It's been 8 weeks...

[Butcher]

... since I installed my Oslo 500 and have been checking the chimney every 2 weeks just like clockwork. The clay liner still has the same dull black color as in the last couple of inspections. I can reach in there and with just a swipe of my bare hand or a rag it will wipe it down to clean clay. Since I didnt check the chimney that much with the old stove I am not sure if this is normal for my set up or not. The stuff is just like dust basically, not a buildup of gunk. Really cold weather is not far away here in Iowa and I dont really want to be climbin up there every 2 weeks when it does just to calm my nerves.

P.S.
I do plan on doing a good cleanin once, maybe twice throughout the winter as I always have in the past and again in the spring. And I have been checking my 2 year old wood with a meter and it is bone dry.

 

[pen]

Sounds like a perfect plan. Would be doing the same thing if I were in your circumstance.

So long as that chimney is sound (no cracked tiles, serious mortar issues, too short) and it's flue size is small enough that you can get a good draft, I say you should be in good shape.

If it were an 8x8 or larger flue, i'd be considering a liner even if it is in good shape. Check out this thread if you haven't noticed it already. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/83613/

pen

 

[northwinds]

Sounds like you're good to go.

We usually get a day in January or February when roof conditions aren't bad, and I'll brush off
anything hanging on the cap and take a peek down the chimney. It's all about peace of mind,
if you're only finding minor buildup of that light dust.

 

[firefighterjake]

Just bear in mind that where you can reach may not be where the bulk of the creosote is building up . . . for many folks the bulk of the build up will be towards the top as the gases cool down. That said . . . a quick look up with a mirror and a flashlight should give you a good indication of what things look like at the top . . . without having to climb on to the roof.

 

[Butcher]

Just bear in mind that where you can reach may not be where the bulk of the creosote is building up . . . for many folks the bulk of the build up will be towards the top as the gases cool down. That said . . . a quick look up with a mirror and a flashlight should give you a good indication of what things look like at the top . . . without having to climb on to the roof.

In the winter what I have done in the past was to stick my digital camera into the cleanout in the basement and snap a pic. The flash is bright enough that it lights it up almost to the top.

 

[firefighterjake]

Just bear in mind that where you can reach may not be where the bulk of the creosote is building up . . . for many folks the bulk of the build up will be towards the top as the gases cool down. That said . . . a quick look up with a mirror and a flashlight should give you a good indication of what things look like at the top . . . without having to climb on to the roof.

In the winter what I have done in the past was to stick my digital camera into the cleanout in the basement and snap a pic. The flash is bright enough that it lights it up almost to the top.

That would work too . . . actually this is a pretty good idea come to think of it . . .

 

[Backwoods Savage]

... since I installed my Oslo 500 and have been checking the chimney every 2 weeks just like clockwork. The clay liner still has the same dull black color as in the last couple of inspections. I can reach in there and with just a swipe of my bare hand or a rag it will wipe it down to clean clay. Since I didnt check the chimney that much with the old stove I am not sure if this is normal for my set up or not. The stuff is just like dust basically, not a buildup of gunk. Really cold weather is not far away here in Iowa and I dont really want to be climbin up there every 2 weeks when it does just to calm my nerves.

P.S.
I do plan on doing a good cleanin once, maybe twice throughout the winter as I always have in the past and again in the spring. And I have been checking my 2 year old wood with a meter and it is bone dry.

How dry is bone dry anyway? And how did you check this bone dry moisture? How long has the wood been split and stacked out in the wind to dry? What kind of wood are you burning?

As for the chimney, checking the very top is perhaps the most important. Can you get onto the roof?

 

[Butcher]

How dry is bone dry anyway? And how did you check this bone dry moisture? How long has the wood been split and stacked out in the wind to dry? What kind of wood are you burning?

As for the chimney, checking the very top is perhaps the most important. Can you get onto the roof?[/quote]
You may have misread my post. I am checking the chimney from the top down. Thats how I always do it and that is how I brush it out on cleaning time.
As for bone dry wood, after reading this forum over the past few weeks I went and bought a moisture meter. After resplitting a very large sampling of my 2 year old wood (ash, elm, maple, cherry, walnut, you name it) I'm finding it all to read less than 12% moisture. Bear in mind I live out in the middle of the flatlands of Iowa and the wind always blows and I do my best to keep my wood piles covered and have, hopefully, a 3 year supply cut split and sittin there.. I'm no stranger to burning wood but a newbe at operating these new fangled EPA stoves. Thats why I am asking all the questions from you fine folks.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

How dry is bone dry anyway? And how did you check this bone dry moisture? How long has the wood been split and stacked out in the wind to dry? What kind of wood are you burning?

As for the chimney, checking the very top is perhaps the most important. Can you get onto the roof?

You may have misread my post. I am checking the chimney from the top down. Thats how I always do it and that is how I brush it out on cleaning time.
As for bone dry wood, after reading this forum over the past few weeks I went and bought a moisture meter. After resplitting a very large sampling of my 2 year old wood (ash, elm, maple, cherry, walnut, you name it) I'm finding it all to read less than 12% moisture. Bear in mind I live out in the middle of the flatlands of Iowa and the wind always blows and I do my best to keep my wood piles covered and have, hopefully, a 3 year supply cut split and sittin there.. I'm no stranger to burning wood but a newbe at operating these new fangled EPA stoves. Thats why I am asking all the questions from you fine folks.[/quote]


Butcher, when quoting someone there is an easy way to do it. When you are ready to post, just click on "Quote" (on the left hand side) and it will put the quote in the little box.

I did misread your post as I thought you were checking the bottom of the chimney. Good for you for climbing up there for a look.

On these new fangled EPA stoves, yes, they do require much drier wood than the older stoves. Fortunately I grew up burning dry wood so that was not a problem when we got the new EPA stove.

On the dry wood, I took some 9 year old wood to the Woodstock Open House. While there with different moisture meters, it was said to be very dry indeed. Some was later sent to an engineer, Battenkiller for some testing. You might find that thread interesting. You can find it here: Denniswood

End result; the wood may not be as dry as you think sometimes! btw, some of that wood was burned in Woodstocks stoves that were on display and it burned very nicely as it does here at home.

 

[oldspark]

Sounds to me like its "dry as a bone".