Imperial Black Matt Stove Pipe Assembled Tee

Creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining.

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INSTALL STOVES PIPES, ELBOWS, AND OTHER FITTINGS WITH THE CRIMPED END TOWARD THE APPLIANCE

Always insert the stove pipes to the stove collar with the crimped end or male end pointing down. It is necessary to have the stove components male end point toward the stove to ensure condensation and creosote travel down only within the pipe to prevent creosote leakage. Connecting pipes this way will result in adequate condensation. It will allow the creosote to flow within the pipe and return to the firebox to be burnt and fully dissipate. See picture.

Exposed creosote is not only unappealing; it is also a fire hazard and a health risk. Avoid creosote leakage by properly installing a stove pipe.

Soot vs Creosote

Soot and Creosote are byproducts of the combustion of wood or coal in wood stoves or fireplaces.

Physically, soot (image on top) is powdery to touch, brown or black, and only settle on the surface. Soot is formed from the smoke. As the smoke rises from the stove, the dry particles cling to the pipe lining. Due to its color and consistency, soot can soil your carpets or stain surfaces such as walls and floors. Cleanup can be extremely messy. Protect the area surrounding your wood stove from soot with heat-resistant stove boards.

Creosote (image at the bottom) is a more severe combustion byproduct; its tarry, thick, and sometimes flaky. The smoke from flames travels upward and mixes with cold air and moisture from the top of the chimney. Once cooled down, it sticks to surfaces more like cement, making it harder to remove. Over time, the risk of chimney fire increases as the buildup gets thicker.

Toss in a stick or sprinkle some soot remover ideally, once per week, onto a brisk hot, burning fire to prevent further buildup.

Use Soot Remover Dry Sponge to quickly clean soot on exposed surfaces of wood stoves and fireplace walls. Diligently cleaning these surfaces will prevent the accumulation of baked-on dirt and soot.

TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN INSTALLING WOOD STOVES

Stove Pipe Components

• 18-in minimum clearance from combustible materials is required
• 24-gauge, cold-rolled steel construction for durability and lasting performance
• Black matte paint coating that resists heat, surface scratching, and chipping
• Paint coating that tolerates maximum continuous operating temperatures of 700 F, with short exposures up to 800 F
• Crimped male ends on most stove pipe components for snug pipe connections
• Install crimped end down toward the stove to prevent condensation or creosote leakage
• Secure stove pipe connections with at least three (3) self-drilling stove pipe screws

Heat Shield and Stove Boards

• Heat Shields can reduce the clearance between stove pipe and combustible materials by 67%
• Stove Boards or thermal hearth pads (Type 1 or 2) insulate and shields floors, walls, and ceiling from heat, hot coals, ashes, and soot
• Stove Boards (Type 2), when used as a wall protector, require 1-inch clearance from walls; use wall spacers
• Combination of stove boards, stove pipe, or elbow heat shields in any wood stove installation is a standard practice

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Types of Installation

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