Does anyone know how the lightweight freestanding chimneys on outdoor wood burners are supposed to be cleaned and inspected by homeowners?
The install instructions for a Heatmor outdoor wood burner says install it outside a building, and if near a wood shed, with the loading door at least 4 ft from the shed. So the chimney itself is at least 6 ft away from the roof. There is no way to stand on the roof to gear near enough to the chimney and stuff a brush down it.
The chimney is a stack of lightweight steel chimney extension tubes totaling about 15 ft tall. They are just flimsy metal tubes, they are strong enough to support themselves but definitely not an extension ladder leaning against them.
I can't see any reasonable way to get up there without setting up tube-frame scaffolding, or parking a bucket truck alongside the stove and standing in the bucket to look down inside those flimsy extension tubes and shove the brush down the top of the extensions.
,
Meanwhile, the Heatmor manual, page 22, item 22 says to inspect the stove monthly for creosote buildup, and that "Weekly cleanings may be needed in mild weather".
Page 54 says "Make sure chimney and chimney extensions are clean and in good condition. ....... Inspect the chimney once a month during the heating season"
http://www.heatmor.com/Uploads/CSS_OM_guts_071012.pdf
Are these instructions a joke, or just lawyerly CYA that no homeowner with a freestanding outdoor wood burner can possibly ever be expected to actually be doing, but at least the stove manufacturer can't be blamed if there's a creosote fire?
I suppose I could call a chimney sweep to come out once a month to inspect it, and once a week in mild weather. And not just any chimney sweep, but one that can bring along his own bucket truck to do the inspection and cleaning. How much will that cost? Should I set up an extra bedroom so the sweeper guy can just stay here and live with us?
The install instructions for a Heatmor outdoor wood burner says install it outside a building, and if near a wood shed, with the loading door at least 4 ft from the shed. So the chimney itself is at least 6 ft away from the roof. There is no way to stand on the roof to gear near enough to the chimney and stuff a brush down it.
The chimney is a stack of lightweight steel chimney extension tubes totaling about 15 ft tall. They are just flimsy metal tubes, they are strong enough to support themselves but definitely not an extension ladder leaning against them.
I can't see any reasonable way to get up there without setting up tube-frame scaffolding, or parking a bucket truck alongside the stove and standing in the bucket to look down inside those flimsy extension tubes and shove the brush down the top of the extensions.
,
Meanwhile, the Heatmor manual, page 22, item 22 says to inspect the stove monthly for creosote buildup, and that "Weekly cleanings may be needed in mild weather".
Page 54 says "Make sure chimney and chimney extensions are clean and in good condition. ....... Inspect the chimney once a month during the heating season"
http://www.heatmor.com/Uploads/CSS_OM_guts_071012.pdf
Are these instructions a joke, or just lawyerly CYA that no homeowner with a freestanding outdoor wood burner can possibly ever be expected to actually be doing, but at least the stove manufacturer can't be blamed if there's a creosote fire?
I suppose I could call a chimney sweep to come out once a month to inspect it, and once a week in mild weather. And not just any chimney sweep, but one that can bring along his own bucket truck to do the inspection and cleaning. How much will that cost? Should I set up an extra bedroom so the sweeper guy can just stay here and live with us?
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