Soot everywhere, wood insert, flue cleaned

[The Seeker]

I had my chimney cleaned and when I turned on the insert fan soot went everywhere! I had a different company clean it last year and told them about my prior experience only to have a very similar issue. This time I was ready with hvac filter material and the soot didn’t go all over the place. I have a Pacific Energy wood insert that has an offset box to connect to the liner. I’m wondering how this is happening and trying to avoid it this year (2026). My thought is that when they send the brush up it’s pushing the soot out and over the edge of the liner, then it just accumulates in the firebox and gets drawn into circulation with the fan.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Check the top of the insert to make sure that the liner is connected. One other thing, did you have the chimney cleaned before they installed the liner? Cleaning the liner may be knocking old soot down the chimney outside the liner.

 

[The Seeker]

Check the top of the insert to make sure that the liner is connected. One other thing, did you have the chimney cleaned before they installed the liner? Cleaning the liner may be knocking old soot down the chimney outside the liner.

Thanks, I didn’t have it cleaned prior to the stainless steel liner being installed. I’m going to remove the surround pieces and get in there for a look around. I’m also going to try cleaning the liner myself. It’s time to get ready.

 

[bholler]

Thanks, I didn’t have it cleaned prior to the stainless steel liner being installed. I’m going to remove the surround pieces and get in there for a look around. I’m also going to try cleaning the liner myself. It’s time to get ready.

If it wasnt cleaned prior to install the liner will probably need to be pulled in order to clean it properly

 

[kborndale]

Thanks, I didn’t have it cleaned prior to the stainless steel liner being installed. I’m going to remove the surround pieces and get in there for a look around. I’m also going to try cleaning the liner myself. It’s time to get ready.

Did you install it yourself? No competent installer would install a liner without first sweeping the chimney.

 

[bholler]

Did you install it yourself? No competent installer would install a liner without first sweeping the chimney.

Unfortunately there are many incompetent ones. I pull 3 or 4 a year for this reason

 

[The Seeker]

Unfortunately there are many incompetent ones. I pull 3 or 4 a year for this reason

Yes the chimney was swept prior to the liner install. I had to go look at the paperwork to see.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Pull the cover around the insert and make sure the liner is attached. Soot is coming from somewhere. If they swept the chimney before install than it’s coming from inside the liner. The liner could have detached from the stove, or there may be a hole in the liner. Is the liner insulated? The insulation should stop the soot from quickly falling out a puncture, and should help prevent a puncture in the first place.

 

[The Seeker]

I’ve removed the surround and am attaching a video. At 37 seconds into it there an opening where it looks like the sheet metal has come apart. I think I may have to get some help in pulling this unit out and then getting it installed properly. The video was too large to attach so I’ve attached a screenshot from the 37 second point.