Wood Burner Stove leaking black liquid

marie-clare

Hi, we are having recurring issue that is black liquid / tar / creosote dripping down the outside or the flue onto the stove and which is then splashing the back tiles, making a very unsightly mess. We thought it was maybe water getting into the chimney so we placed a chimney cap on it but issue has not gone away. The timber is well seasoned so I don’t believe it is an issue with the fuel. We tried to fire seal where the drip is coming through but it didn’t work and the liquid is seeping through. The picture will help explain better what it is that is happening. Some help would be appreciated as we don’t know what else to do other than get someone to rio out the stove and see what’s going on. There is no flue liner but again I don’t think that is the issue as my brother does not have a liner either and lucky him he has no black leaking tar coming down his glue pipe

Thargor

marie-clare wrote: »

Hi, we are having recurring issue that is black liquid / tar / creosote dripping down the outside or the flue onto the stove and which is then splashing the back tiles, making a very unsightly mess. We thought it was maybe water getting into the chimney so we placed a chimney cap on it but issue has not gone away. The timber is well seasoned so I don’t believe it is an issue with the fuel. We tried to fire seal where the drip is coming through but it didn’t work and the liquid is seeping through. The picture will help explain better what it is that is happening. Some help would be appreciated as we don’t know what else to do other than get someone to rio out the stove and see what’s going on. There is no flue liner but again I don’t think that is the issue as my brother does not have a liner either and lucky him he has no black leaking tar coming down his glue pipe

Get an expert in, thats like having the whole thing soaked in petrol, creosote is highly flammable.

upupup

marie-clare wrote: »

Hi, we are having recurring issue that is black liquid / tar / creosote dripping down the outside or the flue onto the stove and which is then splashing the back tiles, making a very unsightly mess. We thought it was maybe water getting into the chimney so we placed a chimney cap on it but issue has not gone away. The timber is well seasoned so I don’t believe it is an issue with the fuel. We tried to fire seal where the drip is coming through but it didn’t work and the liquid is seeping through. The picture will help explain better what it is that is happening. Some help would be appreciated as we don’t know what else to do other than get someone to rio out the stove and see what’s going on. There is no flue liner but again I don’t think that is the issue as my brother does not have a liner either and lucky him he has no black leaking tar coming down his glue pipe

You need to get the chimney lined with a flexi flue.Creosote forms when the smoke hits the cold chimney and slows and lingers in the chimney.
When you have a flexi flue liner in,it heats up quicker and the flue diameter is smaller.This speeds up the ascent of the smoke getting it out of the chimney quicker and the creosote does not form

marie-clare

Oh ok. Thanks. Yes think it’s time for a professional !

patsyrockem

I have the exact same problem, not as bad tho. Stove has been installed for 5 years and this only started recently. It leaves a horrible smell. Fuel should'nt be an issue and changed chinese hat to eliminate rain come down chimney but still happening. Would love to know where the water is coming from?? Probably going to have to get the flexi flue and line the chimney. Is it possible to buy the kit and do it myself?

upupup

patsyrockem wrote: »

I have the exact same problem, not as bad tho. Stove has been installed for 5 years and this only started recently. It leaves a horrible smell. Fuel should'nt be an issue and changed chinese hat to eliminate rain come down chimney but still happening. Would love to know where the water is coming from?? Probably going to have to get the flexi flue and line the chimney. Is it possible to buy the kit and do it myself?

The water is condensation.
Its a fairly easy job to do it yourself if you are handy.Getting up on the roof is the hardest job but in some cases the flue can be installed from the bottom up making the job safer
Here is a link about creosote formation and lots of other good infohttps://www.stovefitterswarehouse.co.uk/pages/what-is-a-chimney-liner-and-do-i-need-one

patsyrockem

marie-clare wrote: »

Hi, we are having recurring issue that is black liquid / tar / creosote dripping down the outside or the flue onto the stove and which is then splashing the back tiles, making a very unsightly mess. We thought it was maybe water getting into the chimney so we placed a chimney cap on it but issue has not gone away. The timber is well seasoned so I don’t believe it is an issue with the fuel. We tried to fire seal where the drip is coming through but it didn’t work and the liquid is seeping through. The picture will help explain better what it is that is happening. Some help would be appreciated as we don’t know what else to do other than get someone to rio out the stove and see what’s going on. There is no flue liner but again I don’t think that is the issue as my brother does not have a liner either and lucky him he has no black leaking tar coming down his glue pipe

On a more positive note, what material is on the wall at the back of the stove. Looking for something similar for my own. Best of luck with the cresote issue, I know exactly what you are going through.

marie-clare

patsyrockem wrote: »

On a more positive note, what material is on the wall at the back of the stove. Looking for something similar for my own. Best of luck with the cresote issue, I know exactly what you are going through.

