Creosote And The Need For Removal - Newmac NS220E Installation, Operating And Service Manual

USING HEATER FOR EMERGENCY COOKING
This heater is designed so that the cabinet top can be lifted and cooking vessels set on top of the firebox for cooking and
heating water.
NOTE: This lift top feature is intended for emergency cooking only, such as when regular cooking facilities are
temporarily out of service. When it is being used as a heater, the cabinet top must be in place.

CREOSOTE AND THE NEED FOR REMOVAL

This low emission wood stove is designed to burn up smoke, particulates and organic vapors and gases prior to exiting
the firebox provided seasoned cordwood is burned and therefore you should not experience creosote build up. However
even low emission stoves will allow some vapors up the chimney and condense exiting the chimney top where creosote
can build up in the chimney cap. Check this on a regular basis. Most noticeable is smoke may exit the stove even when
the door is opened slowly.
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapors, which combine with expelled moisture to form
creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creosote
residue accumulates on the flue lining. When ignited this creosote makes an extremely hot fire.
Creosote is caused from the condensation of the vapor that exists within the escaping smoke – seasoned wood is less
likely to form creosote. The density of the vapor is dependent upon the moisture content of the gases in the flue. The
hotter the escaping gases in the chimney, the less creosote formation you will have. A well-constructed chimney with
smooth liners and a flue that is well insulated from the colder air is best. Chimneys built with porous brick, or ones with
loose brick, or ones constructed with stovepipe are undesirable because the colder air condenses the escaping gases
much more rapidly than they are in a well-constructed chimney.
The chimney connector and chimney should be inspected at least once a month during the heating season to determine
if a creosote build-up has occurred.
If creosote a significant layer of creosote (1/8 inch, 3mm or more) has accumulated it should be removed to reduce the
risk of a chimney fire.
CAUTION: Increase the minimum fire only as much as necessary to reduce the formation of tars. Increasing the
minimum fire may cause overheating on warm days.
Establish a routine for re-fueling and firing techniques. Check daily for creosote build-up until experience shows you
how often you need to clean to be safe. The hotter the fire the less creosote is deposited, and weekly cleaning may be
necessary in mild weather even though monthly cleanings may be enough in the coldest months. Contact your local
municipal or provincial fire authority for information on how to handle a chimney fire. Establish an emergency plan to
handle a chimney fire should this occur.
The formation of creosote could also be caused by a severe downdraft condition caused from taller objects surrounding
the chimney such as a hill, trees, other buildings, or chimneys of poor construction.
Under such conditions, the cold air drifts into and down the chimney, chilling the escaping vapor within the smoke below
the dew point and depositing this residue on the inside of the chimney walls. A chimney cap can help reduce this
possibility.
It is important that you inspect the chimney connector and chimney flues more frequently than every 1 to 2 months until
you see what pattern of deposition is occurring.
WARNING: If unseasoned pitchy cordwood is burned or the chimney is not properly constructed or insulated or if the
chimney connector is excessively long or has several elbows or turns, more frequent inspections must be made.
If creosote is a problem, the following may reduce it:
1. Seasoned firewood, usually between 18 to 25% moisture, usually indicated by noticeable cracks in the ends of the
cordwood.
2. More frequent refueling with smaller pieces produces a hotter fire.
3. Avoid prolonged operation of the heater with the thermostat at its lowest setting.
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