Jotul Castine 400 - checking the stack?

I am burning a Castine 400 straight up through a catherdal. I run it, once it hits secondary, in the 450-500 range as much as possible, then letting it run down to 250-300(as long as I get blue flames off the coals). Then I reload, open up damper, run it up to secondary, etc. Repeat

So how often during the season should the stack be checked if you keep things nice and hot?

For those Castine owners out there: Are we talking about pulling the secondary burn plate?


Thanks


D

Yeah, I was told with the straight up, "A" type, which really can draft well, burning hot enough so the glass is always clear(which it is, damp cloth for fly ash only) and NOT to damper down to a smolder to make the fire last all night, which the Castine is not known for being able to do, then I wouldn't have any real worries. I would rather burn hotter and use a little more wood then have troubles. I have a friend who relines and repairs chim's and he said his first impression is the glass on the door............crappy = dirty stack......clear usually predicts no real problems.

Is the best check method looking down from the cap or do I have to dismantle inside and look up?

How do these fireplace burning folks go without having their chimmney's cleaned for so many years?

Thanks

D