so i want to sweep my own chimney....

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par0thead151

Feeling the Heat
Jul 26, 2009
494
south eastern wisconsin
i have a insert in a zero clearance fireplace. the pipe goes straight up, so no difficult bends or twists.
i am wondering how you guys clean from the bottom up or does everyone clean from the top down...
is a rope dropped down the chimney and tied to the brush while a guy on the roof then pulls the rope and brush to the top?

how do you get to the top of your chimney? mine is a good 5-6' taller than the roof so it clears the highest peak of the house.

how much resistance is there when pulling the cleaning brush?

I hate to pay someone for something i can do, i just need to educate myself and make sure it is something i want to be doing vs hiring out for.
 
Really, do which ever method you described that works best for your situation. The brush should feel snug as if you let go of it w/ a few lengths of rod it won't fall down the chimney on its own but not so tight that you can't make it change direction.

Here are a few links on chimney sweeping that I think you may find helpful.

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/48236/

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/65194/

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/creosote_from_wood_burning_causes_and_solutions

http://www.csia.org/

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Home-Safety/Fire-Safety/when-to-clean-a-chimney-flue

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/forums/viewthread/4845/

pen
 
Or bottom-up using a sooteater....
 
I have an 8 inch chimney that I clean with a wire brush. I would compare it to cleaning the bore of a rifle only on a larger scale. I clean from top down and I do not require a person on the ground floor pulling from a rope. The angle of my roof is steep enough that I can lay my chest against the chimney and sweep it. I wear goggles and a respirator, as I do not want to inhale the creosote. I also bring a drop light up with me so I can drop it down the chimney and check for any damage. When I'm done I scoop the creosote out of the clean out with metal scoop and dispose of it. Be very careful on the roof things can happen fast.
 
Cleaning a chimney can be a relatively simple task, or it can be a nightmare, depending on your particular situation and how you go about it.
I like to clean from the top down, but then I have no problem with heights and I got a system in place on my roof that makes it pretty straight forward and easy. My chimney is also about 5' tall as well, but by working on the uphill side of the chimney it's easy to access the top and clean it.


If your chimney is hard to access on the roof for some reason, or you don't like heights, you should probably invest in one of those sooteaters that others have already suggested, since soot eaters have more flexible poles and you can usually feed the brush right up through the stove
http://livinglargeinourlittlehouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Dale-Cleaning-Stove.jpg
 
can you use a soot eater with a 30 ft chimney? What do you do about the cap with a soot eater?
 
I clean from the bottom up with a push/pull brush. I run it all the way to the top where it hits the cap. I then examine the cap from the ground with binoculars and when the sky light is right for me to see through the cap screen. I have always (now 3 years) been able to see through the screen, so I assume there is no need to clean the cap. When the time comes to clean the cap I will either have to get up there (the extreme end of my 32' extension ladder) or hire someone to get up there. Likely I'll do the latter and have the chimney cleaned top down by a professional chimney cleaner. From the looks of it I will get by 5+ years just cleaning from the bottom up.

I use no more than two cords of seasoned hardwood and maybe 1/4 cord of seasoned softwood a year. Not a 24/7 wood heat situation.

The "Soot Eater" looks interesting, I may invest in one myself.
 
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