Lopi Declaration and soot eater

[kattpound]

I have been thinking about getting the soot eater but was wondering if I could just open the bypass damper and go straight up the flue. Maybe I am under thinking this, is there more i need to do? I checked the chimney yesterday and there is just a thin coat of brownish ash, no major creosote. this is my first full year burning and just want to make sure I am doing it as safe as i can with 2 kids in the house. Thanks in advance.

 

[Stax]

Katt...thanks for asking. Was gonna do the same thing. Let's see what others have to say.

 

[maverick06]

I have that fireplace. Although i dont own a sooteater I sweep from top down and just open the bypass. When its all done there is a mound of creosote in the box. Then I just use a air compressor to blow into the front of the baffle and a shopvac to suck from the other side. Not much is sitting up top. After 2 or 3 years burning I took the whole baffle out to clean up there. For me, there was practically nothing up there and it was a huge pain to get the baffle in and out... horrible pain in the butt! You can get long thin brushed designed for cleaning that sort of area, thats all i would suggest. I dont have one, but think its a good idea.

Also, for me, with my conditions/wood, I will burn about 2.5 cords per winter (not so much this winter) and sweep in the spring. The liner is still quite clean then, probably could go a few years without a problem, but that would be foolishly risky.

I think the suggestion would work fine, just try to get the little bit left around the top of the damper out, no big deal though.

 

[flyingpig]

I have the same fireplace, and also the soot eater. I have no problem cleaning it from bottom-up through the bypass.

Cheers.....Som

 

[kattpound]

Thanks for the help, now just need to get the soot eater.