Chimney Cleaning Pictures (First time DIY)

[WoodpileOCD]

In Dec I decided to tackle the chimney cleaning job myself because I'm a firm believer in the adage that you don't pay someone to do anything you 'think' you can do yourself. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it's an Oh S*#t moment. Worked out this time. Don't know how clean it's supposed to get but it seemed pretty clean to me.

I have an 11x11 flue in an outside masonry chimney so I bought the appropriate brush and decided to go the rope and weight route so I didn't have to spend another 50 bucks on rods.

Having never done this myself, what do you old hands think. Is this a respectable job of cleaning or does it need to be done more. I was going on a comparison before/after basis and it looked great to me.

Here are the pics.

 

[cmonSTART]

It's a darn fine job! Using the old English method.

 

[Dix]

I would sleep at night, now. But, I would also line that chimney, for many reasons.

Welcome to the Self Cleaners Anonymous Group I bet you are glad you did the cleaning. We use a chain as a weight, give it a flick of the wrist, and it spirals on the way down, busting out a lot of loose stuff.

 

[yooperdave]

holy cow! i have never seen buildup like that in any of my chimneys! great thing you got er done. isn't much to it, right? i remember my first time...had lots of questions before i finally got a friend up there with me. felt kinda foolish afterwards, though. sure didn't need the help, you know?
now...looking at the pics of the yard, why don't i see snow? i thought you got hit by a big storm that had schools closed?? i haven't seen bare ground during the winter since i lived in hawaii. at least your yard isn't green.
oh yeah, might i suggest a bit of sealant in the cracks on the chimney top?? a little now helps out alot later on. good job

 

[WoodpileOCD]

holy cow! i have never seen buildup like that in any of my chimneys! great thing you got er done. isn't much to it, right? i remember my first time...had lots of questions before i finally got a friend up there with me. felt kinda foolish afterwards, though. sure didn't need the help, you know?
now...looking at the pics of the yard, why don't i see snow? i thought you got hit by a big storm that had schools closed?? i haven't seen bare ground during the winter since i lived in hawaii. at least your yard isn't green.
oh yeah, might i suggest a bit of sealant in the cracks on the chimney top?? a little now helps out alot later on. good job

Yea, I do need to get back up there and seal those cracks.

Snow, this is Charlotte NC man. We've had a couple of snows but they don't last long. I've see a foot of snow be gone in 3 days here. Had a medium one (4") by our standards a couple weeks ago.

I remember my father using an old Christmas tree to clean his chimney when I was a kid a hundred years ago.