First year burning - should I be worried about creosote buildup?

[bens_igloo]

This fall we had our Regency i2400 installed as a secondary heat source and have gone through about 1 and a half face cords so far.

Being new to using an air-tight stove I dont yet have a good idea of how much creosote I'm accumulating. Roof is full of snow so I can't go up there to have a look. I also tried to do a bottom-up cleaning but I the poly brush didn't fit between the secondary airtubes.

Should I be worried about creosote after this small amount of burning? I would love some opinions on this ....

My exterior masonry chimney has a non-insulated SS liner (25 feet in length). I am burning wood that is between 15 and 22% moisture. The 15% food burns great, 19-22% moisture wood not nearly as well but still burns if I have it an a hot coal bed. I just got an Imperial-brand stove thermometer and I'm measuring 350-450F on the surface above the door so right in the "comfort zone". I'm also careful not to let the fires smoulder away.


Thanks in advance ....

 

[Nick Mystic]

If you have a rain cap with a wire mesh spark arrestor built into it you are likely to get some warning before your liner gets too built up with creosote. The cap will be the first thing to start clogging up and when it does you'll start having smoke coming out the door of your stove when you go to reload. If this happens you pretty much have no choice except to clean the cap or else you will soon have trouble getting a fire to burn.

 

[USMC80]

sooteater will fit between burn tubes

 

[jharkin]

If the wood is truly 15-22% moisture and you are burning hot enough to get good secondaries and see no to minimal smoke outside, I wouldnt worry about buildup.

Just to double check- is that 15-22% moisture read from the face of a fresh re-split (i.e. the reading in the core of the wood)? I ask because I remember my first winter with marginal wood I never had any trouble getting even 25% splits to light up with an established fire - they just burned very smokey for a long time before cooking out the water. It was when you got into the 30%+ range that you would start to have trouble getting the fire going.

 

[BobUrban]

short answer: you are fine. I think you could burn a face cord of water logged wood and not get into a dangerous situation but..

Best to stay on top of things so being scared or better termed, cautious, is a good practice until you have a strong understanding of what is going on in there. Every system burns a little differently but it sounds like you have decent wood so keep it hot and get a look at it as soon as it is safe to do so.

x2 on a soot eater(search it here) I do not have one but would if my system wasn't a straight shot and easily brushed from below. Can you pull the stove pipe relatively easily? should come right out with a couple screws and eliminate the negotiation of the baffle and tubes. If this is an insert pay no attention to my last line.

 

[bholler]

the burn tubes pull right out also that is how we clean regencies and quads that don't have 90 degree elbows. we use a viper flexible fiberglass rod system with a stainless brush on it and it works great. you should be fine if you wood is really around 20%. it would be better if your liner was insulated though. I have never used a soot eater but it looks like a good system for a homeowner. but if you have a set of flex rods and a good brush you should be ok if you don't have any bad offsets.

 

[bens_igloo]

Thanks for the responses. I generally see very very little smoke coming out of the chimney, and if I do it is light gray, not dark.

Good thought about the rain cap. Indeed my rain cap has holes to prevent animals from coming in. It's not fine mesh, but should still give me a good indication.

@jharkan: I am getting my 20-22% reading by splitting and taking a reading in the middle. I am not getting any sizzling when I burn the wood or water coming to the surface, but the wood is definitely heavier than my 15% wood and also there are either no checks or very few on the ends.

 

[bens_igloo]

@bholler: I'll try taking the secondary tubes off.

I don't have any bad bends in the liner, just a bit of an angle to get it through the old block off plate. How about the screws that hold the liner into the collar? Can I just push the poly brush right past them?

 

[bholler]

yeah you should be able to go past them. regency tube are removed by putting a pair of vise grips on them and hitting the vise grips with a hammer to the left. it usually takes a couple whacks and they pop right out. keep track of where they came out of because they are not all the same. putting them back in is just the reverse of taking them out

 

[etiger2007]

Being a new burner yes you should be worried about creosote until you know your system well enough to not ask . Does it sound like you are fine ,,, yes but don't get to comfortable about burning wood to quick where you develop bad habits. A face and a half is not much wood, check your system when you can to get the true answer, just looking out for you and your family.

 

[holg]

This fall we had our Regency i2400 installed as a secondary heat source and have gone through about 1 and a half face cords so far.

Being new to using an air-tight stove I dont yet have a good idea of how much creosote I'm accumulating. Roof is full of snow so I can't go up there to have a look. I also tried to do a bottom-up cleaning but I the poly brush didn't fit between the secondary airtubes.

Should I be worried about creosote after this small amount of burning? I would love some opinions on this ....

My exterior masonry chimney has a non-insulated SS liner (25 feet in length). I am burning wood that is between 15 and 22% moisture. The 15% food burns great, 19-22% moisture wood not nearly as well but still burns if I have it an a hot coal bed. I just got an Imperial-brand stove thermometer and I'm measuring 350-450F on the surface above the door so right in the "comfort zone". I'm also careful not to let the fires smoulder away.


Thanks in advance ....

Have to laugh, at myself, not you or your comment. I've burned maybe twice what you have; it's a new stove and a new set up and am I concerned? I've been on the roof 4 times. Roof is got lots of snow which makes for good traction. Each time the chimney looks just fine

 

[remkel]

Yes

 

[begreen]

The first year or two it's good to check the chimney at least once for every cord of wood burned. We can speculate, but there's no substitute for eyes on the scene. If you find the chimney is dirty then strive for drier wood and try burning a bit hotter. If you find nothing but grey powder then throw another log on and stick with your current plan.