I could not wait for my sweep...

After not being able to find a sooteater in my area or online at a reasonable price, I called my sweep and asked him to come sweep me out! $150. Ugh. But at least it will be done. My chimney is 7 feet above where it comes through my roof (along the edge) and that's a little too high to play chicken with a ladder..However I was able to get my face just barely under my T and saw only soft fluffy like soot on the inside of the chimney and it was only a dusting...

That being said, I just lit my first fire. 43F outside and 90% humidity. It's a damp and chilly day. Time to burn off the summer dust!

Andrew

+1. My sweep is supposed to be coming next Monday. Yesterday it was in the 50's here, and my son begged me to start a fire because his ears were cold. So I looked up the chimney from the firebox and did not see much buildup at all, so I said what the heck. Started my fire with some fatwood and splitter splinters. After that was going, I threw on a couple of small splits. After that took off, I added 3 bigger splits. That burned for about 3 hours, and took the chill out of the living room.

Not sure there's anything magic about getting your chimney swept over the summer. Could just as well be in January, I figure... as long as it gets done at least once a year.

Am I wrong? I have 3/4" mesh screen at the top, so anything that's going in that chimney during the summer is coming in 3/4" at a time. Hornets nests? I think they're flammable...

Mudbug
Give him a hat....... and long johns ,and undershirt and wool sweater.... If, I can hack it here in Ky.... a young whippersnapper can... LOL
and I am cold natured..... hans always cold in cool weather, prob old enough to prob be His GM, LOL.....
I live in such... soon as it gets cool.... Heck, I wear long skirts now , in winter and leg warmers, and such LOL
Can NOT afford to fill up that propane tank... out back ....in this money pit house ( moved into months ago.....
Just a saying
Andrew,
and My sweep is supp ..to come in about an hour.....supposedly $130 to clean.. already paid $20 for the inspection....last week.
Later we will do it ourselves, hopefully like at other house..... but we had SS pipe there this is stone and flue tiles.....
Take care all
Jean

I hear ya mudbug, LOL. Cold ears = time to make a fire.

Joful, I think you're right. It makes no difference when you get it done. However, I enjoy getting it done before the winter because I do not have a mesh and want to make sure nothing is up there. It is simply a preventative measure before the season. To me it's like getting a car inspected before you buy it instead of the week after... (in Quebec there are regulations that protect a car buyer for 30 days..)

Andrew

if your country is as dry as ours it is a very good idea to clean/inspect chimney and clean the roof/gutters before starting the burn season.

I'm a little confused. I know the sooteater can be had for a lot less than $150. Why not spend the money on the sooteater instead?

What's a soot eater?

It's an easier way to clean your chimney, especially from the bottom up.

It can be had for about $50. Another $15-25 for extra rods.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010H5JXA...&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B0010H5JXA

http://www.amazon.com/Gardus-Inc-RC...UTF8&qid=1349718723&sr=8-1&keywords=sooteater

SootEater is a product from a company called GARDUS. It's like a weed-wacker mounted on a set of flexible rods and driven by a standard drill. I just got one and it worked well. I cleaned the flue on my insert no problems. On my traditional fireplace I had a little difficulty containing the soot. You are supposed to tape up some plastic, but I have a natural stone hearth which is very uneven. Still thinking on a better method for next year.

-Jim

Thanx!

Sooteater where I live cost like $125 with taxes. I will be getting one but will be asking the sweep to do his job this year. http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...644209P/Chimney Cleaning System.jsp?locale=en

There is a store online that sells it for $50 but the shipping is $20 and it says you must pay duties upon delivery (I hate that system..) so I will get it fo $125.

Andrew

Remember... men...are not men anymore! I don't know whats happened. Something happened to John Wayne...

And let's not forget CHuck Norris! He's no longer in movies either...
A

Chimney sweep = $225 in my area

SootEater = $80

Guess which I choose?

Shari

Unless the "duties" are 110%, it's cheaper to just order it.. But.. then you have it, and never have to pay the sweep the $150 again..

I know in my world, that is a done deal.

I've paid $90 for a very thorough job on two occasions, and once $280 for a less than thorough job with another company. How many folks quoted you the $225 price?

The soot eater also unplugged my 4 inch gray water drain which was plugged about 6 feet out at a 90. More uses then just the chimney!