Hello Listers--
I dismantled my stove last w/e for end of year cleaning. I was careful to use almost no wood this season but I did burn some 2 yr old dry hickory & oak in April.
I discovered some crusty like substance in my ss liner. Wasn't quite as black and sticky as creosote. More like a dry crusty dark grey cement like substance. I'll post some photos maybe this w/e. But I am a little concerned as I expected to fine nothing more than fly ash.
I did switch coal suppliers in April when the cold air hung around. I wonder if maybe I was using some lower quality coal.
Any ideas what it may of been?
Cap
Crusty Like Substance in Flue Liner
NO coal burns with any kind of "flaky" or "crusty" residue. sounds like the flaking that happens with a light buildup of wood "soot". when wood is burned well (hot) it still produces a light amount of tars in the chimney, not enough to produce heavy creosote, but it will still make soot on the flue lining turn into flakes or granuals. this is not surprising; i'd say it's fine, and that the wood seems to have been burning well.
If the stove or furnace you were using was not lit for an extended period of time then you will get a buildup of material not only in the flue but also in the stove/furnace. To alleviate this problem when the furnace/stove is going to be left unlit for a long time put a drop light in the firebox to absorb the moisture which is essentially what the material is.