Steam or smoke

[Diabel]

Every year when it gets cold like this it simply bothers me to see this coming from the pipe. I am sure it is steam since this morning it was -20 f. Regardless, I prefer looking at at the flue as if there was no fire at all....

One observation though, with these low temps this steam/smoke will look identical on a fresh reload and three hours into the burn...strange

 

[bmblank]

Looks like it disappears quickly, which i would take to mean steam. Smoke hangs in the air more, especially on those cold cold days it seems.

 

[ColdNH]

I had the same thing going on this morning when the stove was in cruise control at 500. I expected clear heat waves coming out of the chimney but with a temp of -1 i saw similiar to what your seeing. i chalked it up as steam.

 

[corey21]

Looks like steam to me. The only time i worry is when my smoke is gray or blue.

 

[BrowningBAR]

I am sure it is steam since this morning it was -20 f.

At -20f my chimney could be spewing cotton candy and bottles of liquor. I ain't checking so long as it's warm inside.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

For sure at those temperatures any warm air hitting it will cause that.

 

[Diabel]

I guess every time a cold snap hits this "steam" question reappears.

 

[remkel]

I actually like seeing the steam on these cold mornings, especially when I see the steam coming out of my neighbor's chimney and I know he is paying 3.80/gallon to produce it

 

[Diabel]

That is it! It is the pipe that comes out the side of the house that causes the anxiety!

 

[rideau]

Steam for sure. The last cold snap we had, for the first time ever I saw white smoke coming out the chimney after engaging the cat. went in, opened cat, heated more, clsoed cat, went our, shite smoke; rinse and repeat. After three times, called Woodstock. How long til smoke disappears...oh about ten feet. Steam not smoke. Went out to confirm, and guess what? No more steam or smoke. SO: when it it frigid out, I get steam for a fwe minutes at the beginning of the cat burn, I'm figuring until all the moisture is out of my quite dry wood. It only lasts a few minutes. Doesn't seem to be just a contact thing between hot and cold air, because if it was I'd expect the steam to last much longer.

 

[Diabel]

My wood is pretty good and I will see this steam at least three hours into the burn.

 

[DexterDay]

My neighbour thought I finally started using my wood stove 2 days ago....

He finally seen some "Smoke" from my chimney... Silly neighbours

 

[wkpoor]

It looks like you have alot of pipe exposed to the air. I wonder if that allows the vapor to form easier and take more time and heat to get the pipe warm.

 

[Diabel]

It looks like you have alot of pipe exposed to the air. I wonder if that allows the vapor to form easier and take more time and heat to get the pipe warm.

Potentially yes.
It is insulated.