I started burning Dec. 1st. Today I had my stainless-steel-lined, insulated chimney swept for the first time. Figured I'd hire someone for the first time, then perhaps do it myself afterward. It was tough for me to estimate, but I'd guess there was maybe 3 - 4 single handfuls of gray creosote for my 2 story (plus half story attic) chimney.
Sweeper said this was fairly light and the liner is doing its job keeping the temp high. Most days I also burn wide open for 20 minutes once I get up to temp. to minimize build up as per the manual.
So, he swept from the bottom, but in order to do this, we had to pull my stove out since it has no back access and is only 2 inches from my fireplace opening. The stove weighs 450 lbs. It wasn't easy to move and my hearth pad was cracked and scratched some. Thus, I'd rather not move it every year.
I burn 24/7.
Is it advisable to either:
1) sweep every other year or
2) a) sweep from the roof one year. Some of the creosote would thus fall to the bottom of the liner. There is maybe 10 inches at the bottom where some dust may fall because the liner comes down from the chimney and then makes a 90 degree turn to go into the back of the stove. That 10 inches is under the 90 degree bend.
b) then pull the stove the next year to sweep properly and empty that catch basin.
3) use some other clever plan that someone here will wow me with . . . the kind of wow in the Verizon TV commmerical where they zoom into the cat's fur to the mesmerized flee that says, "WWWOWWWWWWW!"
What do you reckon?
Sweeper said this was fairly light and the liner is doing its job keeping the temp high. Most days I also burn wide open for 20 minutes once I get up to temp. to minimize build up as per the manual.
So, he swept from the bottom, but in order to do this, we had to pull my stove out since it has no back access and is only 2 inches from my fireplace opening. The stove weighs 450 lbs. It wasn't easy to move and my hearth pad was cracked and scratched some. Thus, I'd rather not move it every year.
I burn 24/7.
Is it advisable to either:
1) sweep every other year or
2) a) sweep from the roof one year. Some of the creosote would thus fall to the bottom of the liner. There is maybe 10 inches at the bottom where some dust may fall because the liner comes down from the chimney and then makes a 90 degree turn to go into the back of the stove. That 10 inches is under the 90 degree bend.
b) then pull the stove the next year to sweep properly and empty that catch basin.
3) use some other clever plan that someone here will wow me with . . . the kind of wow in the Verizon TV commmerical where they zoom into the cat's fur to the mesmerized flee that says, "WWWOWWWWWWW!"
What do you reckon?
