Heating Help

Crumbs around exhaust pipe, oil burner

The past 3 homes I have had with oil, always end up with a build up of bits and crumbs around the top of the boiler.  I finally wanted to ask, wat is this stuff?  It seems like everything is pretty well sealed up yet these bits still make it. 
Is there a better exhaust pipe I can buy that seals better?

Thank you

Oil Exhaust "Crumbs"

Mr. Williams,
The "crumbs" you are seeing are waste products of combustion.  Since at the present time we are only able to burn oil equipment at 88% +/- efficiency at best, there is a fair amount of "debris" left from combustion.  The bits of dust and grit are soot, sulfuric acid (i believe), and the sort.
 
In my experience, regardless of how tightly you seal the smoke pipe, some of it still manages to make its way into the boiler room.  Every oil boiler that I have serviced, and we are talking about hundreds if not thousands of them, has had this type of grit laying around.  It normally accumulates on top of the boiler and in the floor near the smoke pipe connection.
 
It is harmless, just a nuisance.

Some of the manufacturer's reps on here can give you a more scientific explanation.

Great question.