SootEater capability through a 90° bend in a exterior chimney

[Attaboy]

Looking for answers from actual users, vertigo is now impeding my ability to effortlessly climb a roof so I am considering a '' Sooteater '' or any other brand such as Tornado etc. that would allow me to clean my chimney via 90° bend .

Context: I have an exterior SS 6 inch interior dia. Selkirk Sentinel chimney which has a 20 foot outside height. My flue connects to a through the wall 12'' insulated SS chimney pipe which leads in to the T on the outside, once there I need to turn 90° and go up for 20 feet. Obviously the stove to chimney flue would already be removed, I would start at the inside wall, go in 12 inches, turn 90° and go up.

Are the rods of the SootEater sufficiently flexible to easily negotiate the 90° bend and travel up that 20 feet ?

Thank you for the responses,


http://www.gardusinc.com/sooteater-chimney.html

 

[Xtrl9]

If you have T on the exterior why don't you just run straight up there?

 

[tpenny67]

In my case, the exterior T is below ground level (stove is in basement) so some tunneling would be required to get at it. I'd be very interested in any cleaning method that doesn't involve getting on a ladder.

 

[Attaboy]

If you have T on the exterior why don't you just run straight up there?

The bottom of the T is about 7'' - 8'' off the ground, there is just enough room there presently to pull or reinsert the 6'' plug. To have more room to insert rods from the bottom I would have to dig down several feet and that is not going to happen which is why I require flexible rods to go up via the T.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It can be done. Do it every time I clean the chimney. Don't drop the drill, or you'll snap the rod. It'll do a 90, it won't do an S. My 90 isn't tight though. I have thimble that opens up to the T and flue. The thimble is fairly large so the bend isn't tight.

 

[bholler]

I have never used a soot eater but I can tell you that our pro rotary cleaning setup goes through 90s ok but we do break rods doing it occasionally.

 

[Highbeam]

I've broken one rod so far just going in through the firebox. The newer white rods are supposed to be more flexible but a 90 in a 6" pipe is really tight.

There comes a time in life when you need a pro. Maybe one of the pro sweeps on here has a special tool that can make that tight bend and can post the brand and price of the tool for you.

 

[Xtrl9]

In my case, the exterior T is below ground level (stove is in basement) so some tunneling would be required to get at it. I'd be very interested in any cleaning method that doesn't involve getting on a ladder.

That does make accessing it a bit difficult huh? In your case I'm not sure what option you have that you could clean without getting on top of a ladder.

The bottom of the T is about 7'' - 8'' off the ground, there is just enough room there presently to pull or reinsert the 6'' plug. To have more room to insert rods from the bottom I would have to dig down several feet and that is not going to happen which is why I require flexible rods to go up via the T.

In the video on youtube the woman bends the rod into a U shape so I would think that you could bend them to insert them into the vertical run and run them once inserted, bearing in mind most of your buildup is going to be higher in the liner.

I have an S shaped run and as much as I would like to use the sooteater or similar systems for cleaning I don't think it will work and haven't been brave/stupid enough to buy the kit and extension rods to snap them off inside my liner. The issue isn't getting it up there the issue is as it spins if its rubbing it will eat the rod in two.

 

[bholler]

this is what we use

https://rodtechusa.com/click-rotary-chimney-rod-12-12mm-x-39-1-meter-p-470.html

 

[Attaboy]

this is what we use

https://rodtechusa.com/click-rotary-chimney-rod-12-12mm-x-39-1-meter-p-470.html

Thank you bholler for the link, real nice products but really a bit expensive for home owner use once or twice per year, I normally clean the 6'' chimney (top to bottom) and flue myself with fiberglass rods and 6'' brush in May or June. In mid January a certified chimney sweep comes in and does chimney, flue and stove (full cleaning and inspection even takes the stove apart completely), really feel safe after his visit and very happy to pay the gentleman as he is worth every penny. Will need to find some other product if I can for my once per year usage for bottom up, trying to stay within a price budget if at all possible.

 

[bholler]

Thank you bholler for the link, real nice products but really too expensive for the home owner to use once or twice per year,

Yes absolutely. We have roughly $500 in our setup but like I said we do break rods from time to time so we replace 5 to 10 rods a year. But we clean hundreds of chimneys with them. The soot eater seems to be a good homeowner grade product. I just cant comment on it personally because I have never used one. If I was you I would probably try the soot eater for the price. If you do get yourself a piece of the flexible plastic electrical conduit sized so the rods fit through it and about 2.5 to 3' long. slide your first rod through it and attach the whip. Then slide it in through the tee. That will protect your rods and your tee from wear and it helps keep the rods from kinking and breaking as they make the bend. It also means you can pack around the rods to keep the dirt from escaping. We just use a trash bag with some insulation in it as a packing plug.

 

[Attaboy]

Agree, real nice professional grade products perfect for tech's such as yourself who earn a living with it.

Here is a very interesting product ( my curiosity side ):

http://www.flexichimneyrods.co.uk/

 

[bholler]

Here is a very interesting product ( my curiosity side ):

I personally dont like rods that are that flexible. I find them really difficult to keep going up the chimney. But there are lots of guys who like them. Ill stick with my rotary cleaner for most things though. think it does a better job with less work.

 

[Attaboy]

May have found a product that will do the job, not as high quality as the pro products of course but I will have 3 spare replacement rods with the 10 rod package for $110.00 CND or about $70.00 U.S. currency.

