What is Creosote?

CREOSOTE is a brown tar like substance which is the product of incomplete combustion of wood smoke. It results from engaging the combustor too soon or trying to operate the unit when the combustor temperature is too low. This material must be burned off the combustor. To burn off the creosote, put the combustor back in the stove and burn the stove at a higher than normal temperature for 30 minutes with the combustor engaged and the by-pass closed.
Repeat as necessary until the material can be removed.

Note: If the combustor is coated with creosote, it is likely that the flue pipe and chimney are also coated with creosote. Be sure to have the stove's exhaust system cleaned before operating at these higher temperatures to avoid a chimney fire. Be sure the combustor has cooled completely before attempting to handle it again.

What is Soot?

SOOT is a dark brown granular material which can result from burning off the creosote or from burning foreign materials in the stove's firebox with the by-pass closed, such as paper and cardboard.

The same cleaning procedures are used as those for cleaning fly ash. (see 6/5/08 posting on fly ash)

Beware

Winter will be here before we know it. Firewood should already be stacked and drying out for this winter's burning. I sure you know this already, but I just wanted to caution you about something else. "Poison Ivy" and "Poison Oak" Be careful when carrying in fire wood. One winter I got poison oak really bad from carrying in fire wood. The vines had grown around the wood which had been split and stacked for that winter's burning....not a very pleasant memory as I recall.
So please make sure you and your family handle firewood with gloves and long-sleeves.

Give the combustor time to light-off

How to achieve catalytic combustor light-off and maintain catalytic burning conditions....
When initially starting a cold stove, a medium to high firing rate must be maintained for 20 to 30 minutes. This will allow the stove, the catalytic combustor and the fuel to stabilize at a proper operating temperature.Even though temperature can reach 600 F. within a few minutes after the fire has started, if the fire is turned down too soon to a low burning condition, it will result in the fire and/or the catalytic combustor going out.At the end of a burn cycle, it’s possible that the amount of burning charcoal remaining might not provide sufficient temperature or fuel for the catalyst to stay lit.During the refueling of a hot stove that has an internal temperature below 500 F., it is best to fire the stove up for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure sufficient temperature and proper amounts of volatile gases for the catalyst to operate well and efficiently.However, when refueling a hot stove that has an internal temperature above 500 F., no re-firing is necessary.