Cleaning stove - rookie

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NYLife

Burning Hunk
Sep 3, 2012
220
Mohegan Lake NY
Should I wait till their is no hot coal in order to clean it? Is it ok if I clean the pipe from the bottom up instead of climbing on the roof
 
No and yes. Coals are ok when cleaning the ash, it's what you do with it after you move it is what is cause for concern. Bottom up is much safer if you can do it, no need to climb up there if you don't have to. My only concern when my sweeper comes is what buildup I may have near the top of the flue, where it's the coolest.
 
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Is this a masonry or stainless chimney? If you are using a poly brush, you certainly want nothing more than small coals left in the stove. If that chimney pipe is too hot, you'd be leaving your brush in it as you work.

Cleaning from the bottom up is fine, but if it's not too difficult to clean from the roof, I do recommend from the top down. Reason is, the majority of the accumulations are generally on the cap and the top few feet of the chimney. Without getting up there and seeing exactly what is there, it's hard to tell how clean things really are.

pen
 
Is this a masonry or stainless chimney? If you are using a poly brush, you certainly want nothing more than small coals left in the stove. If that chimney pipe is too hot, you'd be leaving your brush in it as you work.

Cleaning from the bottom up is fine, but if it's not too difficult to clean from the roof, I do recommend from the top down. Reason is, the majority of the accumulations are generally on the cap and the top few feet of the chimney. Without getting up there and seeing exactly what is there, it's hard to tell how clean things really are.

pen
It's stainless steel. I guess I'm going on the roof to clean it once the pipe gets nice and cool. What about the pipe that goes out the wall outside ? Should I clean that and how thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it
 
It's stainless steel. I guess I'm going on the roof to clean it once the pipe gets nice and cool. What about the pipe that goes out the wall outside ? Should I clean that and how thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it
So, it sounds like you have a T system? all the pipe needs cleaned, including the stove pipe inside. It will need to be taken apart and cleaned, at this time you can run the broom through the thimble. The only issue with cleaning it from the bottom up is that you might not get the cap cleaned, or worse yet, push all the junk up into the cap.
 
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