H5JXA/ref=mp_s_a_1_5_maf_2?crid=3A4BBYFTWT53J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8y6m_RB8lkOMxAykMatXMDuiMUVdj6dUBBW0ruZ98nHZza_Tr0p08jihdcAgWUwyYCL0bSTNPKIoRLNvYG7ES8-nr5EgNkoPf9cF5N2V3HBYnFsMJbkjHUB8dpByN8HYFrjZaJfIqR5MLmsc-ed9Ji8Fo1rjEzUw2YV9fQ0VZDBX7W0Ig7j8nzgiC5qlNqUI74_kEbHumukwc3HyCykPpw.-MzMJOcKo8dn0BHIk2zh1TJDNCzkRf-vzQL00ViZI0c&dib_tag=se&keywords=soot+eater+chimney+cleaning+kit&qid=1769624497&sprefix=soot+eater%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-5

That most likely will not clean that glaze

 

[bholler]

i can double check it. i opened it up when the most recent problems started, expecting to see creosote there...but it was clean. i will open it up again soon to see if i can get a better idea of what is going on.

What moisture content is your wood at and is the bottom of your liner sealed off?

 

[kborndale]

That most likely will not clean that glaze

No but once he gets it cleaned or replaced it will keep it from coming back.

 

[stoveliker]

No, a sooteater doesn't prevent glaze from coming back.
Glaze does not appear because nonglazed granular deposits (that can be removed with a sooteater) sits for a long time.
Glaze can be deposited in one mismanaged fire/fuel.

 

[kborndale]

No, a sooteater doesn't prevent glaze from coming back.
Glaze does not appear because nonglazed granular deposits (that can be removed with a sooteater) sits for a long time.
Glaze can be deposited in one mismanaged fire/fuel.

So your telling me that if you use the soot eater monthly it's not going to stay clean? I've been stuck with wet wood and cleaned monthly while struggling to burn the wet wood and never had glaze.

 

[stoveliker]

Correct.
A sooteater does not clean off glaze. And keeping non-glaze (the only thing a sooteater does clean) down by doing it monthly does not prevent glaze from forming.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Experience and knowing what to look for or avoid does a good job of keeping glaze down. You most likely knew the wood was wet and adjusted your burn technique.

 

[emje]

i am wondering if this caused my most recent creosote issues. when my so-called chimney sweep was here in november, they cleaned out the basement opening to my chimney & left it wide open. i had it stuffed with insulation & covered up. they pulled out the insulation & left it all the way open.
can anyone tell me if this might be what is causing the current issue with my chimney?
(i believe past issues were caused by my old stove not getting hot enough & often smoldering)

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It’s possible. Do you have a cap on the bottom of your T?

 

[bholler]

i am wondering if this caused my most recent creosote issues. when my so-called chimney sweep was here in november, they cleaned out the basement opening to my chimney & left it wide open. i had it stuffed with insulation & covered up. they pulled out the insulation & left it all the way open.
can anyone tell me if this might be what is causing the current issue with my chimney?
(i believe past issues were caused by my old stove not getting hot enough & often smoldering)

Yes it definitely would cause a problem but it also tells me your liner is not installed properly

 

[emje]

Yes it definitely would cause a problem but it also tells me your liner is not installed properly

how so?

 

[bholler]

how so?

It tells me the bottom of you liner is not sealed off which is probably one of the major causes of your creosote issues

 

[emje]

It tells me the bottom of you liner is not sealed off which is probably one of the major causes of your creosote issues

where would the clean out be if the bottom of the liner is sealed off? (sorry if this is a dumb question...i don't seem to understand chimneys)

 

[bholler]

where would the clean out be if the bottom of the liner is sealed off? (sorry if this is a dumb question...i don't seem to understand chimneys)

Well either your liner would be extended down to the cleanout with another tee there where it is either mortared in and has a gasketed door. Or it has a tee snout extending out with a cap on it. The other option is just a tee cap on the tee just below where your pipe enters and you vacuum out the dirt.

 

[emje]

Well either your liner would be extended down to the cleanout with another tee there where it is either mortared in and has a gasketed door. Or it has a tee snout extending out with a cap on it. The other option is just a tee cap on the tee just below where your pipe enters and you vacuum out the dirt.

okeydokey. so i maybe i can find someone who can fix it so without putting in a whole new liner...or am i just screwed?

 

[bholler]

okeydokey. so i maybe i can find someone who can fix it so without putting in a whole new liner...or am i just screwed?

They may be able to reuse the liner. But if its already full of glazed creosote it may not make sense to