Creosote burning logs?

What do you guys think about those chimney cleaning creosote buster logs? Do they work? I imagine they wouldn't be a viable replacement for an actual chimney sweep but are they worth using at only $10 a log?

 

In my humble opinion, if your wood is dry to 20% or less moisture content, pine or not, you won't have a creosote problem to begin with.

To wit, last year we ran out of dry wood....in fact I reckon none of it was 20%, but after we ran out of the driest wood we had, we scrounged through the stacks for the next driest wood on hand. I didn't even test it, and the ends had just started checking....after the wet summer last year. Some of the spring time wood took its time lighting up, and on one or more ocassions, I saw moisture coming out of the log ends. Thankfully it was spring and we didnt need lotsa heat. I really thought I'd have a nasty flue to clean.

But, it was pretty clean, with maybe 3/16ths layer of grey fluffy stuff when I cleaned it late spring. No shiny black stuff anywhere, even at the top.

A couple things though:
Chimney inside the house (masonry and steel lined) with only a few feet exposed exterior.
We burned full time and HOT, even in spring with wetter wood, we burned full open, just smaller loads.
Used no creosote logs or anything.

 

You'd be better off buying a brush and rods to clean it yourself if you have creosote.

 

No to the logs.

 

I tried once and I could not see that that they worked at all.

 

My installer (he did 2 wood stoves and an insert foe me) says they’re a joke. Waste of time.

 

Really do not believe there is any advantage to them that burning well seasoned wood and reasonably proper appliance use won't accomplish.

 

I have used them on an open fireplace that had a lot of shiny creosote on the flue. It did turn a lot of the creosote to a light ash that was not as flammable as the shiny stuff. However, a good cleaning is always better.

 

I throw a scoop of rutland creosote remover in my stove every once and a while. I dunno if it does anything.

supposed to convert black creosote into powdery ash

 

I think you might be able to get some snake oil that is less expensive and works better.

 

I use one maybe two a season. I know there are chemicals that get releases that are supposed to react with creosote. Can not prove they work or not. I don't believe they remove build up, just react with it to aid in cleaning.

I burn aged and dry hardwood as our only heat. The wood stove is old enough it's pre-EPA, so no catalytic converter. My son and I just did completed cleaning the chimney and stove pipe with brushes. The chimney swept easy. Everything had a dry, powdery look not a wet or bubbly appearance. Maybe there was 2 gallon of stuff removed from the chimney.

When I bought the house and swept the chimney to clean up the previous owners build up I got over 8 gallons of crud and a lot of it looked bubbly and wet. Previous owner stated he swept the chimney halfway through the heating season. I'm certain they burned green wood alot.

 

What? Not even going to mention the old trick of throwing in an aluminum can every now and then?

 

I have a non-catalytic, older, EPA compliant stove. At the start of every burn season, I burn a couple of sweep logs to coat the chimney with the drying agent in the logs. Half way through the burn season, I burn another couple sweep logs. We have a certified Chimney Sweep come every year in mid summer when their work load is low. He claims the creosote is dry and flaky and brushes largely to the orange flue tile surface when he cleans. We always burn dry wood and burn hot but have a masonry chimney and liner which condenses the smoke on the walls until the the whole mass becomes very warm so we generate a small amount of creosote. My Sweep claims he can tell if I have neglected to use the sweep logs because the cleaning is much harder and leaves a lot more of the creosote residue adhered to the tiles. I have verified this by personal inspection of the flue and since he has no monetary interest in my burning process other than ease of cleaning, I believe his observations also. I believe the sweep logs are not a substitute for thorough cleaning but can be an effective aid to that end! YMMV

 

let's not forget egg shells

 

I really do not know much about the creosote logs but gotta have some fun

 

They work exactly the way the manufacturer wants them to. After you buy them, look into your wallet and you'll see less green pieces of paper lining it. Removes that stuff as slick as you please.

 

look into the powder. A 2lb tub is only $18 compared to 1 log.

 

Wait! Eggshells?!?
I thought you were sposed to add magnesium!

 

Potato peels steeped overnight in nitroglycerin is my go-to favorite