Could Someone Help Me About My Chimney Cleaning

Monkey Wrench said:

Today the chimney sweep cleaned our chimney. I also had a load of hay delivered at the same time, so my wife was with the sweep and I unloaded the truck.

I was exhausted when I spoke with the sweep. He was loading a bag. I was very concerned. He said it was just soot. I asked how bad was my chimney. Looking good he said. Said he could see I burnt hot. Said he saw snake lines? I said WTF. Stated thats when overnight the fire burns down, than you fire it up in the AM and burn it out.

Like you guys know when your spent/exhausted your mind doesn't always ask the right questions.

I'm know wondering what he ment?

My chimney is a circa.1865 brick int with a 33' SS liner.

Thanks,

Burn Safe.

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Only my second year burning so I'm not sure what it means but maybe you could send a email to these guys or just call the chimney sweep that did it.

http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/emphow.htm


zap

Never heard of snake lines in a chimney so can't help you there. If he said it was just soot, then for sure you have no worries. Maybe the next time you should attempt the cleaning yourself?

Snake lines? That's a first for me as well . . .

Coming soon to a movie theater near you.

Last year it was snakes on a plane . . . this year see Samuel Jackson battle snakes in a flue in the sequel hit "Snakes in a Chimney".

I've heard of um.Don't know where though. I think they are where a little bit of creosote(not soot) forms and when cleaned leaves a slightly different coloration. Don't hold me to this though.
Joe

Could he have been saying that there were lines left on the liner from the cleaning (brush, rods) which would indicate that it was clean down to the SS.

Don't know about snake lines.
For clarification, is soot just the dry, black stuff that blows away like powder?
If that is not a problem, what does a problem look like? Thick, gooey stuff?

Monkey Wrench said:

Stated thats when overnight the fire burns down, than you fire it up in the AM and burn it out.

Click to expand...

Maybe it's a thin "snake" of creosote that seeps down during a low fire, then burns off with a hot fire but leaves behind the trace line of the snake.

I believe the mention is what I saw in my chimney before i cleaned it and installed a liner. On the tiles you could see a build up of cresote near the top of the chimney, with evidence that some built up and when heated up to a liquid again begain to slide/roll back down the chimney. it appears like rain would on a windshield, building until running down leaving a 'snaking' trail.

I assume this is because during the night flue temps go down along with the fire and when you re-light in the morning causes any build up to because liquid again, and falling down the chimney. by the fire going out or back down during the day leaves the deposit near the base of the chimney. I am assuming here. but I know if reading on how to install all this stuff the reason you attach you pipe and connections in a reverse of what you think "flow" (ie female to male vs. male to female) is because you want any creosote to flow back down and into the fire rather then leak out someplace.

Looks like she lost interest after her tantrum. My toddler does the same thing.

My guess would be rain or liquid creosote. More importantly, how much did he take out? It gives you an idea of how clean your burning?