Hi, I have been having issues with my log burner. Approximately one in three times, when starting the burner, I get issues with dripping at the back of the flue. It seems to have a relationship when a previous heavy rain event has occured, but it only drips when the fire is started (i was thinking the heat might exapand something and the water drips down from a point it was accumulating). I think the chimney pot next to the burner pot has not been capped properly, whereby water is coming into the chimney stack. This second chimney pot should have been sealed when a fireplace was taken out from the first floor years ago.
Someone mentioned that this is likely due to condensation, but I am not fully convinced, as it doesn't happen every time and I always use the same wood, which is kiln-dried logs. The dripping is not creosote, although it does have a slight odour of creosote and trace, where I think the water is washing the flue with time. The previous owners used to burn coal, or if there is remnant material actually in the chimney brickwork. The water dripping has a light orangey colour, but is viscous like water, and when absorbed onto newspaper, it completely dries. When a lot of water comes down, it drips down the brickwork and also fizzes on the fibreglass rope where the flue goes into the chimney breast (see the following picture). I have a chimney guy coming to look at this, but I'm fearing the worst, where he may say the entire flue needs replacing. Therefore, I'm looking for any comments or alternatives to what might be causing this issue. I should note that no water runs down and inside the burner.
Someone mentioned that this is likely due to condensation, but I am not fully convinced, as it doesn't happen every time and I always use the same wood, which is kiln-dried logs. The dripping is not creosote, although it does have a slight odour of creosote and trace, where I think the water is washing the flue with time. The previous owners used to burn coal, or if there is remnant material actually in the chimney brickwork. The water dripping has a light orangey colour, but is viscous like water, and when absorbed onto newspaper, it completely dries. When a lot of water comes down, it drips down the brickwork and also fizzes on the fibreglass rope where the flue goes into the chimney breast (see the following picture). I have a chimney guy coming to look at this, but I'm fearing the worst, where he may say the entire flue needs replacing. Therefore, I'm looking for any comments or alternatives to what might be causing this issue. I should note that no water runs down and inside the burner.
