My brother and I are opposite political persuasions yet we both ended up living in the same state and ended up with Woodstocks. Common ground. When he built his house last year I had plenty of advice (which he did not want to hear) so, his final flue system looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. I basically said "well good luck!" even though he easily could have done a straight up and out near the ridge. (He has a symmetrical OCD problem so it had to be centered where the ridge was preventing the pipe going straight up.) Anyway, last week I went over and immediately noticed a bit too much creosote on the ridge cap and said for them to get the binoculars out. I explained that spark arrestors are creosote makers and that needs to be looked at. Well lo and behold, what happened today? Got a text. "May have had a chimney fire" (it wasn't) Just a clogged pipe in the Seuss Hop on Sno Roof Top system. Again, "good luck!"
Oh I'm sure it's wet, oak. Last year he burned it less than a year felling and only a few weeks after splitting. Then he didn't sweep for the next season. But again, I've been a wood stove owner for what now, 40 years? He's been a wood stove owner for 1. But why listen to your brother? Especially when he's on the other side of the isle.
Cuz he's smarter than you and did not try to burn his house down for 1!! You can learn a lot from anyone, if you pay attention. Even some of the dumbest people I know excellent examples of what not to do with your life!
And we wouldn’t want to get you (or me) in trouble here, so I won’t ask, but I have a feeling you’re on the correct side of the aisle!!!!
Update on "Chimney Fire". Nothingburger. My brother had his builder come over and open up the pipe. Clean. So, what happened? Well, when he built the place last year he made it super air tight. He had the perfect opportunity to put in an OAK which I recommended. A very easy install requiring less than 2 feet of pipe to get outside. He would have none of that. Period. Didn't fit his symmetrical OCD aesthetics. So, the stove wasn't hot enough, they threw 3 splits in, the dryer or bath fan was on and Voila! Smoke in the house!
Speaking of asphyxiation, he's a human smoking chimney and has been since age 16 thankfully I never took to that habit.
