So it's been 2 years since I cleaned my chimney pipe, and this is what I found today.

Looks like you're doing it right. Personally, I check annually even though I know I won't find much. 2 years would be longer than I'd want to go without at least peeking in there.

Hey Firelion and whoever else has some input on this,

The cap that firelion has- is that the best chimney cap to have. Is it significantly better than most chimney caps? Does it make a big difference in draft?

Looks good. I only hope that new guys won't take it that they only have to clean their chimneys every other year though. New wood burners should check their chimney monthly the first year and maybe the second year too until they know what they have inside that tube.

Looks good. But I'll go with cleaning the chimney as least once a year.

tlhfirelion said:

I started heating with wood 2 years ago, and I have triple wall pipe, 15' chimney, one elbow above my "lowes special" stove that hits a "T" and goes up and out. I have had mostly seasoned wood, but I'd say about 15% has been green/punky/paper/cardboard pieces, etc. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when I saw basically no buildup except for the cap that I removed for the inspection. At least I think I should be pleasantly surprised, I'm posting to find out if I'm right.

What little spotty buildup came right off with a wire brush from my shop. Tomorrow I will remove the bottom of the "T" and see how that looks but I'm thinking it will be ok.

What do the vets on here think? Am I looking good?

Thanks and have a good evening.

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Looks good, this stuff works real good makes cleaning even easier.

http://saversystems.com/chimney-products/acs-anti-creo-soot

zap

Looks good. I have been tempted to not sweep every year as it does not appear to be necessary. I seem to end up doing it anyway though.
Joe

Found similar soot in mine this year. I no longer have the "luxury" of not sweeping the chimney annually - Allstate requires me to indicate annually when my flue was swept. The wording was something like `we require the following - Chimney should be swept annually by a WETT certified sweep in the interest of safety`. So I sweep it and keep record of it (I take a picture).

Just switched to them. We'll see how it goes this year. My interpretation of the letter is must sweep, should have WETT certified sweep do it. We'll see if they agree.

I have Allstate as well and all they did was tack on 25 bucks a year more to my homeowners policy. No inspection no nothing. Your requirement must be franchise discretion.

Nearest Firestation is about 6 miles from here and no hydrants...we have to draft from ponds to get water...still 25 bucks to homeowners

BrotherBart said:

No kidding. Allstate tacked on five hundred extra this year because of the rating their outside service gave me for firehouse access. I called and told the agent that if having the best equipped firehouse in the county a mile from my house wasn't cutting it to cancel that 32 year policy in two weeks. He tapped a few keys and it went away.

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$500 extra in one year!? Wow. My policy it about $550/year total. I haven't finished adding on my stove though....

tlhfirelion said:

BeGreen said:

Looking great. Welcome to the dry wood burners club. Keep up the good burning.

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Thanks! I have burnt with 90% red and white oak the last 2 years. This year will be half oak and half hickory. I'm curious to see how that does. I've not dealt with Hickory much. Any tips or advice?

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Hickory IME is excellent. Tougher than the average to split. Susceptible to powder-post beetles- source of dust you might see in the stack. Well worth the best care you can give it- keeping it dry.

Hickory smells great downwind, so your neighbors should like it also. Enjoy.

You should be shopping insurance regularly as a matter of good financial practice. We think that loyalty will get us somewhere, but it usually just ends up costing us. Insurance company's rates are determined based on how well they have invested your premiums. Bad returns on their investments means higher rates for you, so get shopping if you have not in the last few years. I am not an insurance guru, so if there's an expert on here, by all means overrule me. I've just learned by experience (with several rental properties and a large insurance bill every year) that it pays to shop and your loyalty means very little to companies as large as Allstate, State Farm, et al.. Country companies will not allow any wood burning appliance in ANY rental property, or in a garage.

All that black crud on your cap is what my whole chimney looked like for most of last year after my stove warped and the cat broke. Even when the cat was working it would get 1/4" on the sides a month. Every time I see how clean the chimneys connected to an EPA stove are it amazes me.