So, after about 3-4 months, I finally cleaned the flue pipe. I've been using the ACS spray the entire time, because Zap said it worked and that works for me. So, on the roof, I didn't know what to expect today. It had been a sticky mess last time, lots of gunk in the last 6' of exposed pipe. So the cap was crapped up, but the stuff was brittle. Hmmm.... Visible buildup looking down the pipe but less than it had been before. Hmmm..... Cleaned the cap, most of the buildup came off fairly easy, not gummy like it has been in the past. Stuck a brush down the flue and lo-n-behold!! the gunk broke away, in chunks! I ended up with 6" of pipe that still had a bit of residue , the last 6", but I wasn't going to force it. I ran the soot-eater from inside the stove up, then top down as far as it would go. I now have the cleanest flue pipe I've had in 2-years. The inside of the stove is much better also, still get the build-up by the side/back shield, but it breaks out much easier when you clean it. So far, so good. Give the ACS spray a try, you'll like the results. Thanks Zap, JB
I ran my soot eater from inside in January and it broke a rod off in the middle. Probably from torquing on the way up or from the fiberglass rods being outside before use? Man I was pizzed, had to fish it out from the roof. I scrapped it and went back to the old brush from the top.
Normal would be 4-550. This winter hasn't been normal for me, not nearly as cold and snowy as in years past. So I'm not pushing the stove. In fact, I'm going 24hrs between loads most of the time burning pine slab. That's where my problems have come from. Flue temps, once the stove settles in, run 350-400. It's allowed the flue to generate that buildup.
Yea thats a little low for sure, one of the big believers in the BKK made the comment that the low flue temps of his stove led to buildup. You can still burn a small hot fire though cant you, I am afraid if I had a BK I would have a lot of buildup as the house heats really easy when it gets a little warmer.
I love smaller hot fires, but that's strictly a week-end thing for me. It can be done easily enough, but I'm out of the house for 11-14 hours during the week, so the set-n-forget it has been the MO.
only thing i worry with on using Creosote remover products in cat stoves is making sure the substance is not harmful to the catalyst (especially if its a ceramic one) maybe BKVP can comment on that just to be sure that its ok to use
This stuff claims it's safe in a cat stove and I've not noticed any issues with the cat. I build a small fire and let it run until stove top hits 300 or so, then apply the ACS directly to the back of the stove and wood. I'll wait a full hour before closing the by-pass, controlling the fire with the t-stat. It seems to have worked and I'm glad, wasn't sure what my next move would've been.
