Had this product some years ago and was very happy with it, bought it recently and was very disappointed, glass goes black even when vent is open I'd hate to think what my chimney is like, but I've wasted $56 on this product. This is being used in a brand new wood heater and using Redgum from old fence posts. Show details
Reviews with attachments
Solution to spillage! – Brilliant product. Does what it says. Although I was mindful of tipping it over and very careful when putting wood into the fire, I always managed to bump it and spill the contents out. This happened about 4 times. I decided to wire the thing onto a half brick and it's great now. No more accidental spillage! Show details
Wouldn't do without it, highly efficient – I have been using smart burn for the last 3 years since I've installed my wood heater. The flue is clean as a whistle, keeps my heater glass clean and smoke is reduced. Bought the previous 2 through Bunnings but decided to order this time directly from Smart burn and what a surprise, I've been treated like a VIP , timely delivery time, in depth… Read more · 1
information in the package with invaluable facts and tips, even got small presents! I've never in the past had such a pleasant online shopping experience. Thank you Glenn and Lisa for making my purchase enjoyable. PS Do yourself a favour and get yourself one as well, support Aussie companies.
A clear example of efficacy! – I use x2 SmartBurn's in my large (bay window) slow combustion heater: last night I replaced one of them because it was empty - I didn't have a second new one available. This morning it was easy to see that half of the glass was clear, with the SmartBurn visible - the other side was not: this gives me confidence that it is doing what it says it… Read more · 1
will! Apologies for poor photo - undergoing renovations... The second photo is from the first time the heater was fired up.
Great flue cleaning product – Perfect for keeping flue clean, easy to use and I can rest easy. I just replaced my wood fire after 10 years. The flue has never been cleaned. I have been using smart burn for th last 4 years. Show details
SmartBurn on fire bricks – Hope you can see the SmartBurn on the left sitting on fire bricks, 1/4 size and also how clean the door is after burning all night. Has not been cleaned as requires very little cleaning. Show details · 1
In-depth reviews
Should almost be compulsory for all wood fires – Our house is about 160m2 (Victorian High Country) but we still put two smartburns in every year (for the past 10 years) and the difference to before we used them is profound. Since our fire is an old ash-bed Eureka I welded frames for the smartburns to sit in up out of this ash and they definitely help the wood to burn cleaner and hotter. More… Read more
importantly throughout the summer as the flue expands in the summer heat we are treated to regular tinkling sounds from it. This is basically all the dangerous, toxic tarry, creosote-y and very sticky deposits which the smartburn has instead turned to carbonised flakes, now falling from the inside of the flue. Every Autumn we simply remove the baffle to let it all fall out and 'et voilà' one beautifully clean flue. It is mighty comforting to know that chimneys fires will never again be a concern.
For any of those people experiencing issues with theirs I think there are two key things to regularly check to maintain effective use. One is to make sure that when adding wood it doesn't get knocked and/or tilted, thereby losing its melted contents and thus rendering it useless. The second is to ensure that it is not getting buried by ash and unable to 'breathe' (i.e. the open ends not blocked) which would mean that it no longer has the ability to function properly or effectively.
- +7
Never again – I bought one of these at bunnings because of the advantages with the smoke and effective burning, my heater and it’s flue are serviced every year before winter and is very clean, and I only use seasoned wood in the heater, set it up per instructions and within 3 days the unit had spat out a huge film of a tar like substance that coated one side of… Read more
the hot box, the glass, and the flue, it was an amazing mess, the glass needed to be cleaned with workshop standard tools , not just the old kitchen scourer and I had to get a chimney sweep in to do the flue!, which was ok beforehand, I assuming from the replies by the company that it’s my fault however that’s not the case, it’s simple enough to set up as it should be, sorry, I can definitely not give this a good review, I’ve got pics of the devastation however I’ll let the company have a look at those first,,And its still giving me grief right now in 2026, I’m convinced that the heater and the flue will need replacement, it’s incredible the damage that’s been done here,,the tar substance came out of your little piece of bent pipe,,
Hi Dave, Well done on your proactive maintenance and… Read more
Good old fashioned customer service & award winning product – My husband and I have been using SmartBurn for many moons now. At first we weren't too sure of its effectiveness, however after removing the baffle plate we saw how much soot had sunk from our chimney. After several weeks we then noticed cleaner glass and longer wood burn and have been advocates ever since. We now enjoy a yearly newsletter from… Read more · 3
this company which has many interesting articles. This years spoke about the importance of chimney draft and on reading this we had a technician come and replace our old small flue with a longer one. Our fire now roars like never before so thank you.
Recently I clumsily stoked the SmartBurn when hot and the ingredients leaked out much to my dismay. I rang the customer service line and was greeted by a lovely young lady who ran through how the SmartBurn works and told me I could still indeed use the ingredients that had run out. Not only did I receive great advice but she sent a replacement and firebrick to get us firing along again which arrived a few days later with a beautiful hand-written note.
I cant fault this company or the exceptional service given.
