When your oil stove is sooting it is usually caused by improper draft. Improper draft can be caused by:
- A cold chimney
- An uninsulated chimney
- A chimney that is too large in diameter
- A chimney that is too tall or too short
- Draft Stabilizer (Barometric damper) is missing or out of adjustment
- High Winds
If you are having sooting or drafting problems you need to consult a qualified technician, with a suitable probe-type manometer for checking the flue pressure:
Regardless of the cause of the sooting, once your stove is dirty it will need to be cleaned before operating again. Make sure that the flue and the baffle areas as shown below are cleaned and free of soot:
