A discovered trick to keep the stove running optimally

[user 122190]

A little discovery I came upon the other day, that has helped clean out the flue pipe. Take some noodled wood and shove it into a large padded mailer or an empty ice cream carton and toss it into the fire. The stove will rage for several minutes, with lots and lots of heat, and the velocity of the heat running up the pipe will help clear any soot that has gathered. My stove has been running better the last few days then it has in a month. Kept me from climbing the roof.

 

[muddstopper]

I have always heard that burning a aluminum can in the stove would keep the flue clean. I have never intentionally tried it, but I did drag a big glob of aluminum out of the stove when I was cleaning it out this week. I suspect one of the kids thru in a coke can. I cleaned my flue last week and only got a dust pan full of soot out of it. It hadnt been cleaned since the first of last winter. Connected??? I havent a clue.

 

[user 122190]

I have always heard that burning a aluminum can in the stove would keep the flue clean.

I've tried this also. I'm not convinced one way or the other. We've mostly soft woods around here, so I have problems getting a fire hot enough to burn a can completely. I suppose if I could get a hot enough fire, much of the work would be done without any tricks.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Noodled wood? You mean the shavings?

I often grab a few shovel fulls of planer shavings for starting the fire. Pour on a coffee can of old oil, let it soak a bit and it burns nice.

 

[user 122190]

Noodled wood? You mean the shavings?

Yup. Great for kindling also. Soaking in oil will be my next experiment.

 

[NSMaple1]

Sounds like a decent way to start a chimney fire too.

 

[Del_]

I hardly get any build up in my chimney and clean only once per year at the beginning of the season.

Jotul F600CB

 

[user 122190]

I hardly get any build up in my chimney and clean only once per year at the beginning of the season.

Just soot for me. This trick seems to blow it out. Climbing my roof is a risky thing that I try and avoid at all costs.

 

[babybart]

I burn my stove hot once every 24hrs, usually in the morning for about a half hour. That keeps me cleaned out and I only sweep one time a year.

 

[absrio]

a controlled chimney fire, that doesn't burn for too long, can help to reduce the amount of creosote build up in your chimney. but it should not be done without proper supervision of a trained professional. and a fire truck waiting outside. and your attorney on speed dial.

 

[Wood Doctor]

those noodle shavings are creating a chimney fire. chimney fires are a normal part of burning wood. the only problem is when you have a crumbling chimney then you could have problems. marketing ads have told ppl that chimney fires are dangerous, to sell you their product.

The noodles are not really creating the chimney fire. What created that chimney fire, if any, happened long before the noodles arrived.

 

[Marshy]

those noodle shavings are creating a chimney fire. chimney fires are a normal part of burning wood. the only problem is when you have a crumbling chimney then you could have problems. marketing ads have told ppl that chimney fires are dangerous, to sell you their product.

Chimney fires are not a normal part of burning fire wood! Chimney fires are a real threat to the health of the chimney and your home. They can cause the flue tile to break and will catch your house on fire if they burn uncontrolled for too long. The extreme heat causes the clay liner to expand and it can destroy the chimney. Terrible advice IMO.

 

[absrio]

Chimney fires are not a normal part of burning fire wood! Chimney fires are a real threat to the health of the chimney and your home. They can cause the flue tile to break and will catch your house on fire if they burn uncontrolled for too long. The extreme heat causes the clay liner to expand and it can destroy the chimney. Terrible advice IMO.

well you are correct, but clearly you are at the complete opposite end with this statement burn uncontrolled for too long. I thought that was obvious but as they say "common sense isn't all that common"

I never said you could burn uncontrolled for too long. although I should have been clearer and typed: a controlled chimney fire, that doesn't burn for too long, can help to reduce the amount of creosote build up in your chimney. but it should not be done without proper supervision of a trained professional. and a fire truck waiting outside. and your attorney on speed dial.

I hope that makes you happy.

 

[olyman]

well you are correct, but clearly you are at the complete opposite end with this statement burn uncontrolled for too long. I thought that was obvious but as they say "common sense isn't all that common"

I never said you could burn uncontrolled for too long. although I should have been clearer and typed: a controlled chimney fire, that doesn't burn for too long, can help to reduce the amount of creosote build up in your chimney. but it should not be done without proper supervision of a trained professional. and a fire truck waiting outside. and your attorney on speed dial.

I hope that makes you happy.

makes him happy??? cool yer jets, young'un...

 

[NSMaple1]

Even if there is uncertainty over the semantics of 'burning uncontrolled for too long', I think I would agree that chimney fires are not a normal part of burning fire wood, that chimney fires are a real threat to the health of the chimney and your home, and that they can cause the flue tile to break and can catch your house on fire.

Over time - and not much time in cases - one can crack your liner in short order. Then maybe the brick & mortar the next time. Then maybe it gets to the wood framing behind the brick & mortar the next time. Not saying every chimney fire will burn a house down - but think I would say it is far from a recommended regular practice.

 

[absrio]

makes him happy??? cool yer jets, young'un...

my jets are cool old man. and I'm no young'un. totally kidding.

for whatever reason. ppl take what I say way out of context, and elaborate on it. and I'm like wtf??

 

[absrio]

Over time - and not much time in cases -

clearly ambiguous.

 

[olyman]

my jets are cool old man. and I'm no young'un. totally kidding.

for whatever reason. ppl take what I say way out of context, and elaborate on it. and I'm like wtf??

slow to learn......marshys been here forever..and uuuuuuuu????????

 

[NSMaple1]

I never said you could burn uncontrolled for too long. although I should have been clearer and typed: a controlled chimney fire, that doesn't burn for too long, can help to reduce the amount of creosote build up in your chimney.

Maybe you could explain the proper way to control a chimney fire.

Because there was no controlling the ones I've been witness to, they burned full speed ahead until burned out even with things shut off down below. Makes for quite a show...

 

[absrio]

slow to learn......marshys been here forever..and uuuuuuuu????????

oh you were implying my length of time here? I thought you meant my age. absrio is one of my many alias's. been here for years. my original name was jlute, then I was brushy ape.

totally kidding. lets not squabble over minor matters, this is the internet after all.

just be glad that you can click the like button.

TOTALLY KIDDING!!!!!!!!!! please don't yell at me.