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 1989]

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 1989]

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 1989]

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.