Ok, so i know i had creosote on fire in my stack this morning.

[Dogbyte]

When you do your sweep this weekend do you plan on removing all that single wall pipe from inside the house and cleaning it outside? I have a set up in our lower level with about four feet of single wall pipe and two 90s that I pull off the stove and slide out of my thimble and take it outside to clean. In my case it's the only way I could clean that section of pipe. I think you can do a better job of cleaning it outside where you can see what you're working with and can give it a good scrubbing with a metal brush. With your set up it looks like it could be hard to clean with a brush if you leave it hooked to your stove with those offsets.

yeah that what i planned on doing. i only have enough sticks to do the upper section anyway. 12ft. i will do the lower sections outside.

 

[realstihl]

I don't think you had a full blown chimney fire. Sounds like you were just burning stuff off ss baffle. I had mine apart the other day just to check and there was some black granules that had fallen. I went ahead and swept the whole pipe and took the stove pipe outside and cleaned it. Didn't get much at all. Maybe a half cup.

 

[bholler]

I am curious whose definition that is lumberjack. because according to the csia handbook the definition of a chimney fire is any flames in the venting system more than 8" from the appliance. the venting system is the stove pipe and flue and in a fire place the venting system starts at the back side of the damper so the smoke chamber is the venting system. I don't know the nfi definition because I am csia certified not nfi maybe there's is different sorry that was supposed to be 18"

 

[Dustin92]

I doubt you had a major chimney fire. We have had one for sure (possibly a minor one before that), and it sounds like a low rumbling noise in te chimney, the stove draws like mad, and tons of black smoke and flames out of the chimney. Very unsettling to see flames and chunks of burning creosote coming out of the chimney. Yes, it smells something like burning garbage or paper. You might have had a minor fire though. Sweep the chimney and keep an eye on things, and all should be fine.

 

[BrotherBart]

The proof positive is if that chimney and baffle had a pile of "popcorn" looking expanded creosote in and on them.

BB - Who probably had more chimney fires than anybody here. One that he started on purpose. No popcorn. No chimney fire.

 

[WiscWoody]

I doubt you had a major chimney fire. We have had one for sure (possibly a minor one before that), and it sounds like a low rumbling noise in te chimney, the stove draws like mad, and tons of black smoke and flames out of the chimney. Very unsettling to see flames and chunks of burning creosote coming out of the chimney. Yes, it smells something like burning garbage or paper. You might have had a minor fire though. Sweep the chimney and keep an eye on things, and all should be fine.

I'm pretty sure I had a chimney fire just after I installed my stove. I didn't seat the ash plug on my stove correctly and I left the door cracked just a bit to get the fire to catch. The next thing I knew the stove was roaring and the probe thermometer was pegged on double wall stove pipe! I didn't have a lot of wood in the stove luckily but everything was creaking and smoking and the smoke detectors in the house promptly sounded off! I promptly figured out the problem with the ash plug and corrected it from behind the stove and cut off the primary air! All is well and I always make sure to seat the ash plug and cover it with ash after a dump.....

 

[BobUrban]

Splitting hairs here trying to "label" this as a true or not true chimney fire and the reality is obvious - there was something going on in there you do not want. There is little doubt fire happened in your exhaust system and even a little one is not a good thing - just better than a big one. Pretty much everything has been said about what should be done and you seem to have a plan in place so just execute it and going forward do your best to burn cleaner and hotter. If your only choice is suspect wood at this time then inspect and clean more often - never a bad practice.

For the record I am burning 15% or less MC wood and have 6-750 temps often but I know when I pull the pipe off there will be a small pile of dust and creo laying on the baffle boards. This is just part of how a solid fuel system works and has to do with gravity. No matter how I burn there is going to be some stuff sticking to the sides and especially the cap. differentiation in flue temps, burning cycles and outside forces like wind will break some of this loose and inevitable it falls down my straight pipe and lands on the B Boards. I can and have heard this at times but much less since switching to a tube burner from a smoke dragon. First season I cleaned the flue 4-5 times, 2nd 2-3 and this year I will look in march/april to verify what I already know is going on. So, in conclusion, your cautious approach is commended, your diligent cleaning will keep you safe and being better prepared with your fuel resource will make life easier, safer and warmer going forward.

No bad reason to be overly cautious regarding solid fuel home heat.

 

[ridensnow23]

yes i agree, the black smoke and the smell was a little unnerving.

any tips for cleaning the cap? i heard gasoline and a match, ect... is there a better, less eye brow risky way that does just as good of a job? lol

PSA: Don't ever use gasoline to burn anything. If you must, use kerosene or diesel fuel. Gasoline fumes combust. Kero and diesel just burn.

 

[Dogbyte]

PSA: Don't ever use gasoline to burn anything. If you must, use kerosene or diesel fuel. Gasoline fumes combust. Kero and diesel just burn.

if a wire brush doesnt seem to want the job, i got some diesel. thumbsup.