
Yes I used chat GPT to make myself coherent as I suck at writing lol


Fellow wood burners, I'm seeking opinions on the amount of creosote my Heco 520 (cook stove) seems to be making. This is our main heat source, so it runs 24/7 during the winter.

I clean the chimney about once a month and consistently find a significant pile of what I believe is Stage 2 creosote (hard, black, shiny flakes/chunks) in the clean-out at the base of the chimney.

My Setup & Burning Habits:
Stove: Heco 520 (Wood Cook Stove).

Chimney: Approx. 26 feet total.

13ft of double-wall pipe inside/through loft.

∼13ft through attic/roof (meets DS minimum 20ft and 10:2:3 rule). The double-wall pipe should be keeping the flue relatively warm.

Fuel: Wood has been stacked, split, and under a tarp on pallets for two years. It lights no issue, but I have a moisture meter coming this week to confirm (targeting <20%).

Overnight Burn: We do an overnight load every night. We are diligent to get the load roaring hot before fully dampening, but we always leave the secondary air cracked to prevent completely starving the fire.

My Main Questions:
Is this a normal volume for a high-usage system, especially a cook stove? I'm wondering if the cook stove design (which cools the flue gases to heat the oven/range) combined with daily overnight burns is just a perfect creosote-making recipe.

Concern Level: The accumulation is predominantly a loose pile in the clean-out, not heavily caked onto the chimney walls. Does the fact that it's flaking off and falling down (Stage 2) mean it's less of a fire hazard than if it were glazing onto the flue walls (Stage 3)? Should I be less concerned since the accumulation is in the collection point?

Mitigation: Should I try burning a chemical creosote log every couple of weeks, or sprinkling a catalyst powder on occasion to help dry out the deposits? Or is the better answer just an even hotter "morning burnout" to clear the flue?

Any specific advice or experience with the Heco 520 or wood cook stoves in general would be greatly appreciated!"

Creosote concern