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Expert: - 5/17/2008


Question
My house has a flat roof with a 9 foot chimney in the center. I used a Buck Stove insert for 25 years and finally burnt a hole in the back of it.  It always preformed well. I recently installed a new one with fire brick inside. The new stove seems to work OK but does not draft as well as the old one did and required a length of 8 in pipe on the top about 9 feet more to improve the draft.  There is some creosote buildup in the stovepipe but very little in the chimney.  Inside the chimney it is clear and very smooth almost like enamel while the 8 in pipe had small globs of creosote on the inside which is I assume from the cooling off as it rises.  I have a cap on the top and would like to improve the draft by not using a cap or a different type.
Can I burn the stove in the winter without a cap?  If I need one, would a "T" pipe work OK? The chimney inside measures about 12 in square.  I have always cleaned the chimney by vacuming out the dust and debris that collets on top of the stove, but have never cleaned the sides as they always appeared the same with very little build up on the flue liner. Please give your recommendations as to the top cap or anything else you consider important.  Thanks in advance for your consideration.  

Answer
Hi Martin,

That insert should have an insulated lining system from the top of the unit to the top of the chimney installed.

The venting system should always have a cap installed to keep water out of the system.  When water combines with creosote, it becomes acidic.

I recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem and to install the correct lining system for this unit.

You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org.

Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com

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Bart Ogden

Expertise

I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.

Experience


Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas

Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee

Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps

Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate

Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems

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