Is candle wax flammable when it spills on a wood stove insert?

[Carrieleigh]

I left a pillar candle on my wood stove insert and it melted down the sides and also on the top of the unit where I can't access. (There is a 1/2 inch gap between the top of the firebox and the top of the whole unit. It now has wax in it that I can't reach.) I've cleaned off everything I can, but there is intense smoke when I use the stove--so I know there's still wax.

My chimney repair guy said I should just let it burn off, but is that a fire hazard?

I appreciate any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions!

 

[bholler]

Yes it is flammable but i would still run it. But i would keep an eye on it when you do till the wax burns off. And have a fire extinguisher handy. I doubt it will be an issue but you should be prepared if it is.

 

[mellow]

Just doing a quick search shows the typical flash point of candle wax is 250-300+ . Keep an eye on that area where it spilled when it gets around those temps till it burns off.

 

[electrathon]

I would burn the stove while I am there to watch it. Even if it does catch on fire, just let it burn, everything directly around it should be non-flammable . You cant be talking about more than a tablespoon of wax left that you could not clean up. I might even be tempted to burn out the wax with a propane torch.

 

[tarzan]

I can't tell you what your results may be but I have spilled wax (from a tart warmer) on my stove with no ill effects other than the discoloration on the stove top.