SECTION VII: CHIMNEY AND FLUE PIPE MAINTENANCE
A. Chimney Maintenance
Many stove owners prefer to clean their own chimneys; however, we highly recommend a chimney sweep be contacted to do this job. A professional sweep can clean and inspect your system and sometimes find problems that you may overlook.
B. Flue Pipe Maintenance
Your pipe should be inspected monthly and cleaned at least once per year. Most people will clean their pipe and stove at the end of the heating season, which will eliminate odors from entering the house during the summer months. The flue pipe must be replaced every three to five years, depending on the thickness of the pipe (thicker pipe will last longer).
SECTION VIII: THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE YOUR STOVE TO SMOKE
It is very important that installation be made airtight. This is best accomplished by
using stove cement at each pipe joint, where the first section enters the stove flue collar and at any other connection such as the flue thimble. Any existing air leaks will cause air to draw into the system at the point of least resistance
These areas may cause air to enter the system and not be drawn through the stove, which could result in a cool chimney, causing the smoke to build up in the flue and eventually come back into the house. This is called “back puffing” and can be corrected by sealing all troublesome areas so they are airtight.
Another problem is a downdraft in the flue system. Air currents being deflected down the chimney by nearby objects such as trees, buildings or a hill can cause this. The other cause is that flue gases chill too quickly as they pass through the chimney system. This will cause the gases to become heavy and back up in the system, which will often result in “back puffing,” poor combustion and smoke odors in the house. Burning the unit hotter will, in some cases, help this situation. If you have any problem of this nature with your flue system, contact your local dealer or call Customer Service at (800)
SECTION IX: WHAT CAUSES CREOSOTE?
Creosote is caused by the condensation of the vapor that exists in the escaping smoke