Wood Heat

Hillbilly · Jul 18, 2001

treeboone,
I was asking ddl about the chemical he puts on the coals to combat the creosote.

Hillbilly · Jul 18, 2001

I have an Ashley brand wood furnace,I have mine tied in the duct work and I heat the house basement and all (2800 sq ft total) easily.I have a wall thermostat that kicks the combustion air blower on when the temperature falls below set point (which does not happen very often) the house is kept at 75 degrees,even on the coldest night,10-15 below zero,I have a wheelbarrow and I burn from 1 to 2 loads a day.This thing paid for itself the 1st winter,which makes me think,I need to start to work on the woodpile.

MarkV · Jul 18, 2001

OK, I have another question. Has anyone heard of throwing a beer can into the fireplace or stove, now and then ,to fight creosote build up? I always have beer cans./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

treeboone · Jul 18, 2001

The old beer can in the woodstove routine eh?? And you thought that would get rid of the creosote???
Well pilgrim, the way it is supposed to work is this....
By the time there are enough beercans in the firebox that you can no longer build a fire, you will be drunk enough to be dancing on the roof. Hopefully being an efficient drunk, you would knock the crud out of the pipe while up there. IF you were really on the ball, drop a rope down into the firebox from the roof. Go back down and tie the bottom end of the rope to the cat. If the chimney is really clogged, tie on a small dog too. Go back up on the roof and haul up the rope. This should take care of any buildup in the pipe.

brewerbob · Jul 18, 2001

Thanks for your replies. We have a Yukon (or Eagle, they changed their name) propane/wood furnace and have been very pleased with it. I was stumped last winter because I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't draw correctly. I can sweep the chimney from inside, but it really makes a mess, so I'm hoping that the added pipe will solve my problem. I'll also pick up some of the chemical you put on the fire to clean the cap. We have a Quadrafire wood stove, and it will heat our 2900 square foot house, but you have to get up about twice during the night. We could use the propane in the furnace, but last time I bought it we paid $1.65/gallon so wood is a good option.
Bob

patrickg · Jul 18, 2001

Bob, I had a quick scan through the posts. Didn't see anyone comment on stove pipe length. The creosote is condensing because it is too cool up there where it condenses. Making the stack longer will allow the stack gasses to cool more and probably increase your creosote problem.

Patrick

brewerbob · Jul 18, 2001

I hope not, I've got $120 invested in that 3 feet of metalbestos. I'm going to try chemical additive and we've got about a cord or pine I can add to make the fire hotter. We love the wood heat, but I really HATE climbing up on that roof.
I want to keep the cap because it keeps the rain and birds out.
Bob

patrickg · Jul 18, 2001

Well, hope in one hand and ... in the other and ...Nah, I don't think so. Can't think of any way adding just a bit more stack would heat up the stack gasses. The problem is the creosote is condensing now because they cooled off too much. Maybe a continuous chain run up the fireplace through the chimney and down to a window near the fireplace. Yo attach a big metal brush like the sweeps use and swab it out. The cap, not to worry, it is attached to the chain and can be pulled back into place. Securing the chain inside near the fireplace secures the cap. Needs a bit of engineering on the shape of the botton of the part of the cap that must "jump back" into the stack but that is a small feat.

Patrick

MarkV · Jul 19, 2001

Treeboone,
Well.......I am sure I can drink enough of the beer./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Not so sure about the rest of the plan. I figured the beer can in the fire was one of "those" kind of tales.

MarkV