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Show Slow Burning Encourages Creosote Accumulation .. tir i c. .ii . . Most people with wood stoves and fireplaces realize that creosote buildup can result re-sult in chimney fires. The un-burned un-burned gases often condense to form creosote. This accumulation accu-mulation can catch fire inside the chimney creating enough heat to present a fire hazard to nearby flammable wall and roofing materials. CARL M. Johnson, extension exten-sion forestry specialist, said the creosote accumulation hazard exists with all woods. Latest research findings refute the conventionally accepted idea that hard woods burn more completely and therefore avoid creosote problems. Johnson cites research from New Mexico State University which found that hard woods are not necessarily better than soft woods, and dry wood is not necessarily better than somewhat wetter wood with regard to creosote accumulation. THE RESEARCH disclosed that air volume to load size is much more critical in preventing prevent-ing creosote accumulation. This means letting more air go up the chimney. Johnson suggests intermittent, intermit-tent, short, hot fires. He recognizes recog-nizes that more heat may be produced during these short periods than is needed and some heat from the living area will be lost up the chimney. However, he says this practice serves a useful purpose in carrying car-rying away the unbumed vr' m tile materials from ' j s-chimney. s-chimney. ; JOHNSON reminded that chimneys containing horizontal horizon-tal or slanting portions or portions por-tions subjected to severe outside out-side temperatures usually are worse to collect creosote buildup. buil-dup. "Be especially aware of those areas as you have chimneys chim-neys checked regularly for creosote buildup." he advised. He also urges. "When in stalling woou sioves, careiuny follow correct installation, operation and maintenance procedures. Also, have qualified qual-ified local fire inspectors examine ex-amine your installation for operational safety before you use it and later, also, if you suspect problems." JOHNSON noted that the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued a new rule. It requires that certain cer-tain performance-and technical technic-al date be attached to coal and wood burning stoves in order ihat consumers have safety information. in-formation. The extension specialist said people have wanted stoves and fireplaces that burn slow and hold the fire for a long time. Wood stove manufacturers manufactur-ers extoll these qualities in their products. Realize that the factors which permit a long slow burn also encourage creosote accumulation. They necessitate chimney cleaning and other measures to remove the accumulation. |