Creosote drips

[Wakajawaka]

Fairly new to burning wood and made a dumb mistake. I replaced my woodstove with a new Pacific energy T4 Alderlea and left a bath towel in the stove pipe before hooking it up. I tried 2 small fires to break stove in and wood wouldnt light. Lotta smoke in the firebox and a few puffs out of tge chimney cap. I used fatwood and dry wood..that didnt burn well.

Anyway, I cleaned the entire chimney but creosote was formed and dripped down the pipe adapter. Im sure theres a minor amount in the chimney. Do I need to be concerned about trace amounts? Should I clean the chimney pipe clean again? 6 inch stove pipe is connected to 8" metalbestos insulated chimney pipe. Thanks!

 

[Wakajawaka]

Fairly new to burning wood and made a dumb mistake. I replaced my woodstove with a new Pacific energy T4 Alderlea and left a bath towel in the stove pipe before hooking it up. I tried 2 small fires to break stove in and wood wouldnt light. Lotta smoke in the firebox and a few puffs out of the chimney cap. I used fatwood and dry wood..that didnt burn well.

Anyway, I cleaned the entire chimney before installing new stove but creosote was formed and dripped down the pipe adapter. Im sure theres a minor amount in the chimney. Do I need to be concerned about trace amounts? Should I clean the chimney pipe clean again? 6 inch stove pipe is connected to 8" metalbestos insulated chimney pipe. Thanks!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

If the wood was dry there shouldn’t be much to drip. Do you have any pics? How long was the wood stacked to dry?

That’s a small stove to try to run on an 8” chimney. The velocity of the smoke may be too slow allowing the creosote to form.

 

[Wakajawaka]

If the wood was dry there shouldn’t be much to drip. Do you have any pics? How long was the wood stacked to dry?

That’s a small stove to try to run on an 8” chimney. The velocity of the smoke may be too slow allowing the creosote to form.

 

[Wakajawaka]

Not sure if you caught this, but I mentioned that I had a bath towel stuck in the chimney pipe. I plugged it up because I was waiting to install the new stove and didnt want cold air into my house. I made 2 attempts at fires before realizing what ive done. Wood is dry and fatwood burned great. Plenty of draft, even with the towel in the pipe. I guess not enough to light the wood though. I also closed the door before the wood started to burn. Probably didn't help.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I caught the towel bit. But creosote thick enough to drip often takes more than 2 quick, unsuccessful attempts at fire with dry wood.

I hope removing the towel fixed all your issues and you’ll only get a light coat of soot in there from now on.

 

[Wakajawaka]

I caught the towel bit. But creosote thick enough to drip often takes more than 2 quick, unsuccessful attempts at fire with dry wood.

I hope removing the towel fixed all your issues and you’ll only get a light coat of soot in there from now on.

Oh ok. I appreciate it. I haven't tried another fire since i took the towel out. My question here was do i need to clean the entire chimney again because i saw the creosote? Do i need to worry that the dried drippings will ignite if i light another fire?

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Oh ok. I appreciate it. I haven't tried another fire since i took the towel out. My question here was do i need to clean the entire chimney again because i saw the creosote? Do i need to worry that the dried drippings will ignite if i light another fire?

Good morning. I'd like to try and help, but without pictures of what you are talking about it's hard to tell if it's safe or not. Where exactly are you seeing these creosote drips? How long is the stove pipe/ connector pipe. How far up the chimney was the towel? Just in the bottom of the chimney pipe?

When you removed the towel, did you look at the inside of the stove pipe below the towel? How'd it look?

Post a picture so we can help you figure this out.

 

[Wakajawaka]

 

[Wakajawaka]

Towel was just above the woodstove. Into the pipe maybe a foot. I used 2 fatwood sticks, which burned quite well. The other wood just wouldnt catch. I also closed the door pretty quick after lighting. Ton of smoke in the firebox. I tend to think the drips were incomplete combustion and fatwood resin.

 

[Wakajawaka]

I noticed that the 6" stovepipe didnt come completely clean. Ill take it down this weekend and clean it good. The 8" chimney pipe looks very clean since i cleaned it a month ago. I have about 6 feet of 6 inche stove pipe connected to probably 14 feet of 8 inch insulated chimney pipe. My original stove which was about the same size drafted like crazy. I could control the fire but if i wasnt careful it could have hit 700 degrees.

Im going to go back and use the whip cleaner with my drill this weekend. It will be as clean as i can get it. Going to make double suremy wood is dry, reconnect and try a fire. If theres any creosote in the flue it will be trace amounts. Seeing thise drips freaked me out. I dont want them to ignite or have a chimney fire.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Towel was just above the woodstove. Into the pipe maybe a foot. I used 2 fatwood sticks, which burned quite well. The other wood just wouldnt catch. I also closed the door pretty quick after lighting. Ton of smoke in the firebox. I tend to think the drips were incomplete combustion and fatwood resin.

