Soot leaking from newly installed chimney pipe?

[theoretically]

Hi, newbie stove question. I've had an insert in the past, but just had my first stove installed a few days ago in a new house. I've burned two fires in it, both using only newspaper, kiln-dried grocery store wood, and biobricks. The smell of the paint curing was strong, so I kept the windows cracked. The house smelled pretty smoky on top of the chemical smell of the paint during both fires, though at the time I figured it was the effects of the open windows on the draw. But since then there's been a surprisingly strong residual smoky smell and today I realized the smell is coming from a layer of black soot around a couple of joints on the outside of the chimney pipe. I'm wondering if this is a fault in the installation? Is this normal or should I contact the installers to have them seal the gaps?

I'm attaching a couple of pics, though it's hard to show black stuff on a black background, so not sure how helpful they'll be. Thanks for your help - I've read the forum for years and appreciate the knowledge here.

 

[webby3650]

Do you have a SS chimney liner? Either way it’s likely just debris that’s in the thimble being sucked in occasionally.

 

[theoretically]

Do you have a SS chimney liner? Either way it’s likely just debris that’s in the thimble being sucked in occasionally.

No, there's no SS liner. The existing masonry chimney needed to be extended by about 6' to meet local code, and by the time all the improvement work was done, the mason said it would be fine to use without a SS liner.

 

[begreen]

Is there a clay liner in the chimney? Do you know what the ID is?
I'm wondering if the draft is weak. Is there any smoke rollout when the stove door is opened?

 

[theoretically]

Is there a clay liner in the chimney? Do you know what the ID is?
I'm wondering if the draft is weak. Is there any smoke rollout when the stove door is opened?

Yes, it's a clay liner. I'm not sure what you mean by ID? (Are there brands of clay liners?)

There was a bit of smoke rollout with the open door and I'm also worried the draft is weak, though again, I've only run the stove with the windows open so far.

 

[Max W]

Inner diameter

 

[30WCF]

Is it just me, or is that upside down?

 

[30WCF]

 

[begreen]

I'm not sure what you mean by ID?

The inside dimensions. What is the size of the clay tiles

 

[theoretically]

The inside dimensions. What is the size of the clay tiles

Unfortunately, I don't know.

 

[webby3650]

Is it just me, or is that upside down?

No. Selkirk double wall appears that way though.