Well, I called my local hardware last week and they had a soot eater in stock. I just went to get it and take advantage of 50 degrees in upstate NY and clean my chimney, even though it is not in bad shape. With my roof, I am not about to go up and clean top down. So here is my question. Can I clean bottom up through my clean out door on the masonary chimeny? If so, are there any brand of rods that are more flexible than others? Or, should I jsut order a soot eater and wait. This is my first year burning wood and first time sweeping a chimney.
bottom up
- Thread starter tmckenzie
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Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
I have never sweeped either, and was considering giving it a go....but Wife sez "No"....I think we should do a cleaning mid season because I'm unsure of our wood....she wants to wait till next year....anyhow, someone mentioned poking a hole in a plastic bag, and running the rod from the brush thru it so that anything that comes from the cleaning will land in the bag....sounds like a great idea
Fod01
Feeling the Heat
tmckenzie said:
Not sure we can answer that just yet without some more info on your setup. Sounds like you have a 'slammer' install ( no liner, just a pipe stuck into the fireplace opening? How tall is the chimney?
I suppose the sooteater would work if it'll flex enough to make it thru the initial bend. I've got a Cape Cod, and needed some extra length, so I bought 2 kits. Now I have an extra brush head when I need one.
Fod01
Feeling the Heat
Beer Belly said:
Sooteater works for me and our insert. The stove door gets covered with plastic, with the rods and vacuum fed thru holes in the sheet.
The potential mess comes from the stove tubes and baffle that must be removed prior to cleaning, and the rods and brush when you're finished. Put down a drop cloth, and wipe the rods as they come out. I run a long hose outside to my vac.
Clean it regularly if you're unsure of your wood. I do.
Gabe
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
So which is it? In stock or on order?tmckenzie said:
SootEater uses far more flexible rods than traditional top down rods. Whether or not cleaning through the stove versus through the cleanout depends on your install.
My sooteater kit says not to use the rods if you bend it 90* or more. If you can bend a rod less than that you will be fine..
Gave it up and brush and climbed up there. I am pleased to say, I must be burning right and my wood is better than I thought. Been burning daily and I may hve gotten a cup of soot. No glaze except for right on the top of the chimney and it was too thin to even measure.
LLigetfa
Minister of Fire
Yep, and the guy who says his wife said no, he better make her stand at the ready with the phone on 911 and an extiguisher. Just saying. I made my wife help.
Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
She claims that this forum has made me paranoid.....I say "no, it's made me aware"tmckenzie said:
Backwoods Savage
Minister of Fire
Beer Belly said:
This is one time it is correct to disagree with your wife. Putting off a chimney cleaning is NOT the right thing to do. If you love her and all the family, you'll get the chimney cleaned when it needs it. Most times you can clean your own chimney so it is not costly. A brush for $15 - $20 and a few poles at maybe $5 apiece is cheap compared to a chimney fire and the other possible results.
firefighterjake
Minister of Fire
Beer Belly said:
You can tell your wife that you heard it from a certified Fire and Life Safety Educator . . . there is a difference between being concerned and paranoid . . . and a difference between folks that are aware and folks that are homeless.
Trust me on this one . . . I have seen and heard more chimney fires in the past week or two than I have in a long time . . . warmer temps have caused a lot of folks to either have smoldering fires or they've been doing a lot of cold starts . . .
Take the short amount of time and money it takes to get a sooteater, chimney brush or to hire a sweep . . . and buy yourself some peace of mind and safety.
End of rant.
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