New to wood stoves

[Jcherv0912]

Is this normal for new pipes? Just from creosote from not seasoned wood?

 

[begreen]

Watch the cap screen for plugging. A clogged cap does seem to happen more with new installs. This may be due to a few reasons.
The screen is too fine
Wood is poorly seasoned
The stove is not being operated correctly

Also, the chimney pipe may need a brace if it is over 5ft tall. How tall is this chimney above the roof?

 

[John Galt]

That black is uniform across the whole cap, even the underside. Is it possible that it's just painted? The screen does look a bit sooty though.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Is this normal for new pipes? Just from creosote from not seasoned wood?

If you have the ability to go up on the roof and check the cap and take a better picture that would help you out some.

What stove are you running and what is the moisture content of the wood your burning

 

[begreen]

If you have the ability to go up on the roof and check the cap and take a better picture that would help you out some.

What stove are you running and what is the moisture content of the wood your burning

I think it's a new install of a Dauntless. A previous posting hinted at a possible chimney fire but there hasn't been any follow-through.

J

Thread 'New to wood stoves'

Dec 10, 2025

New to wood stoves and just installed our VC Dauntless.
Wondering if it normal for the black double wall pipe to smoke at first? We’ve had a couple of burns so far and the stove got pretty hot the other night and the pipe started smoking. I assume this is maybe just the initial oils and paint? Also, is it normal for the ceiling box to get hot to the touch when the stove is really hot or is this concerning? We turned the air control down and everything cooled and the smoke stopped but want to make sure it’s normal or see if this is unsafe and we need to reevaluate.

• Jcherv0912
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Vermont Castings

 

[Jcherv0912]

I think it's a new install of a Dauntless. A previous posting hinted at a possible chimney fire but there hasn't been any follow-through.

J

Thread 'New to wood stoves'

Dec 10, 2025

New to wood stoves and just installed our VC Dauntless.
Wondering if it normal for the black double wall pipe to smoke at first? We’ve had a couple of burns so far and the stove got pretty hot the other night and the pipe started smoking. I assume this is maybe just the initial oils and paint? Also, is it normal for the ceiling box to get hot to the touch when the stove is really hot or is this concerning? We turned the air control down and everything cooled and the smoke stopped but want to make sure it’s normal or see if this is unsafe and we need to reevaluate.

• Jcherv0912
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Vermont Castings

Be green,
Yes you’re correct in that it’s a new Dauntless. But no chimney fire, just a hot pipe while breaking in.

 

[Jcherv0912]

That black is uniform across the whole cap, even the underside. Is it possible that it's just painted? The screen does look a bit sooty though.

Not painted. It was stainless like the rest of the pipe.

 

[Jcherv0912]

If you have the ability to go up on the roof and check the cap and take a better picture that would help you out some.

What stove are you running and what is the moisture content of the wood your burning

Running a new Dauntless. The wood is freshly cut standing dead with a moisture content of 5-20%.

 

[Jcherv0912]

Watch the cap screen for plugging. A clogged cap does seem to happen more with new installs. This may be due to a few reasons.
The screen is too fine
Wood is poorly seasoned
The stove is not being operated correctly

Also, the chimney pipe may need a brace if it is over 5ft tall. How tall is this chimney above the roof?

Thank you for all the info.
it’s not over 5ft but we do have a brace we plan to install just to be safe.

 

[begreen]

Running a new Dauntless. The wood is freshly cut standing dead with a moisture content of 5-20%.

Standing dead firewood can often be high moisture content. It doesn't start drying out thoroughly until split and air dried.

How is the moisture content being tested? On the ends or after resplitting and on the freshly exposed face of the wood?

 

[Jcherv0912]

Standing dead firewood can often be high moisture content. It doesn't start drying out thoroughly until split and air dried.

How is the moisture content being tested? On the ends or after resplitting and on the freshly exposed face of the wood?

After resplitting

 

[begreen]

If you have a pair of binoculars, see if the cap screen is plugging.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Low pitch roof, less than 5ft of chimney. Let’s quit speculating and get up there and check! Might as well separate that pipe at the joint snd get a good idea of what’s happening in there at the same time.