chimney cleaning

[Got Wood]

This past weekend I completed my spring chimney cleaning of my FPX.

First I purchased a chimney cleaning kit online - with shipping less than $70
http://www.fireplaceessentials.com/c7/Metal-Chimney-Cleaning-Homeowner-Professional-c93.html
Well worth the price. The rods are sturdy, screw together easily and stay together. Being the first time, I wasnt quite sure what to expect but here is a quick recap for those in a similar postion - if I can do this so can you!

1) removed the Cat. This actually took me a few min's because the internal cat material had been pushed (probably by my vacumming techinque over the winter) back in the metal box. Made it a little tricky to get out but with a little maneuvering this was done. Took it outside and ran my leaf blower through it. Total time 5 min
2) took out the chimney kit and inspected it all on the ground. For self assurance I tied an old clothes line rope to the loop on the end of the brush (I didnt want to get it stuck in there and not be able to get it out....maybe overkill but I felt better having done it). Up the ladder with the cleaning kit.
3) on the roof - inspected the chimney and found there were 3 screws I needed to take out to remove the top piece. So far so good.
4) I look down the chimney, I can see most of the way down (approx 24') w/o a flash light. Build up doesnt look bad at all.
5) drop the "untied" end of the rope down the chimney and have the wife make sure its within reach before I start
6) start in with the brushing, start with 2 sections fastened together. I was a little fearfull of pulling an "oh crap" moment and dropping a rod down the chimney while fastening it. This didnt prove to be difficult as the rods are light and designed to fit well together to be able to fasten with one hand.
7) work my way to the bottom and before removing yell down to the wife to check how much has pushed out. She say hardly anything. I'm a little concerned because I have a slight bend right above the box. I push a little harder and then bring it all up and out.
8) put the top back on with the 3 screws
9) off the roof - total time on the roof, maybe 15 min and I was working slowly as it was my first attempt
10) into the house to see what it looks like in the fire box. Quickly realized that I had not removed the "baffle" that directs the air flow and on top of it was all the crap I brushed off. I estimate I had about 1 coffee can worth that came out of the chimeny.
11) Got the old shop vac out and sucked it all up , then brought it outside to be cleaned out.

Total time 30-45 min including putting everything away. Next time will be quicker.

Simple, cheap (there are even cheaper approaches) and fast.

 

[Todd]

Sounds like your burning properly with that little bit of creo. One suggestion for ya is to bypass that leafblower technique. I've been told not to use high pressure air to blow out the cat, it could blow off some of the catalyst. I just brush it with a paint brush and vacuume out.

 

[Got Wood]

Oh, good tip.
Looking at at Cat, I wasnt able to figure out why they "wear out" over time. Still a mystery to me... but if high air pressure isnt a good thing I will stick with the brush/vacuume approach.
Thanks.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

You did fine! One other little tip. Over the years I've found it a good thing that when coming back up with the brush to use a scrubbing motion. Up and down, up and down, like about 2 feet per movement and keep doing that all the way to the top (or to the bottom if cleaning from the bottom). Then just one more push with the brush all the way down and back up. This takes very little time but will most times get just a little bit that you may have missed. Just a little insurance this way.

I may do ours yet this spring as it has been two years. There ought to be something there but the wife checked a month or so ago and said it is still clean. Boy, I love that cat stove! Burns really clean.

 

[Todd]

You did fine! One other little tip. Over the years I've found it a good thing that when coming back up with the brush to use a scrubbing motion. Up and down, up and down, like about 2 feet per movement and keep doing that all the way to the top (or to the bottom if cleaning from the bottom). Then just one more push with the brush all the way down and back up. This takes very little time but will most times get just a little bit that you may have missed. Just a little insurance this way.

I may do ours yet this spring as it has been two years. There ought to be something there but the wife checked a month or so ago and said it is still clean. Boy, I love that cat stove! Burns really clean.

Isn't there even a little soot in that pipe Dennis? Mine gets that fine powdery soot, but that's it, no flakey or tar creosote not even on the cap. I still brush mine twice per year just for peace of mind.

 

[joshlaugh]

Thanks for the post. I am going to start sweeping my own chimney this year and need to invest in the right equipment.

 

[BrotherBart]

How would Dennis know what is in that chimney? :lol:

 

[Backwoods Savage]

lol. Yes Todd, when she removes the cap off the tee there is always a little fine soot there. I know because she told BB and he told all. lol Like I said, I might run a brush up there this spring just for kicks.

 

[SmokeyStover]

Oh, good tip.
Looking at at Cat, I wasnt able to figure out why they "wear out" over time. Still a mystery to me... but if high air pressure isnt a good thing I will stick with the brush/vacuume approach.
Thanks.

Looking at a cat, what you see, the "honeycomb" is just ceramic. The ceramic is impregnated with palladium and platinum which are what make it work. Over time the ceramic will start to crack and pieces of it will start falling out. Less surface area equals less than optimum performance. Even if the ceramic doesn't crack the intense heat will cause some of the metals to burn off and typically after about five seasons, the cat should be replaced.

The precious metals are the reason you should NEVER burn anything metalic in a catalytic stove. No nails, staples treated wood, even the colored ink in some news print can poison the cat and severely shorten it's useful life.

 

[singeroi]

interesting will check those out thanks for the tip
simulation assurance vie

 

[BrotherBart]

Oh, good tip.
Looking at at Cat, I wasnt able to figure out why they "wear out" over time. Still a mystery to me... but if high air pressure isnt a good thing I will stick with the brush/vacuume approach.
Thanks.

Looking at a cat, what you see, the "honeycomb" is just ceramic. The ceramic is impregnated with palladium and platinum which are what make it work. Over time the ceramic will start to crack and pieces of it will start falling out. Less surface area equals less than optimum performance. Even if the ceramic doesn't crack the intense heat will cause some of the metals to burn off and typically after about five seasons, the cat should be replaced.

The precious metals are the reason you should NEVER burn anything metalic in a catalytic stove. No nails, staples treated wood, even the colored ink in some news print can poison the cat and severely shorten it's useful life.

So you're saying that if I want to keep burning old car tires then I should stick with my non-cat? :lol:

 

[Tedsokol]

Congratulations on your coffee can of creosote! Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right. Keep up the good work!

Another trick I employ when scrubbing my chimney clean with a kit that screws together is to spiral the brush in a clockwise motion up and down. Not only do you do a more thorough job of cleaning the creosote in the flue you ensure the rod sections will not unscrew halfway down the chimney! Then you won't have to tie a rope to the other end.

I clean my Hi-Tech system once a year and I get a cup of creosote out of my flue. Most woodburners I ask usually respond with..."I get about a 5 gallon bucket full per year".

One more thing...Don't forget to check the stove pipe sections if your brush can't make it through the telescoping tube or if you have an elbow in your system. Creosote often collects right at the elbow.

Ted

Burn Responsibly
www.woodhomeheating.com

 

[Got Wood]

Thanks for the info on the Cat and the additional cleaning advice guys.
Man, if I got a 5 gallon bucket full I think I would panic - thats alot! Certainly would cause a change of habits. I was fortunate to have decently seasoned wood in my first year - will be even better going forward. Year 3 and on will be ideal as I will have all wood atleast 2 years c/s/s. Next year (yr 2) should be fine too with almost a full yr c/s/s and the stacks I have for next year are mostly from trees that had been down for over a year, the moisture content is already in acceptable range.