Leaf blower variation - any thoughts?

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hossthehermit

hossthehermit

Minister of Fire
May 17, 2008
2,571
Maine, ayuh, by gorry
I know some of you have been having good luck w/ the leaf blower thing, been doing some thinkin', why wouldn't it work just as well to suck out thru the intake, instead of the exhaust? With my setup, vented into masonry center chimney, (tiled), and no OAK, sure would be a lot simpler. Any thoughts? C'mon, let's brainfart.
 
hossthehermit said:
I know some of you have been having good luck w/ the leaf blower thing, been doing some thinkin', why wouldn't it work just as well to suck out thru the intake, instead of the exhaust? With my setup, vented into masonry center chimney, (tiled), and no OAK, sure would be a lot simpler. Any thoughts? C'mon, let's brainfart.
Click to expand...

I would think that you would end up with a lot of crap in the blower motor doing possible damage if you did that.

---scott
 
darkstar said:
hossthehermit said:
I know some of you have been having good luck w/ the leaf blower thing, been doing some thinkin', why wouldn't it work just as well to suck out thru the intake, instead of the exhaust? With my setup, vented into masonry center chimney, (tiled), and no OAK, sure would be a lot simpler. Any thoughts? C'mon, let's brainfart.
Click to expand...

I would think that you would end up with a lot of crap in the blower motor doing possible damage if you did that.

---scott
Click to expand...

Why? Stove off, shouldn't blower freewheel in either direction, crap go right thru?
 
intake too small perhaps....
I mentioned the leafblower thing to my Brother in law while up north at Xmas.....
We came up with using a section of flexible dryer vent to help make connecting to his vent a little easier.... (haven't tried it yet)
Maybe you can hook up to the cleanout tee and throw a section of hose out the window and then connect the leaf blower...
 
Man, you guys are tinkin'.... and thats good.

What's the old saying....necessity is the mother of invention? Go for it...
 
Did the leaf blower thing over the weekend, man a lot of crap came flying out. Look like a old diesel truck starting up, ran it until nothing came out, Been kind of warm to notice any deference in the flame, definitely will do again, it was efficient and fun!!!!
 
One piece of 6mm plastic, 4 square feet, one roll of 2" painters tape, one 5HP compressor set to 150psi. Dismantle accesses to airways, tape plastic around stove opening. Warn your neighbors. BLOW.

Only once a year, but their is no leftovers. :>).
 
GVA said:
intake too small perhaps....
I mentioned the leafblower thing to my Brother in law while up north at Xmas.....
We came up with using a section of flexible dryer vent to help make connecting to his vent a little easier.... (haven't tried it yet)
Maybe you can hook up to the cleanout tee and throw a section of hose out the window and then connect the leaf blower...
Click to expand...

Intake is 2", can't see that being a prob. If I hook up to the tee, (4") I'll still hafta take the pipe apart and block it, or it'll just suck the chimney out because, bigger hole, less resistance. Gonna hafta think about it some more, just an idea.
 
GarryP said:
Why wouldn't you accomplish the same thing by blowing air through the OAK instead of scking air out of the exhaust?
Click to expand...

Hmmmm, hafta think about that one, too, but sounds like a big mess of ash on my roof.
 
Hoss,

I think if you suck it out of either end, outside. That is better than blowing it through the stove. I think even if you tape it up there are enough small holes that soot will end up in the house. I successfully cleaned mine with the leaf blower. Before Krooser posted his step by step instructions.
However I coated my family room with a thin layer of soot. Next time I'll do it outside. See Kroosers instructions.

I swear krooser's brain just grew again.

BW
 
BIG WATER said:
Hoss,

I think if you suck it out of either end, outside. That is better than blowing it through the stove. I think even if you tape it up there are enough small holes that soot will end up in the house. I successfully cleaned mine with the leaf blower. Before Krooser posted his step by step instructions.
However I coated my family room with a thin layer of soot. Next time I'll do it outside. See Kroosers instructions.

I swear krooser's brain just grew again.

BW
Click to expand...

Yeah, suction is the way to go, but if you're talking "outside", as in, haulin' 450# of steel back out of the cellar, that's not gonna happen. Running the end of the leaf blower out with a hose, OK. Just wondering if there's any difference between sucking from the intake pipe,(2", easy to hook onto), and the exhaust,(4", gotta tear the taped, siliconed, screwed together), pipe apart. Just wonderin'.
 
Hoss,

Yep, is your air intake on the ground and close to the furnace. I remember you saying that your exhaust is on the roof top. I don't see why the fresh air port wouldn't work. I don't think there are any sensitive parts in that end of the unit. The only part that I know of would be the little vacuum detection switch.
They can be damaged it blown or sucked beyond normal flow. I have not heard of anyone having a problem as result of the leaf blower.

Happy New Year
 
BIG WATER, yeah, intake is 2" off the cellar floor, and horizontal. Thinking I could hook the leaf blower intake onto that, leaf blower exhaust into a long flex hose out the cellar door. DO need to do some checking on that vacuum switch, time to check the manual again, glad you brought that up.
 
hossthehermit,

My Harman has a flapper valve in the combustion air supply line that prevents "backpuffing" into the air supply line from the firebox. It only allows air to flow into the stove.

If your stove has that feature it would prevent you from using your leaf blower to vacuum out the stove from the air supply fitting.
 
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