I didn't really like our chimney sweep

Don't chisel out the grout. That's just stupid.
I stand on my stove to remove the pipe and clean it, but if a sweep did that, I'd never call him back. A pro should use a ladder, especially with a nice stove like that. Find someone else next time!

At least he cleaned it. I paid a supposed professional to install my stove and clean the chimney and after installing the stove he told me the chimney was fine and didn't need cleaning. This is having looked at the 12 inch space you can see through the thimble, guy never looked up or down the chimney at all. You gotta wonder how some of these guys get a job doing this.

Find a new sweep.

I had a sweep who used my stove top as a work bench too, setting his tools right on it. Annoyed the hell out of me and he'll never be back here.

I have found over the last 3 or so years the sweep company I use now will recommend additional work to be done without even asking any questions to see how I burn or if I had any issues to report. This year it was the radius 90 of my single wall flue, they claimed it would be more efficient than the true 90 I have in place. As you have done, I asked the question about this in the forum to be sure.

And just like you had happen, my sweep stepped on my stove top for leverage once. He looked at my face as he got off and apologized sincerely. Problem was he never hesitated to use another approach, stove tops make great footholds for sweeps. I think I'm going ask around next summer for some names and try someone else, themes no need to have my guard raised because the sweep is coming.

My Oslo heats my home said:

I have found over the last 3 or so years the sweep company I use now will recommend additional work to be done without even asking any questions to see how I burn or if I had any issues to report. This year it was the radius 90 of my single wall flue, they claimed it would be more efficient than the true 90 I have in place. As you have done, I asked the question about this in the forum to be sure.

And just like you had happen, my sweep stepped on my stove top for leverage once. He looked at my face as he got off and apologized sincerely. Problem was he never hesitated to use another approach, stove tops make great footholds for sweeps. I think I'm going ask around next summer for some names and try someone else, themes no need to have my guard raised because the sweep is coming.

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I feel lucky. My sweep is also the guy that installed my three stoves. He's clean, quick, and honest. Good clean work on installs as well.

I

BrowningBAR said:

My Oslo heats my home said:

I have found over the last 3 or so years the sweep company I use now will recommend additional work to be done without even asking any questions to see how I burn or if I had any issues to report. This year it was the radius 90 of my single wall flue, they claimed it would be more efficient than the true 90 I have in place. As you have done, I asked the question about this in the forum to be sure.

And just like you had happen, my sweep stepped on my stove top for leverage once. He looked at my face as he got off and apologized sincerely. Problem was he never hesitated to use another approach, stove tops make great footholds for sweeps. I think I'm going ask around next summer for some names and try someone else, themes no need to have my guard raised because the sweep is coming.

Click to expand...

I feel lucky. My sweep is also the guy that installed my three stoves. He's clean, quick, and honest. Good clean work on installs as well.

Click to expand...

Too bad for me, your in PA.

I would either get a new sweep or if you can do it yourself.

Get a new sweep.

I looked at about 5 sweeps to install my chimney liner and the B.S. some of these guys told me was stunning. One guy stood out far and away better than the others and that's who I used.

My new chimney I am putting up (for a 2nd stove) is designed from the get to to be bottom-up cleaned, so no climbing on the roof unless absoutely necessary.

If you can figure out how to clean you own chimney, you will be better off.

Good luck,
Bill

NEXT!!

Setting something on my soapstone stove might have found the man exiting the house very fast. In addition, I would not necessarily be against someone standing on the stove to reach up....but he better be asking for permission first. I also would have been talking good to the man before paying.

Yup. Time for a different sweep for sure.

My installers/sweeps were impressively clean, handled everything with care, and touched up nicks in my new stove before it was installed. Very detail oriented. My wife and I are perfectionists, in front of my insert is off-white carpeting (yeah, not a great carpet for infront of a stove, but it's lasted well one burning season!). I couldn't even FIND dust/dirt/soot to clean when they are gone. and I was looking.

He came out twice after the install: once to fix a broken elbow that happened after the install and connected the stove to the liner. His supplier had stopped supplying welded elbows, he didn't know, and it broke. He told the supplier, they sent him all new welded elbows, and he replaced it very quickly for me. He swept the chimney mid burning season for free as part of that fix, inspected the stove, and told me he'd come back out to replace my chimney cap for free because some owners had had problems with draft/clogging with that style cap. He replaced it for free as stated.

Good sweeps are out there. Find one who does the installs for the largest stove dealer in your area. Chances are, that person doesn't piss off too many people.

I believe myself to be one of the good one! I hope so anyways, LOL. I take great pride in my work and which others in the profession did as well. One bad apple doesn't necessairly spoil the numch, but people sure check over the rest of them after HAHA. To those looking for a new sweep check out www.csia.org and find a certified sweep in your area.

pen said:

My wife complains about the guy who sweeps this chimney all the time ;-)

For some reason though she keeps letting him do it year after year.

pen

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Now that was totally funnay! Thanks.

I think many of them are scam artists.
I had our chimney swept before installing a fireplace insert.
The sweep in our town suggested NO chimney liner cause "thats what the chimney is for".???????
He also recommended "repairing" the cap on the existing chimney. It was "falling apart" and "someone may be injured from falling brick".
I do have a ladder and inspected it myself, not a single crack in the cement. Looks like it was done yesterday. Very solid and clean.
I should have known when he showed up with a home made ladder, made from 2x6 boards.

I have since bought a brush and rods and do it myself.