Chimney Cleaning Advice

69_Eliminator · Oct 13, 2014

Hello all! I just spoke with a local chimney sweep and he told me some bad news. He said he would need to charge me $500 to sweep my chimney since I have stage 3 creosote and it's his busy season. I ran a slammer install last year and at the beginning of the season I was far from good at running the stove and struggled to have good firewood.

So this year I thought I was going to be ahead of the game and had pre-ordered 3 cords of seasoned dry wood, ordered a 7" liner and adapter boot. I was already really stretching the budget for this year by ordering the liner and having to buy wood. I was planning on about $175 for a cleaning so $500 is way out of the budget.

My brother and I are talking about doing the cleaning ourselves. My setup is very easy- it's a ranch with the fireplace on the main floor, the roof isn't steep, I can easily get to the chimney and it's a straight shot down thirteen feet. I think I have seen the rotating chain "whips" for around $100.

I was up on the roof this summer and I took a crow bar up there and tapped on the terra cotta liner and the glaze came off pretty easily, but I can only reach down about a foot. There are only three flue tiles and that is where the worst of the creosote is.

So, here's my question: how hard is it to clean a chimney myself and remove the stage 3 glazed creosote?

I hope someone has some good advice or a good recommendation so my bubble isn't busted on burning this season.

Thanks!

webby3650 · Oct 13, 2014

The $500 dollar quote is way outa line! Spinning chains is a hassle, but it's not hard. I'd get another opinion. When I was cleaning everyday, it would only be an extra $30 or so if it had to be spun with chains. If it's falling off easily, a good flat wire brush might just do the trick.

69_Eliminator · Oct 13, 2014

webby3650 said:
The $500 dollar quote is way outa line! Spinning chains is a hassle, but it's not hard. I'd get another opinion. When I was cleaning everyday, it would only be an extra $30 or so if it had to be spun with chains. If it's falling off easily, a good flat wire brush might just do the trick.

Yeah I was thinking it was crazy too! !!!

I actually talked to him in the summer and I thought he said around $200 so that's what I was planning on, but when I talked to him today he acted like it's his busy season and he can charge what he wants. I talked to another local chimney sweep today that I talked to in the summer and had told me around $170 last summer, but talked to them today, it was a different person than who I talked to in the summer and they also told me $500!

I tried a wire brush, but it didn't do anything, it was pretty easy chipping at it. I don't have a lot of experience with chimneys other than running a brush up and down it. What would I need to do the stage 3 job and how hard is it? I'm not afraid of getting dirty and doing it myself.

Thanks for the reply!

Nick Mystic · Oct 13, 2014

I don't have any first hand experience with using chains for a sweep, but it sounds like the sort of thing that could have a learning curve like most things do when using an unfamiliar tool. Since damaging (as in cracking clay tiles) the flue could prove expensive you might want to get some more information on the process before you engage in a potential costly experiment. Maybe a member like Webby could give you some tips and things to watch out for if you go this route. I had similar creosote from a slammer install, but I was able to get nearly all of it off the inside of the flue by taking my time and using a variety of chisels, scrapers, and putty knifes. When I couldn't reach any further with my arm I fastened the tools to a stick with a couple hose clamps and just took my time chipping away. Good Luck.

69_Eliminator · Oct 13, 2014

Nick Mystic said:
I don't have any first hand experience with using chains for a sweep, but it sounds like the sort of thing that could have a learning curve like most things do when using an unfamiliar tool. Since damaging (as in cracking clay tiles) the flue could prove expensive you might want to get some more information on the process before you engage in a potential costly experiment. Maybe a member like Webby could give you some tips and things to watch out for if you go this route. I had similar creosote from a slammer install, but I was able to get nearly all of it off the inside of the flue by taking my time and using a variety of chisels, scrapers, and putty knifes. When I couldn't reach any further with my arm I fastened the tools to a stick with a couple hose clamps and just took my time chipping away. Good Luck.

I too was worried about damaging the existing clay tiles and I'm sure there would be a learning curve for me. I plan on doing some research before doing it and hopefully some of the experts will give advice and pointers. I'm wondering if I would only use the chains in the tile area, I only have three that are two foot tall, and how I clean the rest of it if there is stage 3 below clay liner?

