CREOSOTE AND SOOT FORMATION AND NEED
FOR REMOVAL:
When wood is burned slowly, it produces tar and other organic vapors,
which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. The creosote
vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning
fire. As a result, creosote residue makes an extremely hot fire.
With coal, which can burn with a smoky fire, this smoke also condenses
in the chimney to form soot.
The chimney should be inspected at least once every 2 weeks during
the heating season to determine if a creosote or soot buildup has
occurred.
If creosote has accumulated, it should be removed to reduce the risk of
chimney fire.
If you see deposits more than 1/16 inch thick, clean all of the chimney
parts mechanically. This means using brushes, scraping or equivalent.
Don’t start a chimney fire! With only slight deposits, try a hot fire to see
if the black deposits change to light ash, or fall down the chimney and
the inside of the appliance for deposits. Do not use chemical cleaners,
they may corrode the inside of the chimney. They may or may not
prevent or remove creosote. When they are used together with a hot
fire, it is probably the fire that is doing the work.
Depending on the rate of buildup, as you learn what is going on in the
chimney, you can adjust your cleaning schedule.
If you have any doubts about your ability to clean the chimney, of if the
deposits are very heavy and hard to remove, call a professional
chimney sweep. Do not try to burn them off.
It doesn’t matter how careful you are with loading, fuel wood selection
or draft control, you should observe the above precautions with any
wood stove or chimney installation.
CHIMNEY FIRES
AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Your Selkirk Model CF Chimney is not intended or designed
for use as a combustion or fire chamber. It is very easy to overfire
your woodburning appliance with kindling, scrap lumber, brush or
any fast burning fuel. This can produce flames and high
temperatures all the way up the chimney, and may cause chimney
damage.
If you see your appliance or the smoke pipe glowing red, you are risking
chimney damage, or a fire. The creosote may be burning inside the
chimney. If you see flames coming out of the top, you are either
overfiring or there is a chimney fire.
If the fire in your heater has gotten out of control, or if you suspect a
chimney fire for any reason, follow these steps:
1. Immediately close all dampers and/or air entrance openings to your
appliance. This includes doors on Franklin type stoves. Block off
fireplace openings.
2. Alert your family to the possible danger.
3. Inspect your appliance and chimney surroundings for possible fire. If
in doubt, alert your fire department.
4. Do not continue to use your appliance until it and your chimney have
been thoroughly inspected. Overheating can cause metal parts to
expand, buckle and crack. If you are not certain, have a qualified
heating man disassemble all parts so they can be inspected and
replaced.
5. Do not use salt or water on the fire in your appliance. Salt is corrosive
and water will cause a danger steam explosion. You might be able to
control the fire by using ashes, sand or baking soda, since baking soda
is an ingredient used for dry chemical fire extinguishers.
6. After a chimney fire, when it is safe to do so, check internal locations
such as the attic and under the roof and keep watching for two or three
hours. There may be delayed smoldering and subsequent ignition,
even if the fire inside the chimney has been controlled.
CHIMNEY OFFSETS:
One pair of (2) 15° or 30° elbows can be used to provide a sloped
offset. The maximum permissible angle with solid fuel installation is 30
degrees.
An offset data table is supplied to determine the offset desired and the
offset height.
Table 1. Framing and Support Table
Model CF Chimney
Inside Diameter 6” 7” 8”
Outside Diameter 267mm (10-1/2”) 299mm (11-3/4”) 330mm (13”)
Enclosure Framing
(Square) 369mm (14-1/2”) 400mm (15-3/4”) 432mm (17”)
* Ceiling Support
Framing (Square) 362mm (14-1/4”) 362mm (14-1/4”) 362mm (14-1/4”)
Approx. weight
kg/m (lbs/ft.) 11.5 (8) 13.5 (9) 15.5 (10.5)
Maximum Height for all supporting methods
Ceiling Support Package 12m (40’)
Interior Resupport Assembly/
Offset Support 9 m (30’) All Sizes
Wall Support Package 12 m (40’)
Roof Support 9 m (30’)
Minimum Clearance to combustibles 50 mm (2” ) all sizes
* The clearance to combustibles obtained with a correctly installed Ceiling
Support Assembly in the framed opening specified has been tested. The 2”
clearance does not apply at this location.
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Table 2.
6” Dia 7” Dia 8” Dia
Elbow Length A B A B A B
2 x 15° 9” 76mm 457mm 473mm 400mm 473mm 483mm
(3¾”) (18½”) (3-5/8”) (18-7/8”) (3-5/8”) (19¼”)
2 x 15° 12” 102mm 191mm 105mm 508mm 112mm 530mm
(4½”) (20-3/8”) (4-1/8”) (20¾”) (4-1/8”) (20-7/8”)
2 x 15° 18” 143mm 714mm 127mm 660mm 127mm 660mm
(5-5/8”) (28-1/8”) (5¾”) (26½”) (5¾”) (26¾”)
2 x 15° 36” 264mm 1114mm 254mm 1121mm 254mm 1118mm
(10-3/8”) (43-7/8”) (10½”) (44-1/8”) (10½” (44½”)
2 x 30° 9” 187mm 495mm 203mm 537mm 200mm 543mm
(7-3/8”) (19-1/2”) (8”) (21-1/8”) (7-7/8”) (21-3/8”)
2 x 30° 12” 225mm 559mm 235mm 600mm 238mm 608mm
(8-7/8”) (22”) (9-1/4”) (23-5/8”) (9-3/8”) (23-7/8”)
2 x 30° 18” 302mm 695mm 311mm 737mm 314mm 743mm
(11-7/8”)
(27-3/8”) (12-1/4") (29”)
(12-3/8”) (29-1/4”)
2 x 30° 36” 530mm 1089mm 540mm 1130mm 543mm 1137mm
(20-7/8”) (42-7/8”) (21-1/4”) (44-1/2”) (21-3/8”) (44-3/4”)
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