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Creosote - A Rocket in the Chimney!!I have recently discussed the dangers of wood pellet boilers not having a fail-safe back burn protection system.
Here is another potentially deadly accident waiting to happen.
Burning wood releases steam and vaporized but unburned carbon by-products, which solidify and stick to the flue. All is OK at the beginning the creosote appears as a fine dust. But over time the dust becomes crunchy, then sticky and eventually hardens into a shiny tar like deposit.
This shiny or sticky deposit if ignited can cause a violent fire reaching temperatures as high as 1,100 centigrade.
One of the biggest problems into the future will be improperly installed wood-burning or pellet stoves. Wood pellet stoves are very clean burning and efficient and can be one of the safest and most dependable heating systems when installed properly.
Improperly installed stoves can lead to creosote buildup inside the chimney with increased likelihood of a chimney fire.
Restricted air supply in the flue along with cooler-than-normal surface temperatures can contribute to creosote accumulation.
So what is needed? One of the requirements cited for wood burning stoves and boilers is a double walled flue to maintain the internal temperature. Another cited need is that the flue should be of a high temperature stainless steel material, I guess to withstand possible ignition of creosote. Another very important part of installation is the air supply to the burner so that proper ignition takes place.
I just wonder how many of these safety precautions have been properly adhered to????
Here is another potentially deadly accident waiting to happen.
Burning wood releases steam and vaporized but unburned carbon by-products, which solidify and stick to the flue. All is OK at the beginning the creosote appears as a fine dust. But over time the dust becomes crunchy, then sticky and eventually hardens into a shiny tar like deposit.
This shiny or sticky deposit if ignited can cause a violent fire reaching temperatures as high as 1,100 centigrade.
One of the biggest problems into the future will be improperly installed wood-burning or pellet stoves. Wood pellet stoves are very clean burning and efficient and can be one of the safest and most dependable heating systems when installed properly.
Improperly installed stoves can lead to creosote buildup inside the chimney with increased likelihood of a chimney fire.
Restricted air supply in the flue along with cooler-than-normal surface temperatures can contribute to creosote accumulation.
So what is needed? One of the requirements cited for wood burning stoves and boilers is a double walled flue to maintain the internal temperature. Another cited need is that the flue should be of a high temperature stainless steel material, I guess to withstand possible ignition of creosote. Another very important part of installation is the air supply to the burner so that proper ignition takes place.
I just wonder how many of these safety precautions have been properly adhered to????
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