Positive reviews
Best buy I have ever had that keeps the glass clean and also the flue, been using SmartBurn for at least 3 years. We have a Kent Classic Inbuilt very old heater and since we started using SmartBurn we get better heat, using less wood and very rarely have to clean the flue, Highly recommended. Mike Show details
Our first fire for the season put 2 smart burns on each side of the combustion heater. The first fire was a Smokey experience and glass was black the next morning and it seemed to be struggling for oxygen. 2nd Fire same wood , lite no problems , appeared to be burning better, the glass started to cleanup and it was making good heat with requiring lots of wood. So from my experience I believe smart burn works. Show details
Ever the sceptic and having read a few negative reviews, I'm pleasantly surprised with the Smartburn product. I read and followed their instructions and, after a week, noticeable differences are very clean glass and less smoke. Excellent wood may be helping but timber seems to be burning longer. I'm not one to waste approx $50 on anything which doesn't live up to its promise but I think I'll be buying another Smartburn. Show details
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Negative reviews
Item failed – smart burn appeared to be working initially,but on cleaning firebox this morning, discovered alloy content approx location of raised smart burn, it has leaked?? purchased from Bunnings Toowoomba 17/07/2023 $49.89 did not last long, disappointed,hoping for a better experience. Show details
Hello Leon, We thank you for your purchase of SmartBurn… Read more
Smartburn – Bought 2 of the smartburn for different heaters and houses. Seem to work for a start and then my wife found an alloy type substance in the firebox. We presume that it was the contents from inside the smartburn. We followed the instructions as per the directions on the box. They now longer seem to be working. Disappointing when the cost $45.00 each. Regards Les Show details
Hello Les, We appreciate your interest and purchases of… Read more
Smart Burn – We were very excited on getting this product expensive for something that had no impact with smoke / clean glass / clean flue basically done none of this a waste of money Show details
Hello Cheryl, We appreciate your purchase and interest… Read more
Recent reviews
Worked great for 6 weeks but that was it it hasn't been that cold so my fire has only been on low all winter so not happy jan to dear to buy ine every 6 weeks I'll just put up with a dirty glass from now on Show details
Hello Bob We appreciate your purchase of SmartBurn and… Read more
Have been purchasing for many years now. Always check chimney and still do not need to clean. Cleans glass, you know when the smartburn needs to be replaced as glass gets dirty.
My old combustion stove was smoking up big time blackening door. Recommended by salesman, thought it was pricey. Glad I bought it cleared the glass and burned much better. Definitely worth every cent. Highly recommended this product. Show details
Bit disappointed – Just purchased this the other day from bunnings, worked well cleaning my glass, but i just went to put the fire on and noticed it has leaked out, not sure if it's still got some in it or if its empty, it wasn't cheap so a bit disappointed Show details
very happy customer – brilliant product does exactly what the company says it does.helps clean the flue,cuts down smoke and aids the fire.ghets 10 out of 10 from me Show details
Great product – I ordered a smart burn to replace one I already have and it did not take long to arrive. It is not in the way in the firebox and the wood burns down completely even when I have the air closed down over night. No complaints and I will definitely buy again. Show details
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Cleaner Glass and better Heat – I've used these over several years. But forgot last 2 winters After realising how much time I spent cleaning my wood heaters glass, and this would be due to incomplete burning, Depositing on the glass window. I quickly ordered 2 more. I can recommend this and actually sent a couple to my Son who has a wood heater also. Show details · 1
Smartburn – Excellent product use it every winter highly recommend been using ever since Smartburn started when they were on the inventors show, we have never missed a year using this great product I have even sent some to friends overseas Show details · 2
Excellent product – I have used a smart Burn for over 10 years now and am very satisfied with the results. It does everything that it says it does. Would recommend this produt to everyone. Show reply
Tipped over in first fire but company were very quick to reply and are replacing it – Tipped out in the first fire but the company got back to me very quickly and is replacing it so it is hard to complain. You have to be careful in placing it so it is 'lifted' and doesn't get tipped over. This is more difficult with modern fire places designed in portrait rather than landscape mode, as most timber pieces take up around 90% of the… Read more · 1
opening width. Maybe a need for a rethink of the Smart Burn design? We ended up with a blob of solidified molten metal, (heavier than aluminium), in our ash tray which confused us for a while. The distributors of the Euro fire places knew what it was straight away. Image attached. They also said it wasn't necessary in our fireplace as it is so clean with an 85% efficiency rating but would be useful in others. We are going to try it, (more carefully), and see what happens. Expensive but I'd give it a go.
Worth the $$ as it works – Normally we get Sooty to come & do an annual clean/check, however, now at $200 a pop we decided to try the SmartBurn. Upon doing the first clean since last year, I find the glass is easier to clean the longer you leave it, that is my excuse anyway !, I found a neat pile of creosote on top of the baffle plate which must have been removed by the… Read more
SmartBurn fumes. Also, there was still some solid residual active ingredient, just give it a shake. So, I just bought another as we have a tall flue & a 2 door Kemlan which means 2 windows to clean, the unit also seemed to reduce the soot build up on those. All in all worth buying, plus, you get excellent feedback/service for any enquiries.
Smart Burn - believe it – This is a fantastic product, this will be our third year of using and can highly recommend it for the way it keeps the heater clean and that the wood lasts longer. Great value for money. The service from the Smart Burn team is second to none. Show details
3 steps tp a safe winter – That time of the year again, get the wood in, check the fire ,order the Smart Burn, 3 three steps to have a warm safe winter. As they say in the old ad " when you are on a good thing stick to it " and Smart Burn certainly is a good thing, if you haven't tried take my tip give it a go. Show details · 1
Just a great product – I love Smartburn. It does do what it says. Cleans glass and chimneys. Also love the little follow ups Smartburn do and when they send the article it's always wrapped in paper with the words thank you in the word find. I'm orignally from Perth, so like to buy from there rather than Mitre 10 or Bunnings. Thanks Smartburn and keep up the good work. Show details · 1
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Hello Angela, We appreciate your purchases of SmartBurn… Read more