Saturday was flue extension day, various bits were sawn off new spiral duct, the crown cover was untied and the flue was disconnected from the fire and with a push-tilt, cleared the crown and flopped onto the roof of the (dust sheeted) yurt. The filth that was sitting in the flue was spectacular, oily black soot, just longing to find a pristine white shirt or something really expensive to soil. All in there must have been a good ice cream container full. So, long story short everything was stuck together with rivets and hoisted back into position, whereupon it was discovered to have developed a bizarre ability to look crooked from every angle. No matter.
The effect of the flue extension on the woodburner has been a bit odd, getting a fire going is a little harder than previously, and to stop it going into full on furnace mode, the flue damper needs closing off. In addition to this, the nasty stick goo that was previously lining the inside of the flue is now melting and seeping between the joins on the spiral. It's not all bad though, now that the damper can be closed without smoke leaking from every gap in the fire, the fuel inside is burnt more slowly and completely, logs are lasting twice as long.
Conclusion: There is an optimum length for flues, a meeting point between maximum draw and minimum restriction. Obviously I need to know what it is!!!
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