I use fatwood myself. I can see them causing that. I would say you most likely don't need to clean the chimney pipe above where the towel was. Looks like the towel had it blocked up pretty good. That's a pretty small amount of creosote/ resin/ ? outside the pipe. I would try to clean it off a little especially near the stove top collar.

Don't do too much scrubbing on that as stove pipe shows abrasions pretty easy. Try using an alcohol wipe on it. Or whatever you have...

You can also buy some stove pipe paint and re-paint those areas if they concern you. I wouldn't do that until after the burning season is done.

The PE T4 Alderlea is a nice stove. I considered buying one myself.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Im going to go back and use the whip cleaner with my drill this weekend. It will be as clean as i can get it. Going to make double suremy wood is dry, reconnect and try a fire. If theres any creosote in the flue it will be trace amounts. Seeing thise drips freaked me out. I dont want them to ignite or have a chimney fire.

Good deal with the whip cleaner. Yes, no chimney fires allowed!

Do you have a moisture meter to check your wood? If not there are some decent ones on amazon that are $20 and under. My old one broke, I got a new one this year and I like it a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTD6P2TZ

It has moisture zones on it that are bs but as long as a fresh split is under 20% you should be good!

Also, if you haven't tried the top/ down starting method, it works quite well and it's worth at least taking a look at it. Lots of info here in the forum about it and lots of other great topics you might find interesting!

 

[Wakajawaka]

I use fatwood myself. I can see them causing that. I would say you most likely don't need to clean the chimney pipe above where the towel was. Looks like the towel had it blocked up pretty good. That's a pretty small amount of creosote/ resin/ ? outside the pipe. I would try to clean it off a little especially near the stove top collar.

Don't do too much scrubbing on that as stove pipe shows abrasions pretty easy. Try using an alcohol wipe on it. Or whatever you have...

You can also buy some stove pipe paint and re-paint those areas if they concern you. I wouldn't do that until after the burning season is done.

The PE T4 Alderlea is a nice stove. I considered buying one myself.

I really appreciate it. I kinda had the same thing in mind. The chimney pipe is real clean. Im not worried about painting the stove pipe. I will clean the outside spots and re clean tge inside of the stove pipe, as i can see the whip didnt clean it as much as I thought. I didnt really crank the drill on that section.

I agree about the fatwood smoke. I even have brown honey like resudue on the glass from it. Im shocked it burned like it did. I stuffed the towel tight into the stove pipe. I think it just shows how much draft i have here. Without the obstruction of the towel, im sure its going to light right up. Was just concerned about the dried drippings of creosote causing a fire inside the chimney, or outside of the pipes in my living room.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

I really appreciate it. I kinda had the same thing in mind. The chimney pipe is real clean. Im not worried about painting the stove pipe. I will clean the outside spots and re clean tge inside of the stove pipe, as i can see the whip didnt clean it as much as I thought. I didnt really crank the drill on that section.

I agree about the fatwood smoke. I even have brown honey like resudue on the glass from it. Im shocked it burned like it did. I stuffed the towel tight into the stove pipe. I think it just shows how much draft i have here. Without the obstruction of the towel, im sure its going to light right up. Was just concerned about the dried drippings of creosote causing a fire inside the chimney, or outside of the pipes in my living room.

I wouldn't think so. Based on what I saw, it isn't all that much. Ultimately, it's your decision and I don't remember hearing anyone say they were too safe when it comes to fire. Stay in touch as you go. Keep us updated on this thread. It's always a bit of a learning curve with a new stove. Also I've added a co detector and fire extinguisher near my stove. Also co detectors are usually required outside the bedrooms. I have a gas water heater so I have three co detectors in my house. One at the water heater one at the woodstove and one outside the bedroom doors. Additional piece of mind. And, of course good working smoke detectors in all those same locations.

And yes I agree, I think the T4 is going to breath great with that setup.

 

[Wakajawaka]

I wouldn't think so. Based on what I saw, it isn't all that much. Ultimately, it's your decision and I don't remember hearing anyone say they were too safe when it comes to fire. Stay in touch as you go. Keep us updated on this thread. It's always a bit of a learning curve with a new stove. Also I've added a co detector and fire extinguisher near my stove. Also co detectors are usually required outside the bedrooms. I have a gas water heater so I have three co detectors in my house. One at the water heater one at the woodstove and one outside the bedroom doors. Additional piece of mind. And, of course good working smoke detectors in all those same locations.

And yes I agree, I think the T4 is going to breath great with that setup.

I agree. Ive been burning wood for 3 years . Bought a 20 plus year old vista when i moved into my house. Worked flawlessly. Found the T4 online at a great price and bought it. I am definitely more on the cautious side of things, considering I'm fairly new at burning, and im using chimney pipe that was installed way before i moved in. Had it inspected and was deemed safe. Hoping to put this mistake behind me and move on.

Ill definitely post back when i start burning again. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it!

