With a reminder from Mitch (his neighbors place had a bad flue fire the other day), it is shoulder season......which means sometimes daily "chiller killer" fires and in some instances over-zealous use of the damper in your flue pipe. These things lead to a constant "hot/cold" cycle in your flue, and that can lead to creosote issues for some users. We should all keep this in mind and give our flues a periodic inspection. If you are not capable of doing so, have a qualified person do it for you. Don't forget about your spark arrestor/chimney cap. This is an area that is often susceptible to clogging in damp and mild conditions. Also make sure the smoke detectors are all working in your house.....
I had a "blockage" in my flue pipe a few months ago. Near as I can tell, a chunk broke away from the cap and lodged in a lower area of my flue. Choked the stove to the point I shut it down until I cleared the blockage. Now, back on a 3- month cleaning cycle. Better to be safe than sorry. I blame it on the Pine. JB
