Creosote cleaning log for Woodmaster 4400

[fourustircom]

Hi, Folks!

Well, the test fire finally died down after 3 days, still having 150 degree water temp. Looking inside though, after finally getting the flue rod to move, I see black, shiney deposites which I assume is the evil creosote. Have any of you tried the logs that are supposed to break uo this stuff? I found a good writeup about them.

Thanks!

 

[Butch(OH)]

Get used to seeing creosote inside the OWB, it is the standard operating condition. When the outside temps go down and you are actually using some BTUs the draft fan will run enough to keep the top burned out where the flue rod runs unless you are burning some really wet/gummy wood. Mine has been heating the domestic water only for about 6 weeks and is just now getting gummed up enough around the door that I might scrape it out tonight. It hardly ever runs the draft fan and the flue rod runs fine. Wood is dry ash/elm split into small pieces as for a regular wood stove, about 2/3 pieces per 24 hours. Wet wood and low BTU usage just doesn't go together very well.

 

[Chuck Diesel]

Start saving any kind of cardboard, beer cases. When you have enough to fill the firebox, burn it all. Its best to let your water temp drop as low as possible. Then watch how fast the water temp rises when that creosote catches fire. That should burn most of it off. Or try burning pine pallets.

 

[oneoldbanjo]

Like the others have said.....don't worry about removing any creosote manually until you are ready to shut the OWB down for the season. When it is warm out I build very small fires that will burn out quickly and avoid putting in a big supply of wood that will smolder for days. When the weather is finally cold enough to get a good hot fire going don't be alarmed when you see flames coming 2 feet out of the stack when the creosote is burning out.

I have heard that the "creosote logs" have salts in them.....and should not be used in a steel OWB.

When shutting down in the spring I let the fire go out and clean out the ashes. After the furnace has cooled down to a very low temperature I build a few very small fire every couple of days using dry kindling that burns up completely before the blower kicks off. Then I follow with a fire or two from cardboard and paper. Finally I scrape off any loose stuff, use a shop vac to clean out anything I can't shovel out, then I spray a coating of oil/diesel fuel from a pump sprayer to give the inside a thin coating. Finally I put the flue cap on to keep the hot humid summer air form condensing on the inside of the OWB.

 

[fourustircom]

Pine?

I thought pine was "bad" and added to the problem. Cardboard? Hmmm... I'm wondering if the machine temp is set too low, 160 on and 170 off, because the thermister is not reading correctly. My water temp always seemed to be 150-160 even when the readout said 180 or higher. The stuck rod surprised me. Glad I have a splitter to make those small pieces. My B-I-L will put in his burner what fits through the door. I wouldn't be able to lift one that big, this 4400 has a huge door.

Ok, hot fire should do it. That's probably most of what those cleaning logs do anyway.

Thanks!

 

[woodbooga]

I know a guy from the backwoods who does not own a washing machine and only wears his clothes once. He goes to the local thrift shop on the days when you can fill a bag for a quarter and isn't too particular about what he wears.

Once his clothes are soiled, he tosses them in the fire. "That's how I keep the unit good and clean," he says.:jawdrop:

Can't quite bring myself to burning clothes but he swears by it.

 

[fourustircom]

Interesting ideas for creosote cleanup

I guess waste oil is out for coating the burner. Got lots of that! Nice to hear that the high dollar EPA jobs get coked up too. Maybe I'm glad I didn't go that route after all.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

My 4400 had more creosote buildup than I wanted after last season, and it was set at the factory setting of on at 160 and off at 170. I am going to change it to run up to 180 instead this year to get longer burns and see if that helps.

I am also going to snake down the stack to 4" diameter to try and keep the exhaust in the stove and little longer.

 

[Butch(OH)]

My 4400 had more creosote buildup than I wanted after last season, and it was set at the factory setting of on at 160 and off at 170. I am going to change it to run up to 180 instead this year to get longer burns and see if that helps.

I am also going to snake down the stack to 4" diameter to try and keep the exhaust in the stove and little longer.

I set mine up to 180 last winter to help the side arm make more hot water and I was amazed how much more creosote was burned out of the drum than at 170. We have a plate now and I plan on setting it back to 170 again, seems to burn less wood there. I also plan to try setting it up now and then to help clean things out.

Let us know how the pipe reduction works.

 

[Sawmill]

I am also interested in how the smaller chimney will work out. I have been burning that rotten pulpy wood this summer for hot water and I did not get a lot of build up. I run mine at 180 when the temp drop around zero. I usually run it at 170 most of the time in the fall and in the summer I run it at 140 to 150.