chimney cleaning & fireplace insert

I like to inspect my chimney monthly . . . and since my chimney is wicked easy to clean I usually run a brush through it at the time. I would suspect most folks here can and do sweep 1-2 times a year and as long as they're burning properly and using seasoned wood produce very little creosote.

Sweeping is very easy, although it can be messy . . . with the purchase of some rods and a brush your husband (or you) could easily sweep your chimney. Depending on your stove set up you could probably sweep from the top or bottom. From what I've read the flex liner used is pretty rugged.

I agree that they are pretty easy to do yourself if the chimney is not on a really steep roof and three stories high. I have a ranch and can use a 6ft ladder to get onto my roof so it is simple.
I think top down is less messy because I keep the doors closed on the stove after all of the dust settles I just sweep out the stove. I do remove the baffle bricks before starting so the brush can go all of the way down. That is my stove design, yours may not need this step.

I brush right through the pipe without any issues. I do use the nylon brush and not the metal one.

I swept about every 4-5 weeks last year, but it was our first year burning and some of the wood was not as seasoned as it could have been. Still, we had very little buildup in the chimney. I think you'll find that most people will recommend that you check the system monthly the first year you burn. This will give you an idea of how cleanly you are burning and help to identify any problems early on.

I sweep from the top down, and since I have a straight shot from roof to stove, it's an easy process. I have an old TV antenna tower cemented into the ground and eye bolted to the side of my house in two spots that I use to access my 2 story roof. My stove (Lopi Endeavor) features a bypass damper that you slide open when you sweep allowing the ash to fall into the stove without the need to remove the baffle bricks.

Most people will also recommend that you use a poly brush rather than a metal brush with a stainless steel chimney system.

Finally, here's one little tidbit that can prove valuable: test your brush for tightness before you get it too far down the chimney (assuming you are cleaning from the top down)!! The first 6" poly brush I ordered was so tight that it would NOT reverse when you tugged on the rod to bring it back up. We had to use tin snips to trim a few of the longer bristles to get a proper fit. It was later melted by dad (LOL), and the second brush fit perfect without any trimming.

Looking at chimney cleaning tools (most of us are talking about cleaning stainless steel round chimneys... mine is 6 inch) I find a considerable range of prices. I notice on Amazon, or through their supplier (equipment2U) that I can not get a poly brush, but they do offer a steel 6" (and other sizes) brush that is advertised for both masonry and SS chimneys.

Can I use a wire/steel brush on my SS 6" chimney?

I cleaned mine this week after burning from October thru April last year. I dumped about a gallon of creosote, filled up one of the kids beach pails. It took a half hour. Now when I go up to clean the cap, mid winter at a point where the roof is not snow covered, I will do a mid winter clean. Not because it needs it, but because it is so easy.

Jerry_NJ said:

Looking at chimney cleaning tools (most of us are talking about cleaning stainless steel round chimneys... mine is 6 inch) I find a considerable range of prices. I notice on Amazon, or through their supplier (equipment2U) that I can not get a poly brush, but they do offer a steel 6" (and other sizes) brush that is advertised for both masonry and SS chimneys.

Can I use a wire/steel brush on my SS 6" chimney?

Click to expand...

They recommend nylon on the ss pipe. I bought mine at http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com,

Thanks, I have been told before to use a poly brush on the flexible SS liner, which is what I have, made by Duraflex. I looked for their site to see if they make a recommendation... maybe I have it on paper, I'll look in my files.

And thanks renure, your opening this subject gave me another chance to ask some old questions. The fact I got basically the same answers say this is indeed a good site, the experts keep giving a helping hand, and the consistency strongly suggest they are correct.