Thanks for the reply!

bholler · Oct 13, 2014

Id look for another sweep we run chains if need be at no additional cost but honestly if we were called out to a slammer we would not clean it unless we were installing a liner. I guess if you had the liner there i would probably clean it for you but there would be an up charge for a slammer but it would be 215 total not 500 that is out of line in my opinion. I typically would never recommend that a homeowner run chains but if you are putting a liner in it doesn't matter much if you damage the liners

Nick Mystic · Oct 14, 2014

Another thing to keep in mind when you are cleaning your chimney with a slammer install is that you have to completely pull out the insert and clean the firebox and smoke shelf. When I pulled my old insert that had been installed slammer style there was about ten gallons of creosote up in the smoke shelf area. You definitely don't want that lighting off in a chimney fire since it's pretty much right inside your room. It is a very dirty job and you need to wear full protective gear since everything you chip off falls right down on top of you.

woodsman416 · Oct 14, 2014

What's a "slammer install"?

Nick Mystic · Oct 14, 2014

A slammer install is when you place an insert inside a fireplace and do not install a flex liner to it. You just let the smoke exit the top of the insert (or sometimes on section of pipe goes up through the smoke chamber) and find its way up the clay tile flue. It used to be done frequently, but newer building codes prohibit it due to the high risk of chimney fires. It makes sweeping the chimney difficult to do since the insert has to be completely pulled and the firebox and smoke chamber cleaned out each time.

woodsman416 · Oct 14, 2014

Thanks for the clarification. That's what I thought but wanted to be sure.

69_Eliminator · Oct 14, 2014

I was able to get in touch with two more local sweeps. Their prices were slightly better at $400, but still not in my price range. One of the places told me a product that they sell called "Cre Away" I guess it's supposed to break up and loosen the stage 3 creosote so that it can be swept. One place said it was really good and worked very well and another place said that it was just okay. Last year I bought from Tractor Supply the Rutland grainules that you throw on a fire and it didn't do much except for dry out the gooey creosote that was on the chimney cap, but didn't do anything to the clay liner or smoke chamber. Does anyone have experience with Cre Away and if so what did you think?

NHcpa · Oct 14, 2014

69_Eliminator said:
Hello all! I just spoke with a local chimney sweep and he told me some bad news. He said he would need to charge me $500 to sweep my chimney since I have stage 3 creosote and it's his busy season. I ran a slammer install last year and at the beginning of the season I was far from good at running the stove and struggled to have good firewood.

So this year I thought I was going to be ahead of the game and had pre-ordered 3 cords of seasoned dry wood, ordered a 7" liner and adapter boot. I was already really stretching the budget for this year by ordering the liner and having to buy wood. I was planning on about $175 for a cleaning so $500 is way out of the budget.

My brother and I are talking about doing the cleaning ourselves. My setup is very easy- it's a ranch with the fireplace on the main floor, the roof isn't steep, I can easily get to the chimney and it's a straight shot down thirteen feet. I think I have seen the rotating chain "whips" for around $100.

I was up on the roof this summer and I took a crow bar up there and tapped on the terra cotta liner and the glaze came off pretty easily, but I can only reach down about a foot. There are only three flue tiles and that is where the worst of the creosote is.

So, here's my question: how hard is it to clean a chimney myself and remove the stage 3 glazed creosote?

I hope someone has some good advice or a good recommendation so my bubble isn't busted on burning this season.

Thanks!

Forget the chimney, I will get you another...I want your car.

69_Eliminator · Oct 15, 2014

NHcpa said:
Forget the chimney, I will get you another...I want your car.

I wish that were my car! It's my dream car and I will have one at some point in my life. Now what about that chimney you were going to get me??

NHcpa · Oct 15, 2014

69_Eliminator said:
I wish that were my car! It's my dream car and I will have one at some point in my life. Now what about that chimney you were going to get me??

Guess we have the same tastes... Also like 66 Mustang fastback and Jag XKE. A chimney on the other hand is just a chimney, your on your own!

