Swept my chimney

dwinch53 · Dec 28, 2008

Well today i swept my metalbestos 6" chimney and to my surprise I only had about 2 cups of ash and very little creosote flakes...the reason I was sort of surprised was that my furnace burns only about 180 to 200 degrees..I do open er up when i fill er and then the temp goes up to apx 300 to 350. It had been about 30 days of burning...I wonder if the secondary burn has anything to do with it? Has anyone else cleaned their chimney lately? DW

AOD · Dec 28, 2008

I think a lot of folks took advantage of the mild snap to shut down their burners and clean their chimneys. I will probably do mine tomorrow, I loaned my brush out so I will just scuff the inside of the pipe with a 10 foot 2x4 and knock anything loose off. After burning green stuff all last winter I barely had 3 cups of soot in my chimney.

Ljute · Dec 28, 2008

Secondary burn would have a lot to do with it. Also, you must be using dry, well-seasoned wood?

dwinch53 · Dec 28, 2008

Ljute said:
Secondary burn would have a lot to do with it. Also, you must be using dry, well-seasoned wood?

Ljute, that is what i was thinking about the secondary burn and maybe the lower temp in the stack...I measure the temp apx 18" from back of the furnace...it is magnetic...been thinking about an internal probe..maybe it will be more accurate?...and yes i burn mostly ash and oak, maple,elm..at least one year dry...DW

City Slicker · Dec 28, 2008

Secondary burn?

I don't understand what you mean by "secondary burn". Can you explain?

dwinch53 · Dec 28, 2008

City Slicker said:
I don't understand what you mean by "secondary burn". Can you explain?

City Slicker...thanx for your question...In my firechief wood furnace is a thick solid plate steel shelf (if i may)and the fire is routed in a manner that the smoke and unburned gasses have to go thru the shelf before they exit to the chimney..when passing thru it is mixed when cooler air which enteres thru the front of the furnace just under the loading door, when these hot gasses and smoke mix with the incoming air it burns for the second time and we have what the stove and furnace makers call secondary burn...this will cut down on the creosote build up and produce more HEAT..Hope I did not confuse...DW check this out it is a cut away of my firechief furnace.. http://woodheatpro.com/Portals/0/firechief_drawing.jpg