Wet Stove Flue

May79

I'm not sure if i am in the right section. Forgive me if i am not. I have a problem with a leaky chimney/stove flue/i just don't know. We are in a relatively new house. We fitted a solid fuel stove in November. For the first few weeks it was grand, then a strong smell developed which then turned into a leak penetrating through the plaster at the top of our flue. Turns out there is water getting on somewhere and it's running down the outside of the flue and landing at the top of the stove. It's mixed with some sort of black stuff. It solidifies on the stove. (and outside of flue) It's has a strong smell but that does off eventually. We thought it might be the chimney drying out as it only happens when there is a good fire lit but it's going on for so long now. We did have to replace the lead at the top of the chimney, it wasn't done right?? Also, the cap was put on in 4 parts and not sealed. This has all been done over the past month but we're still getting liquid. Pehaps not as much. Would it just be a drying thing? Is there a chance there is something wrong with the chimney? The guy that fitted the stove says he has done everything right as far as he is concerned that any moisture should be forced into the stove and thus evaporated but it's not. It's a real mess.

Stove Fan

May79 wrote: »

I'm not sure if i am in the right section. Forgive me if i am not. I have a problem with a leaky chimney/stove flue/i just don't know. We are in a relatively new house. We fitted a solid fuel stove in November. For the first few weeks it was grand, then a strong smell developed which then turned into a leak penetrating through the plaster at the top of our flue. Turns out there is water getting on somewhere and it's running down the outside of the flue and landing at the top of the stove. It's mixed with some sort of black stuff. It solidifies on the stove. (and outside of flue) It's has a strong smell but that does off eventually. We thought it might be the chimney drying out as it only happens when there is a good fire lit but it's going on for so long now. We did have to replace the lead at the top of the chimney, it wasn't done right?? Also, the cap was put on in 4 parts and not sealed. This has all been done over the past month but we're still getting liquid. Pehaps not as much. Would it just be a drying thing? Is there a chance there is something wrong with the chimney? The guy that fitted the stove says he has done everything right as far as he is concerned that any moisture should be forced into the stove and thus evaporated but it's not. It's a real mess.

Any chance of some pictures of the flue pipes and any joins and the chimney outside:) Is the chimney lined with a stainless liner? It sounds like it isn't lined or clay lined and not installed right? What age is the house? It sounds very much like tar leaking down and out the flue:( This shouldnt happen.

Is the problem like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSpJQwDyP7A

Stove Fan:)

May79

Hello! Well the house is 6 years old but the chimney was boarded up until last November. All the relevant liners are in place it seems. Someone drilled through from outside to check the construction. Here are some picture of the mess we face every time we light it and this only happens when a good temperature gets up.
IMG_1119.JPG

IMG_1120.JPG

IMG_1121.JPG

IMG_1122.JPG

thanks in advance.

Stove Fan

May79 wrote: »

Hello! Well the house is 6 years old but the chimney was boarded up until last November. All the relevant liners are in place it seems. Someone drilled through from outside to check the construction. Here are some picture of the mess we face every time we light it and this only happens when a good temperature gets up.
IMG_1119.JPG

IMG_1120.JPG

IMG_1121.JPG

IMG_1122.JPG

thanks in advance.

Tar and installation problem:( There is clearly an issue with the installation. I presume the black pipe joins the clay liner but it's letting tar out at the join. You need to remove the white board to see. There should be a rigid to clay liner adapter used. This adapter directs any tar/condensation back into the stove and joins the black flue pipe to the clay liner. Scroll down to see a picture of one. http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/wood_burning_stoves/single-skin-flue.html If the base of your clay liners is supported on concrete lintels it wont be possible to use a clay liner adapter:(. If this is the case I would fit a new flexible stainless steel liner from top to bottom.

I would get another stove installer to sort it.

The tar may well of been in the chimney from previous owners and this is why the fireplace was sealed?

Only burn seasoned wood and don't burn overnight. This is a cause of tar but shouldn't leak out if the chimney is correct.

Stove Fan:)

May79

Thanks for that stove fan. I'll go back to my man armed with this info. I do remember a silver thing coming in with the stove. How or where it was fitted is beyond me i'm afraid. Would damp still be getting in do you think? Or why would this happen when the temperature gets up?

Stove Fan

May79 wrote: »

Thanks for that stove fan. I'll go back to my man armed with this info. I do remember a silver thing coming in with the stove. How or where it was fitted is beyond me i'm afraid. Would damp still be getting in do you think? Or why would this happen when the temperature gets up?

Hi tar/creosote is sticky and flammable so no roaring fires for now.

What has happened is the tar/creosote has condensed and stuck to the cool clay liner and set.

Then the hot fire heats it up and turns it to a liquid. The silver thing may be the clay adapter and may just need sealing to the clay liners better.

Damp shouldn't be getting into the chimney if the cast concrete cap is well fitted.

Stove Fan:)

keru

Hi,
I had exactly the same problem and after checking everything and scratching our heads for two years it turns out the wood we were burning wasn't dry enough... Try a few firing with briquettes for instance and compare the result. Low cost, low tech, worth a try!
Best of luck!

shareboy

Hi there.
Was wondering if anyone could help me out. I have installed a stove, stanley Oisin with single wall and twin wall piping straight up to roof level with lead flashing, storm collar and rain cowl. All done to code. Problem is, I have a leak when it rains and the water is coming down the inside of the piping and is leaking out the rear blank plate of the stove. Can anyone help me out as to why this is happening and maybe a solution.

Regards Shareboy

heavydawson

shareboy wrote: »

Hi there.
Was wondering if anyone could help me out. I have installed a stove, stanley Oisin with single wall and twin wall piping straight up to roof level with lead flashing, storm collar and rain cowl. All done to code. Problem is, I have a leak when it rains and the water is coming down the inside of the piping and is leaking out the rear blank plate of the stove. Can anyone help me out as to why this is happening and maybe a solution.

Regards Shareboy

You've got a rain cowl, but you're saying the rain is getting into the inside of the twin wall flue? Sounds like the rain cowl isn't working. Sending you a PM with some alternative designs.