Installing a wood furnace.......Chimney troubl

Yep, same thing my Dad did, load the box with green wood with alot of sap, start the fire and dampen the flue as soon as the fire started.

This caused creosote to build up on the flue walls 1/2" thick and when the creosote caught fire it burnt off in chunks from the steam (not enough water at one time) then shot out of the stack like a cannon.

This is my 16th year on my current chimney. I awlays start a fire letting it burn as hot as it can get for the first 20min as this burns off any creosote build up from the previous day(s) use.

In 16yrs I"ve never had to clean the flue. I do take the chimney apart each year for inspection.

T_Bone

I"ve heard of putting an aluminimn can in the fire box every once in a while, have no clue if it actually does anything.

They make a product you toss in the flame every few weeks, one for wood, one for oil burners, to take down the coatings some.

--->Paul

I would think salt would be super corresive?

Wood ash and water make lye so throwing in some salt should really eat up some metal...lol

There was a product called Red Devil or Blue Devil (I have no idea what it was) that looked like copper sulfate, that when added to the fire would also cause cerosote not to stick to the flue wall.

My kids like watching the flame when I added it as it would change the flames all different colors.

T_Bone