stage 3 creosote? (sorry last post!)

[Kosmonauts]

sorry for all the posts recently! looking down my chimney from the roof this time I noticed some creosote near the top. I usually keep her pretty clean and havent seen this before. Is this a stage 3 glaze that is dangerous? and should I definetely clean this out before another use? Thanks you guys!

 

[quotejso]

Does it flake off? your picture is not that great.

 

[Kosmonauts]

Yea sorry about that I didn't have time to take the cap off. It looks a bit shiny and looks like it is a bit patchy. From the looks of it a brush or flail with some elbow grease may do it. I'm a bit paranoid because I don't know what is dangerous and what's moderate or severe buildup.

 

[begreen]

Not something you want to see. It will need a good, pro cleaning before putting in a liner for a woodstove or insert.

 

[Kosmonauts]

Thank you I really appreciate that. I don't get how it's happening because I am very strict about what I burn. I did pay for a chimney sweep earlier in the year and I'm thinking that they may have cut some corners

 

[jetsam]

Thank you I really appreciate that. I don't get how it's happening because I am very strict about what I burn. I did pay for a chimney sweep earlier in the year and I'm thinking that they may have cut some corners

It is less what you burn and more how you burn it. Hot flues don't accumulate glazed creosote.

Low smoldery fires (often associated with wet wood) cause cool flues which do accumulate creosote.

I can't tell you how many people have advised me that I am going to burn my house down with t3h creosote because I burn pine, so there's a lot of dubious conventional wisdom out there on this topic.

 

[Kosmonauts]

I see thank you so much. A hot flue is a clean flue then!

 

[Squisher]

I think it's quite common to get some creosote like that on the cap or last bit of the pipe where it exits the roof as the gasses cool rapidly in the last bit that's uninsulated. Still needs to be cleaned.

 

[Kosmonauts]

I think it's quite common to get some creosote like that on the cap or last bit of the pipe where it exits the roof as the gasses cool rapidly in the last bit that's uninsulated. Still needs to be cleaned.

Thanks squisher! Helping me out big time and I appreciate it. Gonna see if I can do some damage and will most likely pay for another sweep. I do have some pretty nice chimney cleaning tools so maybe it'll work. I wasn't pleased with the last service I paid especially finding this now

 

[begreen]

If one is burning poorly seasoned wood the flue gases are going to be cooler. When they drop below 250F they will start to condense on the cold flue tiles as creosote.

 

[jetsam]

It condenses at about 250F, so a pipe colder than that can accumulate creosote.

It also burns nicely at 1100F, so modern stoves don't put a whole lot of it up the chimney in the first place because their cats or reburners are hotter than that.

I get some flake on my cap even when I have been burning hot, so I wouldn't sweat a little flaky stuff. You don't want any creosote in there if you're lining the chimney though, because as previously mentioned it is flammable.

My rule of thumb is to sweep it any time there is any visible buildup. The worst part is going to be the coldest part (at the top, conveniently), so I use the top few inches of the pipe to decide if I will sweep it or not.

 

[brenndatomu]

I didn't take your poll because you have only the two options, bad or normal...I'd say it is somewhat in between...definitely not good, but not the kind of buildup that warrants having the FD on standby either...needs cleaned though

 

[Kosmonauts]

Thanks a

I didn't take your poll because you have only the two options, bad or normal...I'd say it is somewhat in between...definitely not good, but not the kind of buildup that warrants having the FD on standby either...needs cleaned though

thanks a ton you guys. Definetely going to clean and going to try to attack it with my gear first and if any bit questionable afterwards I'll call in the heavies!

 

[quotejso]

What are you burning in

 

[Kosmonauts]

What are you burning in

Regular old masonry fireplace

 

[quotejso]

Is that the chimney u r putting the insert in?

 

[Kosmonauts]

If I did get an insert yes...but I'm putting a stove in a different chimney that will be installed

 

[quotejso]

If I did get an insert yes...but I'm putting a stove in a different chimney that will be installed

OK well I would just clean yearly it looks flakey enough

 

[Kosmonauts]

Ok thanks I appreciate that! Unless there's a way to tie into that one from beneath it but I don't know about all that!!

 

[brenndatomu]

Is that the chimney u r putting the insert in?

That's a good point...make sure all existing creosote is cleaned out of the chimney before a liner is dropped in for a "new install"