10
Note: Diagrams & Illustrations Are Not to Scale.
Contact a local professional chimney sweep
for chimney cleaning services and advice.
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incomplete combustion of wood produces
acids which, when combined with moisture,
are corrosive.
During the heating season, corrosion tends
not to occur because the heat in the system
evaporates the condensation of any water
vapour that may be formed.
Warm, moist air during the summer months
passes slowly through the heating system. It
makes any remaining ash or creosote moist
and soggy. Corrosion of steel occurs where
these deposits remain.
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erably if the system is thoroughly cleaned after
Where coal is burned, the system must be
throughly cleaned within 48 hours of shutting
down the system for the season and all soot
be removed from the chimney system. This
should be the most important cleaning the
system receives all year. Air inlets should be
closed and sealed if necessary to prevent the
CHIMNEY FIRES AND WHAT TO DO
ABOUT THEM:
Your chimney or connector pipe are not in-
tended or designed for use as a combustion
your woodburning appliance with kindling,
scrap lumber, brush or any fast burning fuel.
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tures all the way up the chimney, and may
cause appliance, chimney and connector
pipe damages.
glowing red, you are risking chimney
burning inside the chimney. If you see
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any reason, follow these steps:
RULE FOR SAFE OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE
Do not use fuel materials corrosive to the
chimney such as driftwood, chemically treat-
fuel appliance. This can cause failure of the
USP Double Wall Stove Pipe and void any
warranties.
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar
and other organic vapors, which combine
with expelled moisture to form creosote. The
creosote vapors condense in the relatively
a result, creosote residue accumulates on the
Some coals contain large amount of sulphur
(up to 7%). Combined with moisture, deposits
forms a highly corrosive acid (sulphuric acid).
Burn only low sulphur coals (less than 1%).
With a new installation, the chimney should be
inspected frequently (every 2 weeks if need
be) to determine the rate of creosote forma-
tion. When familiar with the appliance and
chimney characteristics, the chimney should
be inspected at least once every 2 months
during the heating season to determine if a
creosote or soot build-up has occured.
stove or connector pipe is glowing red, then
you are overfiring. Immediately close the
stove’s dampers until the system is cool.
If you see deposits more than 2mm (1/16”)
thick, clean all connector pipe and chimney
system mechanically (with a properly sized
plastic cleaning brush) to reduce the risk of
Do not expect chemical chimney cleaners to
keep your chimney clean. Their use does not
negate the necessity of periodically inspecting
and mechanically cleaning your chimney.
inspected annually and cleaned as often as
may be necessary to keep the chimney and
of combustible deposits.
