Chimney Sweep - Progress Hybrid

[toddnic]

This is my first year with the Progress Hybrid. I have been burning 24/7 since probably mid-November. My wood is fairly dry to around 25% moisture. I'm probably burning about 1/2 of the wood in the 15% to 20% range and the other 1/2 in the 20% to 25% moisture range. I haven't swept the chimney yet and was wondering if I should be concerned or if it would be alright to wai until the end of the season. I've been burning the stove fairly hot lately so hopefully that has cut down on creosote deposits.

I would love to hear what other PH owners have experienced. Thanks!

 

[tcassavaugh]

jmho, if that's your set up in your avitar, it shouldn't be too hard to pull the connector pipe and take a peek at that, and your chimney through your thimble. depending on how it looks, i'd go from there. also, if you have a pair of binos, go out and take a peek at your chimney cap. if its plugged with black stuff, I think its time to brush it out a bit.

 

[pen]

My vote will always be to give it a sweep. It's good to have a baseline to compare to.

pen

 

[HollowHill]

I always have a mid-season sweep. The chimney sweeps always say it's looking good and I could go longer (as in more than a year), but I'd rather err on the safe side. This lets me know that everything is working as it should and no corrections are needed.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

This is my first year with the Progress Hybrid. I have been burning 24/7 since probably mid-November. My wood is fairly dry to around 25% moisture. I'm probably burning about 1/2 of the wood in the 15% to 20% range and the other 1/2 in the 20% to 25% moisture range. I haven't swept the chimney yet and was wondering if I should be concerned or if it would be alright to wai until the end of the season. I've been burning the stove fairly hot lately so hopefully that has cut down on creosote deposits.

I would love to hear what other PH owners have experienced. Thanks!

Because of that statement above in red, I would get it cleaned. Also, I would not call 25% fairly dry and that is why I would clean it!

 

[toddnic]

Because of that statement above in red, I would get it cleaned. Also, I would not call 25% fairly dry and that is why I would clean it!

The fairly dry wood is in the 15% to 20% range. The 20% to 25% wood is moist. I've been mixing half-and-half due to this being my first year burning and not having enough time for all of the wood to season. As you said, "time to clean the chimney."

 

[Seriesnuns]

I've been burning 20-25% all winter no sizzle. Stove actually runs hotter than I like sometimes. I just run the stove hot once a day where I can get the stove top to 700 plus.

 

[Charles1981]

How is your chimney cap? See any gunk accumulating in the screen?

It would be best to get up there and give a sweep...because you won't really know until you get up there.

And as pen said... it will give you a baseline for the future.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I've been burning 20-25% all winter no sizzle. Stove actually runs hotter than I like sometimes. I just run the stove hot once a day where I can get the stove top to 700 plus.

I never did like the idea that you could burn the stove hot once per day to keep the chimney and stove clean. If you burn the stove right and use the right wood (dry), there is absolutely no need to "burn it hot" once a day. I know, those theories come down from the older days but they were flawed then and they are still flawed today.

 

[mellow]

Burn it hot is to catch the creosote built up in the chimney on fire, ie cleaning the chimney.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Yup, burn it right and there will be no creosote.

 

[begreen]

Not always true. One can burn very cleanly but have a cool flue. There is still some condensate in a smokeless exhaust. If the flue gases drop down too low deposits will start forming. They may not be glaze creosote, but there will be condensation below about 250F in the flue. Folks with too long runs of single-wall pipe or very cold exterior chimneys see this. We have multiple reports of this happening with cool burning stoves like the BK, in spite of burning well seasoned wood. It's the reason BK recommends only using double-wall connector.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Note, I stated to burn it right. I made no mention of flue temperatures; that is part of burning the stove right.

 

[rideau]

Toddnic,
Please let us know the results of the sweep.
Thanks

 

[toddnic]

How is your chimney cap? See any gunk accumulating in the screen?

It would be best to get up there and give a sweep...because you won't really know until you get up there.

And as pen said... it will give you a baseline for the future.

The chimney cap is somewhat dark from either smoke or creosote but the screen is not clogged at all. I ordered a Sooteater today and plan on cleaning the chimney when it arrives. Can someone who uses a Sooteater comment on my plan.

Where the stove is located, we have an 8' ceiling. I plan on removing the single wall pipe that goes from the PH to the ceiling box. I plan on using a one gallon Rubbermaid jug, drill a small hole in the bottom that the Sooteater pipe will fit through, tape the jug to the round opening in the ceiling box, and then run the Sooteater pipe up through it. Is there a better way to do it that will minimize the mess? Thanks for your help!

 

[begreen]

Note, I stated to burn it right. I made no mention of flue temperatures; that is part of burning the stove right.

BK stoves are thermostatically regulated. The only input is dry wood.

One could be running a flue at 400F and still get enough cooling in the pipe to drop the chimney temp to below 250F. It depends on the flue setup.

 

[toddnic]

Toddnic,
Please let us know the results of the sweep.
Thanks

Will do. Please comment on my post from a few minutes ago if you use a Sooteater.

 

[rideau]

Have not used a sooteater. Use poly brush, clean from below, much as you are talking of doing with the sooteater. Very clean, no mess. I suspect what you are proposing with the sooteater will wok just fine, but will let others who have used it comment.