how to clean your wood stove chimney

Will burning an aluminum can in your wood stove help to keep the chimney free of creosote buildup?

Someone told me recently that one way to keep a wood stove chimney clean of creosote buildup is to burn an aluminum can in it from time to time. This person told me he's burning at least 12 cans a day in it.

So is there any truth to this? Is it misguided, at best? Or, is it effective yet highly polluting?

level 1

Highly polluting and ineffective. I can't think of any chemical reaction that would somehow result in creosote combining with an aluminum alloy that would cause the creosote to leave the chimney.

level 2

I don't think it would be polluting at all, unless they leave the wrapper on the can.

I don't think wood stoves are getting hot enough to even do anything to aluminum, it will just come out covered in ash.

level 1

There is all kind of tales out there. They also say potato peels in the stove do the same...

I think it's best to just keep it clean instead.

level 1

Um no, don't do that. If you're burning dry decent quality wood at a good temperature you're not going to get much creosote.

level 2

I've heard it, tried it, didn't see any noticeable result.

My thought on this is it might actually sorta work in a roundabout way, because you have to have a decently hot fire to melt / burn the aluminum, which forces you to have dry wood and burn it hot, which gets rid of the creosote while the aluminum does nothing.

level 1

IT is a BS old wives tale. If you are looking for something that will turn the sticky brown creosote to fluffy ash that you can brush away there are a few commercial options you can add to the fire. But one of the least expensive is good ole' TSP(trisodium phosphate). IT is one of the active ingredients in many of the commercial products. toss in a tablespoon once the fire is into its high output stage and you have reduced the airflow. For secondary type EPA stoves this is when you have that beautiful wall o flame.

DO NOT USE ANYTHING IF YOU HAVE A CATALYST STOVE WHILE THE CATALYST IS ENGAGED

level 1

OP, if you are concerned with creosote, they have logs you can buy that, in my experience, work pretty well.

They are similar to duraflame logs, but are specifically made to clean out some creosote.

level 1

Thanks for the feedback. When I first heard about it, I figured it was one of the many "tales out there" about how to keep the creosote in check.

level 1

I think it would be better to just watch your fires and burn seasoned wood.

I paid way to much for my insert to go burning aluminum cans, now my fire pit out back. That fun to melt glass and cans in.

level 2

This. Burn dry & seasoned wood, burn around 600 to 800 degrees, keep burn consistent.

If your making more stream and sizzle than eating flame and embers, there's an issue!

level 1

They burn aluminum in solid rocket boosters. It often needs an oxidizer to burn, however, if the temperatures are high enough and oxygen is present and 12 cans are consumed per day? Little if any condensation occurs in a chimney that hot.

level 1

I think this might "work" because of the extreme heat needed to burn/melt aluminum. That extreme heat would also burn away a small creosote buildup on it's own with no aluminum required.

level 1

I was just given the can advice by a 65 year old professional chimney sweep. He said it won't clean the creosote out but it does turn it into a dry flaky stuff that makes his job a lot easier and won't catch fire. He said the commercial cleaning logs are worthless. I tend to believe him.