Cleaning a warm or cold chimney?

[WellSeasoned]

It's getting to that time for me to take a look in the chimney, and will probable give it a sweep. I'm sure il ask questions closer to the day I do it, but for right now, it would be ideal for me to do it in the morning. Is it ok to clean the chimney if there is still some residual heat? Obviously, I will take extra precautions to make sure there is no coals alive in the stove.will it clean better slightly warm, or doesn't it make any difference? Thx

 

[Backwoods Savage]

There is usually some heat when we clean the chimney. We just like to let the stove burn down to coals so there is no smoke. So clean away!

 

[pen]

I generally clean in the mornings as well . Most times there are still warm coals in the stove.

W/ a metal brush it really wouldn't matter other than for comfort. W/ a poly brush, you wouldn't want a fire in the stove that's for sure.

I like it better just a little warm as it helps the dust particles fly up and out quicker since there is still some draft.

pen

 

[lukem]

I melted my poly brush cleaning a too warm chimney. Wasn't a disaster, but now it doesn't fit snugly so i had to buy a new one.

 

[WellSeasoned]

Sorry, I should have added that I am using a metal brush. My application should be pretty simple. Even though I have a telescoping stove pipe, I think I will still tackle the cleaning from the flat roof, although I will need a step stool up there. I am planning on unscrewing the pipe, lightly vice gripping it together using a rag, taping a bag to the bottom to catch the junk. What approach should I use? All the way down, then bring back up...repeat this process how many times? Obviously eye balling it will have the last say. Thx everyone.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

Remember to remove any probe thermometers in your flue and baffles in the stove that might get damaged before you start.

Here's how I do mine
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwthXBx38dw&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

 

[pen]

Also you mention it's a flat roof, I'm assuming rubber. Regardless, I've seen used step stools who's rubber protective booties are worn through exposing (what would be sharp to a roof) the metal tube framing.

Make sure you check yours and perhaps even put a slice in a pair of tennis or racquet balls and stick over the ends as extra protection. Even wrap them in an old sock then apply duct tape. Anything really.

Hate to see the step stool damage the roof.

pen

 

[WellSeasoned]

Carbon, thanks for posting that, but being my first time theres no way I can go that fast. :bug:

Pen- I never even thought of that. Good advice.

 

[Dix]

Give enough time for baffles/tubes/whatever to cool before removing them if need be.

Don't want a burn.

 

[nelraq]

Sorry, I should have added that I am using a metal brush. My application should be pretty simple. Even though I have a telescoping stove pipe, I think I will still tackle the cleaning from the flat roof, although I will need a step stool up there. I am planning on unscrewing the pipe, lightly vice gripping it together using a rag, taping a bag to the bottom to catch the junk. What approach should I use? All the way down, then bring back up...repeat this process how many times? Obviously eye balling it will have the last say. Thx everyone.

If I am reading the bolded text above correctly, you are going to unscrew the telescoping pipe from the stove and then pull the pipe off the stove -high enough to tape a bag to the pipe to catch the 'junk'. then you will go up on the roof and clean the chimney.

DON'T DO THIS I learned the hard way. Once you take the pipe off of the stove connection, there is absolutely no rigidity left in the pipe - from the pipe bottom to where it connects to insulated pipe at the ceiling. When you brush the chimney you'll be fine until the brush is in the pipe below the ceiling. From the ceiling to the bottom of the pipe, the pipe will be moving all over the place as you move the brush up and down---not good at all for the connection at the ceiling! Your pipe will still be clean, but it's not at all good for the stove pipe to insulated pipe connection.

Last time I cleaned, I used the same method as above but with an addition. I placed a 5' 1x3 against the pipe and 'jammed' the 1x3 into the space between the stove and the rear heat shield. I secured the board to the pipe with lots of masking tape and then wrapped again with duct tape. This worked fine, but is a PIA!!

Next time I think I will just clean the chimney from top to bottom, then remove the oval plate (I have the Oslo) and reach in and vacuum out the junk. Seems like this is the method most people are using.

Sorry for being so long winded...hopefully I explained thing OK!

BTW, when I brush a chimney, I do about 6 inches at a time: ie. go down 6 inches, come back up to the top, go down 12 inches, then back to the top etc.

 

[WellSeasoned]

Nelraq- great post.i get what you saying about the pipe being all wobbly and unsafe with the insulated pipe connection. I will just let it be until the end of the sweeping, and then disconnect and vacuum out where the sp meets the stove. I may also disconnect the sp from the stove, place like a walmart bag there , reconnect pipe and do above a mentioned. I am really quite curious to see how much junk I have so far. 1 extra step, but worth it for the info. Thx

Edit: obviously the stove needs to be cooler with the bag method.

 

[mellow]

I would stick a flashlight down it to check for buildup before bringing out the brush. The problem with a warm chimney is the warm air flow is going to be smacking you in the face as you try and look down the chimney.