got alot more than what i usually do, not sure why, I clean it every year around this time, burn seasoned wood and follow good burning habits. When I took the cap off and looked down the liner it looked pretty good to me, no real build up in top section. I do however have a gradual bend/angle in the flex liner where it exits my pre fab fireplace and goes up the chase, I spent a few extra minutes in that area with the brush. Filled up my ash bucket about 1/3 of the way
That doesn't look like a real big stove, but that does look like quite a bit of crud. However, it's brownish, so not so bad. Maybe try cleaning 1/2 way through the season to see where you're at. Is that a newish liner situation?
its a real small insert 1.6cuft firebox I believe, installed inside a pre fab z/c fireplace. 15 ft uninsulated 6" liner that is inside of of original z/c double wall pipe On my 8th season with this set up, When I used to have a sweep clean it I had them do it every other year and never got that much, I have been doing it myself last 4 years or so, usually get roughly half that. was really surprised today at what I got. But like was said above its the real light fluffy brownish stuff, but still freaked me out
X2 cleaning middle of the heating season. Maybe a fluke, maybe another issue. I think we ALL burned a ton of wood last year after that winter!
Yeah, that could have had something to do with it. Extra wood use, but shouldn't have been double bad with and an extra 1/2 cord. Weird. Gotta' be a reason.
With the color of that, I would not be too concerned. It was a clean burn and that stuff moves out of the chimney easy.
kinda what I am thinking as well, brush went down the liner with no issues. Like I said above I spent a little extra time where the liner starts to transition up the chase, maybe I was not cleaning it good enough in the past in that area?
I wouldn't be worried so much as it would make me question why just like you. My guess is like you say, the bend just wasn't cleaned out as well before.
We had a long and mild burn season last year. I was burning almost into July. Though you didn't use much more wood than normal, a lot of cold starts and low temp fires will make more creo than a non-stop hot fire. I had more than usual in my BK too. Are you missing a firebrick on the left side of that striker? My goofy coworker has the freestanding version and cuts his wood 12" long to fit N/S in that stove.
I did have alot of cold starts last year if I remember correctly, another issue is my wife lets the fire go out while I am at work and turns on the NG forced air furnace ( not necessarily a bad thing) and I restart the insert when I come home No I am not missing a firebrick, I have to take 2 of them out on the left side in order to get my 1st burn tube out, I dont however take the 2nd or 3rd tube out as once I get the first one out I can reach up and vacuum everything I need with the ash vac In the past I have scrounged wood cut 12 to 14 inches, works great for N/S loading in the small insert, however I cut most of mine at 16"