Not sure what you mean by material on the wall at back of stove? It’s on the gable, it’s masonary. Tr finish are tiles which I have to wash down frequently due to the reoccurring drip of this horrible black liquid. Good to know that other people have the same issue (although not that I would wish this on anyone). Thanks for all the comments and advice . I’ve a guy coming at look at it , and most likely will end up putting in the flexi flue. Next question is , roughly how much will that cost?

marie-clare

upupup wrote: »

The water is condensation.
Its a fairly easy job to do it yourself if you are handy.Getting up on the roof is the hardest job but in some cases the flue can be installed from the bottom up making the job safer
Here is a link about creosote formation and lots of other good infohttps://www.stovefitterswarehouse.co.uk/pages/what-is-a-chimney-liner-and-do-i-need-one

Thanks for this, it confirms the source of issue. Just wondering now on coats to line. After a quickly google it looks like will be 250e
.
http://www.kildarestoves.ie/product/flexi-flue-liner-kit/

Boardnashea

OP, I could have written your post, word for word!
Local stove company put in flexi flue about two months ago and all seems to be fine now.
Let's hope it stays that way because this was an issue for quite a while.

Final cost for the job was about €1000 incl all parts (flue, insulating fill, steel trim) and labour (2 people for most of 1 day)

marie-clare

Boardnashea wrote: »

OP, I could have written your post, word for word!
Local stove company put in flexi flue about two months ago and all seems to be fine now.
Let's hope it stays that way because this was an issue for quite a while.

Final cost for the job was about €1000 incl all parts (flue, insulating fill, steel trim) and labour (2 people for most of 1 day)

That’s seems a lot. Is that a two storey house? Glad the issue is sorted for you though

Boardnashea

marie-clare wrote: »

That’s seems a lot. Is that a two storey house? Glad the issue is sorted for you though

No - single storey and accessible.

monseiur

It's definitely condensation that's forming on the inside of the flue that the cause of your problem. Line existing flue with stainless steel twin wall insulated flue. They come in 1 meter lengths (approx. 3' 3'') and are joined together with a locking band (cost about €85.00 each) 3 or 4 should do. Measure from where flue from stove enters to top of chimney to get exact no. required.
It's a much better job than the single skin flexible flue as you'll have to insulate around it with vermiculite or similar and it's impossible to keep it in the centre to get insulation all around it. But granted the single skin flex flue is a much cheaper job !
Fitting the twin wall flue is a two man job and, depending of the layout of chimney etc. you may have to fit a tee piece where the flue from stove joins the stainless steel flue to get the soot out when cleaning chimney. Also, on top, seal gap between existing flue and s/s flue with mortar and fit chimney cowl. Total cost of materials should be shy of €500.00...depending if your house is a bungalow or two or three storey mansion.

patsyrockem

monseiur wrote: »

It's definitely condensation that's forming on the inside of the flue that the cause of your problem. Line existing flue with stainless steel twin wall insulated flue. They come in 1 meter lengths (approx. 3' 3'') and are joined together with a locking band (cost about €85.00 each) 3 or 4 should do. Measure from where flue from stove enters to top of chimney to get exact no. required.
It's a much better job than the single skin flexible flue as you'll have to insulate around it with vermiculite or similar and it's impossible to keep it in the centre to get insulation all around it. But granted the single skin flex flue is a much cheaper job !
Fitting the twin wall flue is a two man job and, depending of the layout of chimney etc. you may have to fit a tee piece where the flue from stove joins the stainless steel flue to get the soot out when cleaning chimney. Also, on top, seal gap between existing flue and s/s flue with mortar and fit chimney cowl. Total cost of materials should be shy of €500.00...depending if your house is a bungalow or two or three storey mansion.

Any links to where I could buy the flue and other gear. I've only seen the single flue. The flue from the stove goes straight up the chimney so I assume I won't need a t-piece.

whizbang

The single wall flue kit will solve this problem; mainly because any condensation is kept inside the pipe, and runs down into the stove, where it burns off.

However if there is any leak or bad joint in the connections, it will still appear.

monseiur

patsyrockem wrote: »

Any links to where I could buy the flue and other gear. I've only seen the single flue. The flue from the stove goes straight up the chimney so I assume I won't need a t-piece.

Any of the solid fuel stove agents should have all that gear in stock or will source it for you. I'm sure if you Google 'Twin wall stainless steel flue suppliers' or something to that affect you'll get a list of suppliers and some will deliver to your door.
The 'T' piece is used for easy access when cleaning chimney, depending on design etc. The flue from stove connects to one end, the s/s flue connects at ope. at right angles and the third ope. which is in straight line to the s/s flue is blanked off with a 'cap' When cleaning chimney this cap is removed, soot drops straight down instead of into stove. If you look at the O.P's photo a black T could be fitted near back wall.