Calling all Sooteater Owners!!..

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CK-1

Feeling the Heat
Feb 10, 2006
259
I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on a Sooteater Chimney System. I currently have sem-flexible 4' rods that cleans a six-inch SS-liner around 36' long. Since I clean from the bottom-up anyway, this could be a good investment. My setup doesn't have any extreme bends.

I did some research and read that some people had problems cleaning from the bottom-up when the Sooteater hit the chimney cap. Since I do have a cap, this is a concern. Another concern, is the Sooteater capable of handling rods that extend to around 36' long?. Three of my existing rods have cracks in them due to a bend that begins at the top of the insert. Yet again, these rods are not that flexible and have lasted for a few years...

Any help is appreciated..
 
Sooteater recommends cleaning from the top down...I did that and it worked fine. (That is, inserted the rods from the bottom, pushing them all the way to the top, then started cleaning from the top down).
 
Mine bound up at around 30 feet on my basement chimney with a 90 degree turn up out of the crock cleaning from the bottom up. Smoked a new corded drill. The rods flex and flop around absorbing the energy from the drill.
 
Sooteater recommends cleaning from the top down...I did that and it worked fine. (That is, inserted the rods from the bottom, pushing them all the way to the top, then started cleaning from the top down).
That is odd, never remember reading that. I clean on the way up, one rod at a time, then clean again on the way down, one rod at a time. Getting the cap can be an issue as the diameter may not reach the sides, if you have no cap, then I do not see an issue.
 
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That is odd, never remember reading that. I clean on the way up, one rod at a time, then clean again on the way down, one rod at a time. Getting the cap can be an issue as the diameter may not reach the sides, if you have no cap, then I do not see an issue.


Yes that is odd in that I too don't remember reading that. I also start at the bottom, cleaning as I add rods, go to the top, the clean as I subtract rods. After all that I still get up on the roof to remove the cap and clean it with a bristle brush.
 
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I'm concerned about the rotating tip that swirls around. Once it comes out of the liner at the top and swirls around could it hit the cap and cause any damage to the cap itself and/or the cleaning swirls?...

If you look at the Bottom-Up link in my sig. you can actually see rod(s) already in the pipe. But I mostly clean with the stove still in place and the baffle removed to access the pipe...
 
Yes that is odd in that I too don't remember reading that. I also start at the bottom, cleaning as I add rods, go to the top, the clean as I subtract rods. After all that I still get up on the roof to remove the cap and clean it with a bristle brush.

Whether I read it in the Sooteater instructions or on this forum, I don't remember. But the rationale was that you should push the rods to the top when they're not spinning to prevent damage to the cap. You know when you're at the top if you are pushing them by hand, rather than holding a drill. I cleaned mine that way and it worked fine. Because I now know how far it is to the cap, I wouldn't be concerned about cleaning in both directions the next time.
 
Dan, good idea. This weekend will be my 1st Sooteater experience and I'll keep this in mind.
 
I to am looking at one of those, I like the idea of cleaning from inside the house, I have an insert and wonder how much soot dust will get into the house because we have to clean with the door open on the insert?
 
I to am looking at one of those, I like the idea of cleaning from inside the house, I have an insert and wonder how much soot dust will get into the house because we have to clean with the door open on the insert?


Hardly any at all if you put the plastic sheeting (which is included) across the opening to the firebox; you tape the perimeter of plastic all around and poke two holes through one for the rods and one for the vacuum and then almost everything is essentially dustless. It works really well.
 
Hardly any at all if you put the plastic sheeting (which is included) across the opening to the firebox; you tape the perimeter of plastic all around and poke two holes through one for the rods and one for the vacuum and then almost everything is essentially dustless. It works really well.

awsome
 
I have a Sooteater and love it!! I clean my chimney way more often. I never touch my old rod brush anymore
 
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The first time I used mine, I pushed it up so the brush head was where I'd want to stop when cleaning. It took a few times of going outside to look. Then I put tape around the last rod where it enters the stove. I know when that tape meets the plastic over the door, I've gone far enough.
 
Most of the examples in the SootEater manual are for cleaning bottom up.
 
No problems twirling about in my cap. Not sure how everyone's cap is secured but mine would require some wing nuts to be removed for it to become loose.

I'm concerned about the rotating tip that swirls around. Once it comes out of the liner at the top and swirls around could it hit the cap and cause any damage to the cap itself and/or the cleaning swirls?...
.
 
I'm thinking about getting a 20 foot hose extension for my shop vac next time and then just run vacuum outside and hose through a window.

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No problems twirling about in my cap. Not sure how everyone's cap is secured but mine would require some wing nuts to be removed for it to become loose.

Cool. I was worried about those nylon swirly things hitting the cap and breaking off. Kinda like a weed trimmer losing some of its nylon string when it hits something hard..
 
Most of the examples in the SootEater manual are for cleaning bottom up.

Hey BB,

A few years ago on a dark stormy night in the forum. You recommended some flex chimney rods for my bottom-up cleaning, which I currently use now. I just hope the Sooteater can do a 36+ foot cleaning with no problems...
 
I cleaned my chimney for the 1st time yesterday with the Sooteater. My chimney is about 30' and the closest I can get to the 90* elbow at the bottom is about 6' from it...cleaned from the bottom up for a total of about 36' and it performed well. I was nervous about making that 90 turn based on the manual but no problems. Biggest PITA I had was my cordless drill battery died on me and had to get the old fashioned drill out.
 
I just went to clean the liner on the first floor with the sooteater and after messing with attaching the second rod I pulled the stuff out and just went up on the roof, dropped a rope and pulled the brush through like I have always done. In my setup it is just a heck of a lot easier. Well, at least while my knees still kinda work.
 
I just went to clean the liner on the first floor with the sooteater and after messing with attaching the second rod I pulled the stuff out and just went up on the roof, dropped a rope and pulled the brush through like I have always done. In my setup it is just a heck of a lot easier. Well, at least while my knees still kinda work.

I'd do that too if I could but I have an extremely steep pitched metal roof. It doesn't help that I don't care much for heights either. :)
 
I hear ya. If I didn't have a mild pitch on the roof I wouldn't get up there. Or if it was metal either.
 
I cleaned my chimney for the 1st time yesterday with the Sooteater. My chimney is about 30' and the closest I can get to the 90* elbow at the bottom is about 6' from it...cleaned from the bottom up for a total of about 36' and it performed well. I was nervous about making that 90 turn based on the manual but no problems. Biggest PITA I had was my cordless drill battery died on me and had to get the old fashioned drill out.


Cool... How many rods did you use?