When should I sweep?

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woodsie8

woodsie8

Member
Apr 4, 2008
211
Pacific Northwest
www.marykay.com
Brand new insert, this year. Just learning how to burn. Wood is semi seasoned but not seasoned as it should be. I started to burn about 3 weeks ago. When should the first sweep be? I realize the first year or two, I should sweep more, till I get the hang of things and see how much gunk I am building up.
 
Are you burning 24/7? I started in October and did my first cleaning in January. I wasn't burning 24/7 until late late November.

Then I went from January until just a few weeks ago. Well I only burnt until may. I got a little more the second time than the first but not too much.

Give it a few months after you start the 24/7 and take a look at it.
 
How often you inspect the chimney as opposed to sweeping it is the key thing until you get a feel for how much accumulates over time. Take a look at it at least once a month for a while. I sweep around the week of Christmas and then at the end of the season but probably only really need to do it once a year.
 
the only way I can look is go on the roof, take off the cap and look, correct? I might as well sweep if I am up there. It is a insert. Is there a way to look without going up on the roof?
 
Mirror and look up from the cleanout can usually get you some views.
 
I like to sweep right after putting wood in the stove as there is usually some dust fall from the wood when putting it into the stove. Otherwise the wife gets awful ornery.... Oh wait! The chimney. Yes. Check it monthly for the first couple of years and you'll get the hang of it. How often to sweep depends upon a couple of things. How well seasoned the wood is. How hot of a fire you burn. How well the stove burns that wood. etc., etc. But first timers need to check often as that is how you learn well.

On how well the wood burns, we used to clean our chimney 3 - 4 times per season. Now we haven't cleaned since putting up a new chimney when we installed the new stove over a year ago.
 
Semi-seasoned wood is going to mean more frequent sweeps. A good indication is when more and more smoke seems to be coming at you when you reload and you find that you have to leave the door open longer and longer to get that draw going again.
 
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