Woodstove Maintenance

Creosote Formation

What Causes Creosote? Wood is made up of solids (cellular structure) and high moisture content, with the latter under the best of conditions rarely falling below 11 to 17%. Combine this with the fact that as a tree grows it leaches all types of nutrients and minerals from the surrounding soil creating a mixture of solids. As this mixture burns, moisture and minerals are released in a gaseous form.

This would be OK if the smoke simply went up and out the chimney, but it doesn’t. Smoke is hot, and as it flows upward, it must pass through considerably cooler chimney walls, which causes condensation. It is this temperature difference that is responsible for some of the smoke to condense (stick to) the chimney wall. Picture a glass of ice tea on a hot summer’s day, the surface of the glass is cooler (chimney wall) than the air around it (smoke), causing little beads of moisture (creosote) to appear.

Cleaning Requirements

• Both the chimney and chimney connector should be inspected for creosote deposits at least twice monthly and build up removed as necessary. Only dry seasoned natural wood is approved as fuel. Using green or inadequately seasoned wood may increase creosote buildup.
• Burning a stove on low for long periods may cause incomplete combustion, creating vapors which may condense in a relatively cool chimney, forming creosote. Creosote deposits tend to form in long runs of venting where gases cool prior to exhausting. Although reduction of creosote is one of the primary advantages of a high tech and catalytic stoves, some creosote-forming compounds will escape unburned during normal use.
• To inhibit the build up of creosote, adjust the air intake control to a medium-high or high setting for no more than 10 minutes a day. Do not attempt to burn out heavy creosote accumulations in this manner. This must be removed from the chimney by scraping or brushing to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.

NOTE: Single wall pipe cools rapidly, therefore installations using this type of connector are more susceptible to creosote deposits.

Ash Removal and Disposal

The fire MUST BE COMPLETELY OUT and the stove cold before removing ashes.

• Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a non-combustible floor or on the ground well away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal.
• If ashes are disposed of by burial in soil or otherwise locally dispersed, they should be retained in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.

Door, Glass, Ash Drawer and Ash Dump Gaskets

• Should the door, glass, ash drawer or ash dump gaskets become frayed or damaged, they should be replaced with same size and type as original. Use high temperature silicone sealer as an adhesive.
• The stove should not be operated with broken or chipped glass. Use only the same size and type of glass and glass gasket as the original, never use substitute material.
• A commercial glass cleaner designed for stoves is recommended for cleaning the glass. Do not use abrasive cleaners, and clean the glass when the stove is cold.

Replacing Broken Glass

• Loosen fastening screws that hold down the glass clamps on the doorframe. Remove clamps and carefully remove the remainder of the glass
• Clean the area where the glass and gasket are to be installed.
• Install window channel gasket around the edge of the new door glass and cut off excess gasket so as to leave a little overage material to butt up snugly and seal the other end. Carefully lay gasketed glass in fitted area of the doorframe.
• Be certain that the little gasket cushions are still on the hold down clamps. If not, you can use some material from the old gasket to fit between the glass and the hold down clamp.
• Install long bottom clamp and the other smaller clamps and carefully and evenly tighten down the screws. Do not over tighten. Snug is sufficient.
• Check your installation by gently pushing on the glass from the outside while looking for any excess glass movement that would allow air in.

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Tips Heating With Wood

To insure that we all have a safe winter here are some helpful hints to help you through the cold winter months:

• Make sure before the heating season starts that you inspect your woodstove and have your chimney and flue pipes cleaned by a qualified chimney sweep. Chimneys and flue pipes should be cleaned at least once a year or whenever soot deposit or creosote deposit on the sides of the chimney exceed 3mm.
• In order to burn efficiently and with minimum amount of pollution make sure you only burn seasoned firewood. If the wood has been seasoned properly the ends of the wood will have splits and should feel quite light.
• Do not burn painted or treated wood, saltwater driftwood or any garbage in your appliance.
• The glass doors on modern woodstoves are designed to stay clear; dark stains are a sign of smouldering caused by slow burning or poor fuel try opening your air damper a bit more.
• Remove ashes from your stove regularly and place them in a metal container with a lid in a safe area outside and away from your house.
• Keep drapes, furniture, newspapers and books at least 3 feet away from your woodstove.
• Install a smoke alarm in your home and test it monthly, it could save your life.
• Consider buying a carbon monoxide alarm.
• If you have a chimney fire shut down the combustion air to your appliance and call the fire department. When the fire department arrives we will ensure that the chimney fire is out and that fire did not extended beyond the confines of the chimney. Sometimes chimney fires can extend beyond the chimney and result in a structure fire.

If you have any questions regarding your woodstove installation give Tony or Bob at Squamish Fire Rescue call at 604.898.9666.

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