page 9
www.jayline.co.nz
NOVEMBER 2017
Preventing creosote build-up:
Creosote is a tar-like substance that builds up when the organic
compounds in smoke condense onto cooler flue surfaces. Left to build up over time, creosote will
restrict the airflow of the flue and impair the performance of your heater. The production of smoke
is at its highest when a fresh fuel load is added or when the air control is at its lowest position. The
most effective way to control the creosote formation is to burn the heater so as to ensure as complete
combustion as possible and at the same time promoting higher flue temperatures. Smoldering fires
should always be avoided.
The amount of charcoal in the ash is often a good indicator of how well you are operating the heater.
If there is no charcoal and only very fine ash, then you are doing an excellent job. If there is a lot of
charcoal you may be turning the combustion air down too soon after refuelling, or not raking the
charcoal to the combustion air inlet, or turning the combustion air down too low to support efficient
combustion, or all of the above.
REMEMBER:
THE HOTTER THE FIRE, THE LESS CREOSOTE FORMATION.
When you have mastered the techniques for efficient wood burning, here is what you should see:
1. When wood burns it should be flaming until only charcoal remains. If there are no flames, something
is wrong.
2. Firebricks in the firebox should be tan in colour, never black.
3. Steel parts in the firebox should be light to dark brown, never black and shiny.
4. With seasoned wood, correct air settings and proper loading arrangement you should expect quick
ignition of a new load of wood - the bottom pieces should be flaming by the time the door is closed.
5. The glass door should be clear. A discoloured glass indicates that the wood is too wet or the air control
has not been left open long enough.
6. The exhaust coming from the top of the flue system should be clear or white. A plume of blue or
grey smoke indicates smouldering, inefficient combustion, air pollution and probably low operating
temperatures.
Correctly installed and operated, Jayline solid fuel heaters do not spill smoke into the house. There are
three main reasons why some woodstoves smoke:
Bad installation design:
Incorrect flue installation, resulting in low flue temperatures and low draught,
can make a wood heater more likely to spill smoke. For example, flue systems that run up the outside
wall of the house and are not correctly insulated can rob the heat from the flue and produce very
little draught. Each elbow in the flue pipe assembly slows down the flow of gases and causes a small
restriction to flow. When a flue system includes more than one elbow, the restriction can be enough to
cause spillage.
