Chimney Sweep - Progress Hybrid

  • 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.
  • Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
Status
Not open for further replies.
toddnic

toddnic

Minister of Fire
Jul 13, 2013
782
North Carolina
This is my first year with the Progress Hybrid. I have been burning 24/7 since probably mid-November. My wood is fairly dry to around 25% moisture. I'm probably burning about 1/2 of the wood in the 15% to 20% range and the other 1/2 in the 20% to 25% moisture range. I haven't swept the chimney yet and was wondering if I should be concerned or if it would be alright to wai until the end of the season. I've been burning the stove fairly hot lately so hopefully that has cut down on creosote deposits.

I would love to hear what other PH owners have experienced. Thanks!
 
jmho, if that's your set up in your avitar, it shouldn't be too hard to pull the connector pipe and take a peek at that, and your chimney through your thimble. depending on how it looks, i'd go from there. also, if you have a pair of binos, go out and take a peek at your chimney cap. if its plugged with black stuff, I think its time to brush it out a bit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Backwoods Savage
My vote will always be to give it a sweep. It's good to have a baseline to compare to.

pen
 
  • Like
Reactions: Backwoods Savage, firefighterjake and alforit
I always have a mid-season sweep. The chimney sweeps always say it's looking good and I could go longer (as in more than a year), but I'd rather err on the safe side. This lets me know that everything is working as it should and no corrections are needed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Backwoods Savage
toddnic said:
This is my first year with the Progress Hybrid. I have been burning 24/7 since probably mid-November. My wood is fairly dry to around 25% moisture. I'm probably burning about 1/2 of the wood in the 15% to 20% range and the other 1/2 in the 20% to 25% moisture range. I haven't swept the chimney yet and was wondering if I should be concerned or if it would be alright to wai until the end of the season. I've been burning the stove fairly hot lately so hopefully that has cut down on creosote deposits.

I would love to hear what other PH owners have experienced. Thanks!
Click to expand...


Because of that statement above in red, I would get it cleaned. Also, I would not call 25% fairly dry and that is why I would clean it!
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Because of that statement above in red, I would get it cleaned. Also, I would not call 25% fairly dry and that is why I would clean it!
Click to expand...
The fairly dry wood is in the 15% to 20% range. The 20% to 25% wood is moist. I've been mixing half-and-half due to this being my first year burning and not having enough time for all of the wood to season. As you said, "time to clean the chimney."
 
I've been burning 20-25% all winter no sizzle. Stove actually runs hotter than I like sometimes. I just run the stove hot once a day where I can get the stove top to 700 plus.
 
How is your chimney cap? See any gunk accumulating in the screen?

It would be best to get up there and give a sweep...because you won't really know until you get up there.

And as pen said... it will give you a baseline for the future.
 
Seriesnuns said:
I've been burning 20-25% all winter no sizzle. Stove actually runs hotter than I like sometimes. I just run the stove hot once a day where I can get the stove top to 700 plus.
Click to expand...


I never did like the idea that you could burn the stove hot once per day to keep the chimney and stove clean. If you burn the stove right and use the right wood (dry), there is absolutely no need to "burn it hot" once a day. I know, those theories come down from the older days but they were flawed then and they are still flawed today.
 
  • Like
Reactions: firefighterjake and pen
Yup, burn it right and there will be no creosote.
 
Not always true. One can burn very cleanly but have a cool flue. There is still some condensate in a smokeless exhaust. If the flue gases drop down too low deposits will start forming. They may not be glaze creosote, but there will be condensation below about 250F in the flue. Folks with too long runs of single-wall pipe or very cold exterior chimneys see this. We have multiple reports of this happening with cool burning stoves like the BK, in spite of burning well seasoned wood. It's the reason BK recommends only using double-wall connector.
 
Note, I stated to burn it right. I made no mention of flue temperatures; that is part of burning the stove right.
 
Charles1981 said:
How is your chimney cap? See any gunk accumulating in the screen?

It would be best to get up there and give a sweep...because you won't really know until you get up there.

And as pen said... it will give you a baseline for the future.
Click to expand...
The chimney cap is somewhat dark from either smoke or creosote but the screen is not clogged at all. I ordered a Sooteater today and plan on cleaning the chimney when it arrives. Can someone who uses a Sooteater comment on my plan.

Where the stove is located, we have an 8' ceiling. I plan on removing the single wall pipe that goes from the PH to the ceiling box. I plan on using a one gallon Rubbermaid jug, drill a small hole in the bottom that the Sooteater pipe will fit through, tape the jug to the round opening in the ceiling box, and then run the Sooteater pipe up through it. Is there a better way to do it that will minimize the mess? Thanks for your help!
 
Backwoods Savage said:
Note, I stated to burn it right. I made no mention of flue temperatures; that is part of burning the stove right.
Click to expand...

BK stoves are thermostatically regulated. The only input is dry wood.

One could be running a flue at 400F and still get enough cooling in the pipe to drop the chimney temp to below 250F. It depends on the flue setup.
 
rideau said:
Toddnic,
Please let us know the results of the sweep.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Will do. Please comment on my post from a few minutes ago if you use a Sooteater.
 
Have not used a sooteater. Use poly brush, clean from below, much as you are talking of doing with the sooteater. Very clean, no mess. I suspect what you are proposing with the sooteater will wok just fine, but will let others who have used it comment.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

ERP
Multiple chimney fires
Replies
39
Views
4K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Trevor Tahclep
Trevor Tahclep
H
Chimney Cap came loose, Sweep claims I had multiple fires and liner needs replaced.
Replies
10
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
BC_Josh
BC_Josh
P
Progress Hybrid Performance: Should Upgrade to Insulated Liner?
Replies
17
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Caw
Caw
D
Chimney Fires White Paper - Read This!
Replies
14
Views
3K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
W
Opinions on chimney not yet swept this year
Replies
5
Views
1K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
Top Bottom
Back