TESTING CREOSOTE-REDUCING DEVICES: THE RESULTS

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We might mention, too, that both the Smoke Dragon and the Smoke Consumer had some small quality-control and/or engineering problems that made them somewhat inconvenient or annoying. The Smoke Dragons made an irritating buzzing noise at very high temperatures. And the handles on the Smoke Consumers required daily tightening since the nuts slipped loose when we attempted to open and close the filters . . . especially when the creosote deposits caused the filters to stick in the closed position. In fact, it was occasionally necessary to open the access doors and apply force directly to the filter housings to get them to rotate.

Finally, it's important to bear in mind that none of the devices completely eliminated creosote accumulation. Frequent chimney inspections and cleaningswhen necessary-are essential, regardless of what reduction method is used.

In conclusion, then, all three devices did reduce creosote accumulation . . . with the barometric draft control being the most effective and the Smoke Consumer the least (again, performance in a home installation could vary). As pointed out earlier, the tested products also differed in a number of other important regards, including cost, ease of operation and maintenance, and the possible safety hazards presented by their use. These other considerations won't be of equal importance to all people who own woodstoves, so it's impossible to declare one product the best overall. We've tried to present a balanced and complete report ... you'll have to consider the information carefully before deciding which-if any-of the products is best for you.

We'd like to thank the manufacturers of the Smoke Dragon and the Smoke Consumer for their assistance in this project . . . specifically, for contributing their products and for their helpful suggestions. We would also like to acknowledge partial funding support from American Metal Products Company.

Jay Shelton is the director of Shelton Energy Research, an independent laboratory specializing in research, testing, and product development in the area of wood and coal heating. Claudia Lewis is a Research Associate.

For a free list of the laboratory's publications and more information on completed research projects (dealing with dilution air, chemical chimney cleaners, barometric draft controls, catalytic combustion, and creosote, wood species and moisture content), please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to Shelton Energy Research, Dept. TMEN. P.O. Box 5 :35, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502.

ACCESS

There are several manufacturers of similar barometric draft controls. The one we testedmade by Steinen of Carolina-is available from hardware stores for about $25.

The Smoke Consumer retails for $117.95 (or $77.95 for a do-it-yourself kit, the Smoke Consumer Jr.) and can be purchased through a woodheating store or directly from the manufacturer, Lincoln Works, Inc., Dept. TMEN, 190 Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376.

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