How many people sweep their own chimney?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.

How many people sweep their own chimney?

  • Total voters
    147
Status
Not open for further replies.
Lumber-Jack

Lumber-Jack

Minister of Fire
Dec 29, 2008
2,007
Beautiful British Columbia
I did a search, to see if this question had been asked, and found no results, so I thought I'd ask it now just to see what percentage of people actually do clean their own chimney.

Explanations on why they do, and especially why they don't, are encouraged. :)

Not voting is discouraged. :mad:
 
Last edited:
Voted-All the time.

Because it isnt hard cleaning my chimney and im not going to pay to have it done. Worst part about doing it yourself though is cleaning out the black pipe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pen and Lumber-Jack
all the time. It'd cost me a small fortune to hire it done for as often as i have to do it in a winter. taking the black stove pipe apart is the worst.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
all the time. too easy for me to pay someone
 
  • Like
Reactions: HDRock and Lumber-Jack
I clean my chimneys myself. Not all the time. There are some days when I don't clean them.

Easier to clean'em myself a couple of times a season than to mess with getting a sweep out here to do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HDRock and Lumber-Jack
It is an easy job and I don't trust just anybody with my family's safety. Yes, there are some very good sweeps out there BUT did that stove shop hire a professional for the busy season OR somebody he just trained? I have heard as many horror stories as I have heard stories about competent sweeps.

KaptJaq
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Snotrocket and Lumber-Jack
I clean mine myself, it's not that hard. Remove stove baffle, remove cap, run the brush down from the top a few times and it's done.;lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: tahoostas and Lumber-Jack
I am going to try using the sooteater this wknd. Never used it before and want to check my pipe anyways since it's a new stove. It says in the manual that the sooteater should not substitute a yearly cleaning by a chimney sweep. For those that are using the sooteater, do you still hire a sweep yearly?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
If I didn't have an insert, I might be tempted to try it myself, but roofs and I don't see eye to eye these days.
When I was young I loved to help shingling, but I ain't so spry anymore.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dix and Lumber-Jack
As a former rock climbing bum, I'm not squeamish about getting on the roof, even in the middle of winter. That being said, beyond using the correct brushes/rods (my liner is rectangle), how do I inspect (what should I look for) in the chimney/liner?

Are those soot eaters worth it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
I voted sometimes. We did it this year. The first time we had someone from the stove shop do it, partly to see how and partly because it was a way to get them out here to TRY to get them to fix some issues. We will probably have a WETT cert sweep do it every few years just to have them check things out to be sure we're still good. Don't plan to have problems, but I'd rather have a pro check it out every so often to be sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
All the time. Its quick, free, and I know what comes out of the stack.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
Christopix said:
As a former rock climbing bum, I'm not squeamish about getting on the roof, even in the middle of winter. That being said, beyond using the correct brushes/rods (my liner is rectangle), how do I inspect (what should I look for) in the chimney/liner?

Are those soot eaters worth it?
Click to expand...
Generally what you look for is the amount of creosote accumulation and what sort of accumulation you are getting. That will give you clues as to how often you should be cleaning your particular chimney. How much accumulation, and what sort you get, is based of how you burn, the moisture content of your wood, and how well you stove and chimney function.
Once you have it cleaned out well, then you could hang a light down the chimney and look for cracks or imperfections in the liner itself. Some pro sweeps may even run a camera down the chimney for an inspection, but I wouldn't expect that from most of them. Most will simply eyeball it from the top, or perhaps remove some of the stove pipe above the stove and inspect from below.
Personally I think it's better to clean and inspect from above because you can clean your chimney cap much better from above.

Soot eaters have more flexible rods than most regular chimney sweep rods, and facilitate sweeping from below, or chimneys with offsets. However they are also usually more expensive then regular chimney sweep kits.

In most cases a chimney sweep kit (brushes and rods) can be purchased for the cost to hire a pro chimney sweeper to come out to your house, once.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Batman, charger4406 and Christopix
It's always me or one of my kin.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
All the time! Very easy to do and I'm way too cheap to pay someone to do it!!!