Any thoughts or comments anyone ?

https://www.amazon.ca/Chimney-Flexi...8&qid=1485908601&sr=1-3&keywords=newmeil&th=1

 

[Attaboy]

If I was you I would probably try the soot eater for the price. If you do get yourself a piece of the flexible plastic electrical conduit sized so the rods fit through it and about 2.5 to 3' long. slide your first rod through it and attach the whip. Then slide it in through the tee. That will protect your rods and your tee from wear and it helps keep the rods from kinking and breaking as they make the bend. It also means you can pack around the rods to keep the dirt from escaping. We just use a trash bag with some insulation in it as a packing plug.

bholler can you please elaborate a bit more on the flexible plastic electrical conduit and its precise use I am sure it would be appreciated by many here including myself.

 

[jatoxico]

I personally dont like rods that are that flexible. I find them really difficult to keep going up the chimney. But there are lots of guys who like them. Ill stick with my rotary cleaner for most things though. think it does a better job with less work.

I have 2 rod sets for my Sooteater. Black set is thicker and heavier and the white set is thinner/more flexible. Cleaning from the bottom up if I use the black set first the whites cant support the weight too well and the whole thing gets all squirmy. I feel like it gets S-shaped and pushes the rods hard against liner. White first though works good.

 

[bholler]

bholler can you please elaborate a bit more on the flexible plastic electrical conduit and its precise use I am sure it would be appreciated by many here including myself.

We use conduit but any stiff flexible tube will work fine. We just use the conduit because it is readily available in different sizes at any electrical supply place. . It is used as a sleeve to pass the spinning rod through. It protects the rods and the chimney or liner from rubbing together and wearing one another. It also means that you can pack a plug around that tube to contain the dust and it wont get wrapped up around the spinning rods.

 

[bholler]

I have 2 rod sets for my Sooteater. Black set is thicker and heavier and the white set is thinner/more flexible. Cleaning from the bottom up if I use the black set first the whites cant support the weight too well and the whole thing gets all squirmy. I feel like it gets S-shaped and pushes the rods hard against liner. White first though works good.

Soot eater rods were not what I was talking about. I was referring to the rods in the link provided.

 

[jatoxico]

Soot eater rods were not what I was talking about. I was referring to the rods in the link provided.

Yeah I know, just agreeing the too flexible rods have a downside.

 

[bholler]

Yeah I know, just agreeing the too flexible rods have a downside.

ok then.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It'll also support the rods and probably keep them from breaking.

 

[bholler]

It'll also support the rods and probably keep them from breaking.

Yes it helps with that to by keeping them supported as they bend around the corner so they dont bend to sharp.

 

[edyit]

something similiar to this? but maybe larger in diameter?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Liquidtigh...By-the-Foot-Common-1-2-in-Actual-5-in/4283853

 

[Attaboy]

I have 2 rod sets for my Sooteater. Black set is thicker and heavier and the white set is thinner/more flexible. Cleaning from the bottom up if I use the black set first the whites cant support the weight too well and the whole thing gets all squirmy. I feel like it gets S-shaped and pushes the rods hard against liner. White first though works good.

I then assume here if you were to own but one set of these rods you would purchase the black set of heavier rods !
.

 

[double-d]

Looks like Sooteater has a NEW version to replace the BLACK rods - And are available in a number of Lengths

NEW addition SootEater for flexible chimney liners, chimney pipe and clay flues to our chimney cleaning products. You can now clean your flue from the inside of the home from the bottom up or the roof from the top down - whichever you prefer! XXXXXXXXXX is the only one in the industry offering the new SootEater for flexible chimney liners and chimney pipes, many other suppliers offer the SootEater for flues that are not re-lined with a less flexible black cleaning rod. The SLK model SootEater Rotary Chimney Cleaning System removes dangerous soot and creosote buildup. A complete and affordable flue cleaning kit for the do-it-yourself homeowner.

https://www.rockfordchimneysupply.c...himney-cleaning-system-for-chimney-liners.php

• Removes dangerous soot and creosote buildup
• Helps prevent flue fires
• Clean either from the bottom up (clean from inside the home) or the top down (clean from the roof)
• Complete easy to use do-it-yourself cleaning kit – save money!
• Will not scratch metal flue liners
• Spins forward and reverse
• ”Trim to Fit” chimney whip design to fit flue sizes from 5 in. to 9 in. diameter
• Cap/Cowl Cleaner Whip Line included
• Works with any 3/8 in. or 1/2 in. cordless or electric drill
• 3 ft. white flexible rods to complete the cleaning length you select when ordering (Available in 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 36, and 42 ft. kits)
  
• ”Trim to fit” chimney whip - made from filament that will not scratch the metal liner
• Cap/Cowl Whip Line kit included
• Drill adapter
• Hex Key to disconnect rods
• Operator's Manual with do-it-yourself chimney cleaning instructions for multiple setups
• Round, square, oval, or rectangle flues 9 in. diameter and under
• Highly recommended for Smooth Wall flexible chimney liners. Since these liners are 2-ply, the SootEater doesn't strain the inner liner like a poly brush could.
• Great for shaped flexible chimney liners such as oval, rectangle and square. Shaped poly brushes fit to your exact liner size can be very expensive and difficult to locate – the SootEater is a very affordable and complete