Creosote Flakes behind cleanout door.

[micah]

Im going to be cleaning my chimney for the first time in a few weeks and decided to see if my cleanout door rusted shut (again). Well to my suprise when I opened the door there was a big pile of creosote flakes?! I have severl times over the winter cleaned the stove pipe coming off the stove to the chimney and while it was off I looked up in the chimney to see what i could see. There usually isnt anything more than some soot and a few flakes of creosote. Is the normal? I try to burn as hot as possible for the first hour after I load the stove. Then i let it settle down to around 500 or so decrease. Would the hot then cooler cycle cause the creosote to flake like that? Should i be worried?

 

[savageactor7]

Micah I'd be more worried about creosote above where your stovepipe goes in. And from what you describe everything sounds good and acceptable based on my own experience. I'm interested to hear what the others say though.

 

[micah]

I havent been up on the roof yet so im not sure what the top looks like but the 5-8 feet i can see above the pipe look very clean.

 

[savageactor7]

^well if your holding a mirror and looking at up at the sky you should see all the way to the top.

 

[micah]

Oh yeah I can see all the way up but only the first 5-8 feet i can see with great detail.

 

[savageactor7]

Well I'm thinking if you can see clear light you're good to go. Even better if you have a square flue and can clearly see square daylight and the same with a round flue pipe. If you have fur like creosote you would see it.

Later on when you finish burning climb up there and run a brush through it jsut to be on the safe side...btw sounds like you burn hot most of the time...that's better for keeping that creosote down too.