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

I agree. Ive been burning wood for 3 years . Bought a 20 plus year old vista when i moved into my house. Worked flawlessly. Found the T4 online at a great price and bought it. I am definitely more on the cautious side of things, considering I'm fairly new at burning, and im using chimney pipe that was installed way before i moved in. Had it inspected and was deemed safe. Hoping to put this mistake behind me and move on.

Ill definitely post back when i start burning again. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it!

ok and you're welcome. I check in here 3-4 times a day and there are others here that are way more knowledgeable than me.

We had a fireplace when I was a kid and as far back as I can remember we used it every winter, though more for ambiance as they aren't very efficient. My grandma lived in SW. Indiana and she had a wood cook stove and a coal parlor stove for heating her house. So I've pretty much grown up with it and I've had a woodstove for 34 years, so I know a thing or two about a thing or two. I think that's from an insurance commercial for State Farm?

 

[Wakajawaka]

Lol. Something like that. I saw Burningsince1989 and thought yea...im listening to this guy!

 

[Wakajawaka]

Ok.... Take 2. Cleaned and put back together. About as much as I can clean the flue without taking the entire chimney down. Towel is gone. Minor residue from fatwood on the inside of slip joint that goes into the bottom of chimney. Im assuming it will burn off. Going to buy a fire extinguisher and that chimfex stuff and start burning..probably tomorrow. Wanna see it during the day. Im also assuming the creosote on inside of the glass will burn off too as i use it. Ill write back after the first fire.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

You can let it go and see if a good fire will clean it up. The glass can be cleaned as long as it isn't hot. I use wet wadded up newspaper or that brown paper that comes in the boxes from online stores. Dip in the ashes in your stove and it will clean that guck right off. Since you only really burned the fatwood... But, I looked back. Is that stove new or used? If it's used you don't need to do break in fires, but I would keep it small until you get a little more comfortable. Definitely keep the door cracked for a few minutes until the fire is started up pretty good. Probably something in the manual about the recommended sequence for that stove. That pipe looks fine. I look forward to the continuation!

 

[Wakajawaka]

Thanks buddy. This stove is brand new. Guy said about 9 years old. New, old stock. Pre- epa. Hes a dealer but no longer carries pacific energy. Was a leftover. Got it for 1600. New im pretty sure would be around 4k. Was worth it for me to travel a little to get it, hook it up myself ect.

Ill see if regular burning cleans the glass. Only thing that would make it perfect, perfect is placement of insulation blanket on sides of baffle plate. Its perfect on one side and not placed perfectly on the other. Considering my old pacific energy didnt have any left on the sides im not worried. This set up is about good as it gets. My first brand new stove. Im pretty excited!

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Thanks buddy. This stove is brand new. Guy said about 9 years old. New, old stock. Pre- epa. Hes a dealer but no longer carries pacific energy. Was a leftover. Got it for 1600. New im pretty sure would be around 4k. Was worth it for me to travel a little to get it, hook it up myself ect.

Ill see if regular burning cleans the glass. Only thing that would make it perfect, perfect is placement of insulation blanket on sides of baffle plate. Its perfect on one side and not placed perfectly on the other. Considering my old pacific energy didnt have any left on the sides im not worried. This set up is about good as it gets. My first brand new stove. Im pretty excited!

You should be! That's a really good price for new/old. First it's a great looking stove. It's a non-cat, so less to worry about. I came really close to buying a T5 in brown. Ultimately I went with a different stove, but I really like the Alderlea models.

Does that T4 have the swing out top shelves?

 

[Wakajawaka]

Yes. Not sure id swing them out much but yes. Its sharp. Its black porcelain enamel. Discontinued color. Now its only white or brown.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

Yes. Not sure id swing them out much but yes. Its sharp. Its black porcelain enamel. Discontinued color. Now its only white or brown.

Very nice indeed. I like the color. My wife really likes the Mojalica brown. So basically I got her a shiny brown stove that was her only input. Basically only three companies offer the brown so I made my decision based on the color and if I could get reasonable burn times. My current stove struggles a bit when it gets really cold. Not very efficient as it has to be filled up every 4-5 hours. During the shoulder season I can get 8 hour plus burns no problem. We will see. I'm supposed to get my new one in a couple of weeks.

 

[Wakajawaka]

Very nice indeed. I like the color. My wife really likes the Mojalica brown. So basically I got her a shiny brown stove that was her only input. Basically only three companies offer the brown so I made my decision based on the color and if I could get reasonable burn times. My current stove struggles a bit when it gets really cold. Not very efficient as it has to be filled up every 4-5 hours. During the shoulder season I can get 8 hour plus burns no problem. We will see. I'm supposed to get my new one in a couple of weeks.

Cool. What are you getting? My house is less than 1100ft. I liked the idea of a bigger stove for longer burn times but it can get into the mid 80s as is. I also read its better to under size slightly, to burn more efficiently. Makes perfect sense to me. Im hoping i get longer burns or at least extended heat output because its cast over steel. My vista was just steel. Fast to get hot, quick to cool.