Cold here! How's your fire?

[matt walker]

These things are pretty amazing, aren't they? You can have a disaster like that, and it will remind you that you need to pay attention, but then once you sort it out, BAM! They just surprise you with their performance. Glad you got it sorted Andrew. Did you leave the rodent blocker in there, or take it out for the heating season?

[freedomlives]

[matt walker]

I think the black is normal. I've done two major cleanings now, and what comes out isn't sticky or oily, but it is black. There's a lot of white fly ash as well, but plenty of black stuff that will stain anything. I think that's par for the course with burning, and for sure what you burn affects how much of that you get. But yeah, there's start-up, and coaling, and lots of moments in between where some black stuff is getting sent through the flues. I don't think it's an indication of a failure, it's miles ahead of the sticky, oily, crumbly, flammable stuff that my chimney was full of with my old box stove.