Hey all, does this look right? Excess ash buildup in only 2 months.

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riff42

riff42

Member
Jan 17, 2014
23
DelaWhere
I just got a Lennox Montage installed mid-January. I was on the roof FINALLY getting the Xmas lights down (stupid snow)....and noticed that the vent cap is caked on with ash. I wacked it a few times, and lots of crud came down.
Later, I actually installed my vacuum to blow, at the cleanout T, and turned it on. For 5min there was ash flying out, along with tons of chunks, as I wacked the vent pipe inside and out as the vacuum was blowing air out.

Now, I know there is buildup, but this seems excess for only 2 months!!! I haven't looked into the pipe at all.

Out of the stove the T, then 5ft vert, 90deg bend goiing outside, a 45 and 90 to clear the other part of the house and then roof, and 3 more feet vert. with the cap.

http://imgur.com/2xAQCTV
 
GeHmTS said:
More importantly, how much have you burned in that 2 months?
Click to expand...


Yeah, that's what I'd be asking too !

After every 50 bags, a full cleanout should be done, everything, stove and vent pipe(s).
 
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riff42 said:
I just got a Lennox Montage installed mid-January. I was on the roof FINALLY getting the Xmas lights down (stupid snow)....and noticed that the vent cap is caked on with ash. I wacked it a few times, and lots of crud came down.
Later, I actually installed my vacuum to blow, at the cleanout T, and turned it on. For 5min there was ash flying out, along with tons of chunks, as I wacked the vent pipe inside and out as the vacuum was blowing air out.

Now, I know there is buildup, but this seems excess for only 2 months!!! I haven't looked into the pipe at all.

Out of the stove the T, then 5ft vert, 90deg bend goiing outside, a 45 and 90 to clear the other part of the house and then roof, and 3 more feet vert. with the cap.

http://imgur.com/2xAQCTV
Click to expand...
Looks normal to me...the last 2 months have been brutally cold.(meaning you must have burned plenty) For me going 2 months without servicing my chimney will NEVER happen (I also burn 2 times the pellets of most here) With a pellet device its not uncommon for ash/soot/byproduct of combustion to find its way into the chimney. shorten the interval between cleanings. When you get to know your stove better , you will be better able to judge when it is necessary (it will be based on pellet consumption)....I have NEVER heard of a pellet device being "cleaned too much"
 
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The Montage is not a true OAK system sucking up your homes heat and moisture too. You have a lot of elbows to slow the flow down and the extra cold on all that exterior pipe isn't helping either. Three strikes and your system needs a bit more attention. Could be way worse, could have had to pay up to and over $7 for a gallon of propain. -18F here right now.
 
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Bioburner said:
extra cold on all that exterior pipe isn't helping either.
Click to expand...
I have read somewhere that limiting outside pipe is a good thing...I read the OP thread and cant visualize it...( it did make me wonder though)
 
iceguy4 said:
I have read somewhere that limiting outside pipe is a good thing...I read the OP thread and cant visualize it...( it did make me wonder though)
Click to expand...
Compare how much venting is exposed for sewer. We have to put on extra devices to keep them from freezing and they are only exposed for a foot or so and not made of a conductive material.
 
Pellets that are being burned, are anything I can get my hands on. Besides returning 6 bags of Nations Choice's crap (the one with corn pellets mixed in....100% hardwood my arse), this entire area has run out of pellets. I should have gotten a ton or 2, but with the new stove, I wanted to see what was good in my area. Then the cold hit, and well...you know the rest.

Anyway, glad to know it might be normal. I run about a bag a day. Bio, do you think I can block off, or shield the semi-OAK, to get in more outside air? Not that it would be less moisture....some days it snows, other days it's 50. it's a mess outside, but if I can get some inside air NOT to be sucked in, it would be nice.

What happens for a cleaning of the vent system? Do I need to get a chimney brush kit? I do clean the inside (sans taking the unit apart) more often than noted in the manuals because it doesn't take much time. I tend to brush the inside, window, exchangers mostly every day (with vacuum), and take apart the exchanger shield and back wall brick to get the other thing at least once a week.
 
riff42 said:
What happens for a cleaning of the vent system? Do I need to get a chimney brush kit?
Click to expand...
I use a dryer vent brush kit and 2 four foot extensions, available at lowes.
 
I usually remove my exhaust motor, ESP and clean that section of pipe with a vacuum running to catch mess. after I have the whole stove cleaned, the last thing I do is start it up and go outside and clean the last of the chimney from the outside.. it is a bit messy getting ash blown on myself...but I'm pretty well covered in soot at that point anyway.
 
riff42 said:
Pellets that are being burned, are anything I can get my hands on. Besides returning 6 bags of Nations Choice's crap (the one with corn pellets mixed in....100% hardwood my arse), this entire area has run out of pellets. I should have gotten a ton or 2, but with the new stove, I wanted to see what was good in my area. Then the cold hit, and well...you know the rest.

Anyway, glad to know it might be normal. I run about a bag a day. Bio, do you think I can block off, or shield the semi-OAK, to get in more outside air? Not that it would be less moisture....some days it snows, other days it's 50. it's a mess outside, but if I can get some inside air NOT to be sucked in, it would be nice.

What happens for a cleaning of the vent system? Do I need to get a chimney brush kit? I do clean the inside (sans taking the unit apart) more often than noted in the manuals because it doesn't take much time. I tend to brush the inside, window, exchangers mostly every day (with vacuum), and take apart the exchanger shield and back wall brick to get the other thing at least once a week.
Click to expand...
Some have figured out how to seal thier stoves and Quads suck inside air as well. I wouldn't fret over the issue and get a lint eater kit and get dirty. I would do a one ton clean till you get a feel for your pellets. Pellet choice can make a differance. Burning a couple stoves here I can see the differance of pellet brands in a day. Burning a lot of fuel as today's high is a whopping -4F.
 
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