Cleaning my Exhaust

[Tonyray]

hi,
since this is my 1st year with pellet stove,
if u look at 1st picture, this is my outside with OAK. cleanout cap at bottom.
2nd picture shows 90 at bottom, then vertical before goin out thru the wall.
lot less room in the back there than it looks so question is how do I clean out
that bit of 90 and vertical pipe without taking anything apart?
cleaning the outside pipe is no problem as I have the 4 ft dryer vent cleaning brush
that I can use to push down everything from the top of the exhaust down to the cleanout.
does that tight area part need to be brushed also?

 

[ttdberg]

Yup, you definitely need to get the tight area as well. Simplest way is to disconnect the pipe from the stove so you have some room to work, however assuming the P61A flue is similar design to the P68, if you have a drier vent cleaning kit with plenty of flexible extensions, you can try to get by without disconnecting. I use the Gardus LintEater kit, bought at local Aubuchons hardware. It has lots of extensions, so I can get my entire flue with it. First, get the inside of the stove flue to the 90 degree connector by entering from the front of the stove. Remove the ash pan and the combustion fan cover, as well as the ESP probe so it doesn't get damaged accidentally. Once those are out, it's a straight shot back to the 90 degree connector with a 3" brush. If your pipe is 4" then use a 4" brush that's not too stiff. Then, vacuum what you just cleaned up. Now, run a long vacuum hose through the same entrance all the way to the 90 degree connector, and let it run. Insulate it with a rag around the vacuum hose so no ash can get by. Then, from the outside, enter through the cleanout and go all the way in as far as you can with the drier vent cleaning kit. You should be able to get all the way to the 90 degree connector, all the while the vacuum will be catching anything you are cleaning.

 

[Tonyray]

Yup, you definitely need to get the tight area as well. Simplest way is to disconnect the pipe from the stove so you have some room to work, however assuming the P61A flue is similar design to the P68, if you have a drier vent cleaning kit with plenty of flexible extensions, you can try to get by without disconnecting. I use the Gardus LintEater kit, bought at local Aubuchons hardware. It has lots of extensions, so I can get my entire flue with it. First, get the inside of the stove flue to the 90 degree connector by entering from the front of the stove. Remove the ash pan and the combustion fan cover, as well as the ESP probe so it doesn't get damaged accidentally. Once those are out, it's a straight shot back to the 90 degree connector with a 3" brush. If your pipe is 4" then use a 4" brush that's not too stiff. Then, vacuum what you just cleaned up. Now, run a long vacuum hose through the same entrance all the way to the 90 degree connector, and let it run. Insulate it with a rag around the vacuum hose so no ash can get by. Then, from the outside, enter through the cleanout and go all the way in as far as you can with the drier vent cleaning kit. You should be able to get all the way to the 90 degree connector, all the while the vacuum will be catching anything
If your pipe is 4" then use a 4" brush that's not too stiff. Then, vacuum what you just cleaned up you are cleaning.

should I be pulling or pushing the ash thru the probe tunnel?
this is the flex kit I have...
is this brush ok to use or do I need the cone shapped..?

 

[Hoot23]

Remove the ESP and run the brush from the inside. You'll be able to get it clean without taking the inside venting apart. When you brush all of the venting, slap a leaf vac on there and be done. Make sure you put the outside clean out back on first.

 

[mepellet]

Should have done either and up and out install instead of an up, out and up install, or put in a clean out tee behind the stove.

 

[Tonyray]

Should have done either and up and out install instead of an up, out and up install, or put in a clean out tee behind the stove.

If power goes out while the stove is on, pretty sure the 4ft vertical outside willl help eleviate the smoke from the stove...

 

[mepellet]

If power goes out while the stove is on, pretty sure the 4ft vertical outside willl help eleviate the smoke from the stove...

It would be best to do up and out. Just saying. Interior vertical drafts better than exterior.