Summer Tips

First is to clean that chimney either get a brush and do it yourself or get a chimney sweep. Clean the stove and check your the parts like lose bolts etc. You do not need to put anything in the stove for humidity. Just remember to always make the first fire of season a small one. If you are not already getting wood for next year then you had better get on it. Soft wood can dry at this date for next season but hardwood needs 2 seasons. Be safe if its your first time using a chain saw. That means always wear all the safety equipment from boots,chaps,gloves,helmet with screen for face and ear protection.

rachel.whitehead said:

First time user with a Vermont Castings Resolute Acclaim. Had a wonderful early spring, nice and toasty. Now its time to close her down for the summer. Any tips? My husband heard somewhere you have to put something in there to keep the humidity out but he can't remember what.
Rachel

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Some folks put a box of baking soda inside the firebox to combat any potential unwanted creosote smells during the summer months . . . but I believe this is for the odor, not humidity.

I put bird seed in mine. The birds come down the chimney to get it, cleaning it in the process.

bokehman said:

I put bird seed in mine. The birds come down the chimney to get it, cleaning it in the process.

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Would you mind posting a video of this cleaning method? I think many of us would appreciate seeing the full process - including bird removal It does sound very economical and organic!

Jags said:

bokehman said:

I put bird seed in mine. The birds come down the chimney to get it, cleaning it in the process.

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I think I remember something about ferrets, but not sure of the proper procedure for this. :lol:

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This could get interesting

Wouldn't a porcupine be better?

bokehman said:

I put bird seed in mine. The birds come down the chimney to get it, cleaning it in the process.

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Is this for real? The flapping wings make the creasote fall off?

And you get free smoked (insert type of bird here) on your first burn on the fall.

woodburn said:

Is this for real? The flapping wings make the creasote fall off?

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Not the wings. You get the birds down there 1st, then the porcupine. The birds chase the porcupine up backwards and those quills really dig in and do a nice job.
The ferrets are too skinny and run willy-nilly and miss a lot of spots. They need to be fitted with a wire tutu, or something, so they fill the width of the flue.

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Insert stupid joke about cat non cat debate here.

rob bennett said:

Insert stupid joke about cat non cat debate here.

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Hmmm... good point. If you have a cat in the stove I imagine the birdseed may not be as effective eh? Better to remove the cat first so it doesn't get the birds before they can do their work.

Maybe if the cat, the bird and the porcupine chase each other up and down the stack it well get extra clean? You need one of those big, fluffy cats.

Jokes aside, I have a bird (or two) living in the stovepipe at the moment. If I open the stove door out comes piped birdsong.

Brian VT said:

woodburn said:

Is this for real? The flapping wings make the creasote fall off?

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Not the wings. You get the birds down there 1st, then the porcupine. The birds chase the porcupine up backwards and those quills really dig in and do a nice job.
The ferrets are too skinny and run willy-nilly and miss a lot of spots. They need to be fitted with a wire tutu, or something, so they fill the width of the flue.

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I think the carbon monoxide is finally getting to you all.

After a good cleaning, inside and out, the stoves are stuffed with newspapers. Many, many years ago a neighbor suggested the idea. He was a milk can collector and he proclaimed "it acts like a desiccant." I can attest, the inside of the antique milk cans I observed were in excellent condition.

The neighbor cautioned me on the use of newspapers such as The New York Times or Boston Globe. They are too caustic.

Jackpine

Jackpine is right on target. I remember stuffing 10 gal cans with newspaper. Not the shiney ads but, the paper paper. Never saw any rusted cans even those that were stored for years.
Mike

jackpine said:

The neighbor cautioned me on the use of newspapers such as The New York Times or Boston Globe. They are too caustic.

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LOL ! Agreed.

There's a chimney sweep around here who uses a giraffe, those long necks really get into those tight places.

Sort of related; My older neighbor insists there was a tree guy in my area who had a trained monkey that would climb the tree and tie a rope in the top.

End of heating season IS a good time to take things apart for a good cleaning. Sweep the chimney, shovel and then vacuum the stove entirely clean, go over all the parts to see if anything needs replacing, and order parts just in case you run up against any twelve-week lead times (which you don't want to hear in September). Plus the stove will look tidier all summer sitting there clean, rather than with the dreck from the very last fire sitting in it.

I have never taken any special measures against rust, and (as long as the stove's indoors) have never had any problems during the humid months either.

Of course, Spring is also about getting the yard back in shape, getting the garden going, and the fields and streams and sea are beckoning, too... so finding time for stove clean-up can be tough!