I've swept mine twice this year just for the heck of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
Lumber-Jack said:
Generally what you look for is the amount of creosote accumulation and what sort of accumulation you are getting. That will give you clues as to how often you should be cleaning your particular chimney. How much accumulation, and what sort you get, is based of how you burn, the moisture content of your wood, and how well you stove and chimney function.
Once you have it cleaned out well, then you could hang a light down the chimney and look for cracks or imperfections in the liner itself. Some pro sweeps may even run a camera down the chimney for an inspection, but I wouldn't expect that from most of them. Most will simply eyeball it from the top, or perhaps remove some of the stove pipe above the stove and inspect from below.
Personally I think it's better to clean and inspect from above because you can clean your chimney cap much better from above.

Soot eaters have more flexible rods than most regular chimney sweep rods, and facilitate sweeping from below, or chimneys with offsets. However they are also usually more expensive then regular chimney sweep kits.

In most cases a chimney sweep kit (brushes and rods) can be purchased for the cost to hire a pro chimney sweeper to come out to your house, once.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply! This is very helpful!

Given my liner is rectangle, and its stainless steel (not sure if it is insulated), I understand that I need a polly brush vs a steel brush. Yes? My liner is corrugated (ribs going round and round all the way up) vs smooth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
I've always been able to clean from the bottom. At the old house I used fiberglass rods with a steel brush. I just let the brush lay on the ground and pushed until it popped out the top of the chimney. On this one I stand in my basement and push the sooteater rods through. The family cabin hasn't had the new chimney up long enough to clean, but I can do it from the top or the bottom. I haven't decided how I want to do that one.

On the old chimney the cabin had I don't think it was ever cleaned. My Grandfather ran an old potbelly full of coa lor wood out a 100% singlewall chimney. When I pulled it down I didn't find any creosote. There was some soot in one of the elbows... I can't explain why.

It's not hard. The cost of materials is less than the cost of a sweep coming out to do it. It has always taken me less than a half hour to sweep.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
Christopix said:
Thank you for your reply! This is very helpful!

Given my liner is rectangle, and its stainless steel (not sure if it is insulated), I understand that I need a polly brush vs a steel brush. Yes? My liner is corrugated (ribs going round and round all the way up) vs smooth.
Click to expand...
Most creosote is very light and easy to remove, like scraping soap bubbles off the side of the bathtub. Doesn't require a lot of force, just a light sweep.
I personally don't think you "need" a poly brush, but it will probably do just as good a job as a steel brush. Some say a steel brush can damage your liner, I won't say that's not true, but I haven't seen the effects of that happening yet.
I have both a poly brush and a steel brush, I use the steel brush because it fits better. The poly brush fits very tight and is hard to push down the chimney, and even harder to pull out. In fact when I'm pulling it out the chimney often wants to lift with it. I have heard of other people having the same problem with poly brushes, and have trimmed their poly brush to make it fit better.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Christopix
I got a sooteater this year. Cleaning was pretty easy. As long as it stays easy I will probably clean my own from now on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
I'm the only one who cleans my chimney. I use a sooteater from the bottom up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
I clean my own. I worked for a Chimney sweep company for 2 years between 2007 and 2009 so sweeping chimneys and doing inspections isn't something that's new to me now that I burn wood myself.

I have been on some wicked roofs with TALL chimneys, I am not complaining that my chimney is about 15' tall and a very easy roof to walk on. Do not miss being on sketchy roofs at all!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
Lumber-Jack said:
I did a search, to see if this question had been asked, and found no results, so I thought I'd ask it now just to see what percentage of people actually do clean their own chimney.

Explanations on why they do, and especially why they don't, are encouraged. :)

Not voting is discouraged. :mad:
Click to expand...
I always used to clean my chimney myself when I had the old smoke dragon. Then got a new EPA stove and stainless liner and have it done by "pros"' who charge 150 and do a quick clean, no inspection of stove. Is it much different to clean a stainless liner than a clay lined chimney?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lumber-Jack
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Y
Does my fireplace chimney flue look good for installing a wood stove insert with a flue? (just swept it)
Replies
23
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
MARK KERWOOD
M
ERP
Multiple chimney fires
Replies
39
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Trevor Tahclep
Trevor Tahclep
G
Chimney Sweeping Brush/System
Replies
10
Views
439
The Gear
30WCF
30WCF
T
Seeking advice on new wood stove, chimney tie in
Replies
5
Views
1K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
EatenByLimestone
EatenByLimestone
D
Slammer Replacement Advice
Replies
25
Views
905
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
mellow
mellow
Top Bottom
Back