Can someone point me in the right direction to that study that shows pine burns cleaner than oak when properly dried?
Oak vs pine creosote build up study
- Thread starter svk
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It's been referenced in here several times. I just can't find the darn thing.
must damm wet/green oak vs kiln dry pine
I can't but do recall reading that burning 100% oak creates an acidic flue that will eat stainless. It was suggested to mix oak with at least 30% different species. Irrelevant I suppose for what you are talking?
DoHomerSimpson
ArboristSite Lurker
I've always believed that creosote is the deposit that results from moist by-products of the burning process condensing on the inside of the flue or chimney. This happens if the flue is cold enough for the condensation process to take place. There are many reasons such as:
Burning the fire too cool;
Using fuel whose moisture content is too high;
Cooling or slowing down the flue gases too much with the damper;
Etc.
The guy who sweeps my chimneys told me years ago that you must burn any wood dry and hot enough to keep the flue/chimney also hot enough to prevent creosote formation in the first place.
Softwoods may contain more resins than hardwoods, but, properly dried and used in a properly managed stove they ought not be any worse at creating creosote assuming you can get them up to high enough temperature. They won't burn for as long a time or as hot as a similarly size piece of oak, but that's because they only contain half the energy per cubic foot. They'll often burn with more flame so are better for visual impact sometimes.
As in all things, a mixture often works best.
If a scientific study does exist that proves that, with everything else being equal, oak produces more creosote than pine, then I'd like to read that also.
Burning the fire too cool;
Using fuel whose moisture content is too high;
Cooling or slowing down the flue gases too much with the damper;
Etc.
The guy who sweeps my chimneys told me years ago that you must burn any wood dry and hot enough to keep the flue/chimney also hot enough to prevent creosote formation in the first place.
Softwoods may contain more resins than hardwoods, but, properly dried and used in a properly managed stove they ought not be any worse at creating creosote assuming you can get them up to high enough temperature. They won't burn for as long a time or as hot as a similarly size piece of oak, but that's because they only contain half the energy per cubic foot. They'll often burn with more flame so are better for visual impact sometimes.
As in all things, a mixture often works best.
If a scientific study does exist that proves that, with everything else being equal, oak produces more creosote than pine, then I'd like to read that also.
TimberWolf530
ArboristSite Guru
I couldn't find anything here, but my search lead me over to Hearth. There was a link in the thread to the study, but the link was no good anymore. I don't think I got you what you wanted, but maybe got you a little closer.
https://www.**********/talk/threads/hardwoods-create-more-creasote-than-softwoods.45239/
https://www.**********/talk/threads/hardwoods-create-more-creasote-than-softwoods.45239/
Nick Kent
ArboristSite Member
Pretty much all we burn is spruce in downeast maine. No issues whatsoever. Just regular cleaning of the flue.
Little Al
Addicted to ArboristSite
Iv'e always understood it to be the black steel flues that suffered this problem, possibly SS flues but to a lesser degree Stand corrected if Iv'e grasped the wrong end of the stick .Iv'e been burning north of 90% seasoned oak since I moved in to this house in 2004 with no effect to 150mm single skin stainless flues on 3 stoves 1 of which is more or less 24/7 in the winter, flues swept each summer the set up I have allows exposed flue pipes so I can see whats going on & I can take the flues apart to clean them out
I think this article explains it fairly well. Its not so much the species as it is the moisture content. http://www.newmainetimes.org/articles/2012/02/08/creosote-and-art-wood-burning/