Heatsource · Oct 15, 2014

69_Eliminator said:
I was able to get in touch with two more local sweeps. Their prices were slightly better at $400, but still not in my price range. One of the places told me a product that they sell called "Cre Away" I guess it's supposed to break up and loosen the stage 3 creosote so that it can be swept. One place said it was really good and worked very well and another place said that it was just okay. Last year I bought from Tractor Supply the Rutland grainules that you throw on a fire and it didn't do much except for dry out the gooey creosote that was on the chimney cap, but didn't do anything to the clay liner or smoke chamber. Does anyone have experience with Cre Away and if so what did you think?

yes, it is a good product that helps make goey tar like soot much easier to clean.
apply from above, and below (you can set a draft fan on the top of the chimney and spray it up through the damper are of the fireplace to coat the lower sections)
it takes some time, and multiple applications sometimes.

I'm with bholler, we dont clean chimneys with insert and no liners anymore.

69_Eliminator · Oct 18, 2014

Heatsource said:
yes, it is a good product that helps make goey tar like soot much easier to clean.
apply from above, and below (you can set a draft fan on the top of the chimney and spray it up through the damper are of the fireplace to coat the lower sections)
it takes some time, and multiple applications sometimes.

I'm with bholler, we dont clean chimneys with insert and no liners anymore.

Thanks for the reply and advice. I ran out to the chimney shop this morning and bought some of the Cre Away powder. The chimney sweep guy told me to pull my insert out, take my shop vac and put the hose to the outlet side, blow the powder up into the chimney and smoke chamber, burn 3 traditional fires, no insert, re-apply and burn 3 more fires, may need to do it a third time. I like the idea of putting a fan on top of the chimney to pull the powder up that way! I will probably try the shop vac method first and depending on how that works I can try the fan method you mentioned.

I think I have a little creosote in the main part of the fireplace below the smoke shelf. Is the Cre Away safe to put everywhere? I would think it is, but I'm not sure.

Thanks!

woodsman416 · Oct 18, 2014

I cleaned mine today. First time ever because I just installed my insert last fall. It was pretty clean to start but a couple of swipes and it's looking good to go for the season.

69_Eliminator · Oct 19, 2014

woodsman416 said:
I cleaned mine today. First time ever because I just installed my insert last fall. It was pretty clean to start but a couple of swipes and it's looking good to go for the season.

Did you use Cre Away?

wildwildwest · Oct 20, 2014

Nick Mystic said:
A slammer install is when you place an insert inside a fireplace and do not install a flex liner to it. You just let the smoke exit the top of the insert (or sometimes on section of pipe goes up through the smoke chamber) and find its way up the clay tile flue. It used to be done frequently, but newer building codes prohibit it due to the high risk of chimney fires. It makes sweeping the chimney difficult to do since the insert has to be completely pulled and the firebox and smoke chamber cleaned out each time.

You are describing my exact situation in the home we moved into. Thank you for giving me keywords to research further.

woodsman416 · Oct 20, 2014

69_Eliminator said:
Did you use Cre Away?

No, just a 6" metal brush.

mellow · Oct 20, 2014

If that doesn't work I would look at getting some of the professional creosote removers from Rutland.

https://www.rutland.com/p/121/tsr-third-stage-creosote-remover

And stage 2 remover:

https://www.rutland.com/p/111/stage-two-creosote-remover

Fsappo · Oct 20, 2014

mellow said:
If that doesn't work I would look at getting some of the professional creosote removers from Rutland.

https://www.rutland.com/p/121/tsr-third-stage-creosote-remover

And stage 2 remover:

https://www.rutland.com/p/111/stage-two-creosote-remover

This treatment, a few fires and a normal brushing should do it. The chemicals work. For decades I would just treat with ACS. (Remember they HPBA show where the Anti Creosote guys and the ACS guys both had booths close to each other and were battling it out? Good times). The treatment and a brush took care of most of our needs.

69_Eliminator · Oct 23, 2014

Thanks for the advice! Hopefully the creaway will work. Does anyone know if this is for sale to the public? I tried to find it last year and didn't have any luck.

mellow · Oct 23, 2014

http://www.olympiachimney.com/rutland-tsr-stage-3-creosote-remover
Northlineexpress had it last year, give them a call and see if they still can get it.

69_Eliminator · Oct 23, 2014

thanks for the link!

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