First time sweeping..who wants to laugh?? Used sooteater

[Swedishchef]

Hey guys

So I got my sooteater yesterday and decided to give it a go today. Of course, instead of really taking my time to read the instructions I decided to give it a go ASAP. I was in a bit of a rush as my kid was sleeping and wanted to get it done before he woke up.

Let me say that a Sooteater worked really well for me. I bent up my T from the bottom and reached near the top (12 inches or so short as I have 6 lengths of chimney + the T). I will be getting the extra rods.

4 things I learned:
1- Put a damn bag under to catch soot. I forgot to do it. What a mess! BY the time I put some plastic (why did I not put a bag? Good damn question..) it was too late. Not to mention the air that the drill creates was blowing it EVERYWHERE (see the picture...). Therefore, keep it in a bag!!
2- Make sure to have lots of clean rags....I had none.
3- Make sure the bag in the shop vac is not full (which resulted in it tearing and blowing soot everywhere once my filter fell off).
4- Don't use insulation to plug the thimble while cleaning the chimney: when you pull it out there's a ton of soot that comes with it! And then you have to vaccuum and mop...ugh.

Overall success..I guess! I figure next time will take me 1/2 the time (since 1/2 the time was spent cleaning the mess). I got about a gallon of soot or less from 4 cords of wood being burned (some was not that seasoned...).

See pics for mess!

Andrew

 

[corey21]

Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Lakeside]

Look at this link to see some sooteater tips

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/...n-chimney-first-time-tips.90981/#post-1190708

Yes, the vacuum is outside on the deck.

 

[DianeB]

Look at this link to see some sooteater tips

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/...n-chimney-first-time-tips.90981/#post-1190708

Yes, the vacuum is outside on the deck.

read this...that cinches it for me, going to still with calling in a chimneysweep.

 

[raybonz]

Good work Chef it appears your burning very cleanly based on your before pics..

Ray

 

[raybonz]

read this...that cinches it for me, going to still with calling in a chimneysweep.

Hi Diane,
I used to sweep my chimney yearly and decided to have a CSIA certified sweep clean and inspect to make this as safe as possible plus my lifetime liner warranty hinges on having my liner inspected by a CSIA sweep annually to maintain the lifetime warranty. Peace of mind is worth the price..

Ray

 

[begreen]

It's good that you can laugh about it. This will become second nature after a few cleanings. So where's the picture of the sweeper? You must have been a funny looking sight.

 

[scooby074]

looks good.

You never forget your first sooteater experience! Mine was inside and I pulled the spinning brush out of the cleanout "T" in the livingroom and shredded the bag in the process.. Soot EVERYWHERE. Never did that again

 

[Swedishchef]

Ray: Thanks for the comments. I think it is ok. Soot sure seems to add up fast. But then when I tried vaccuuming what was on the ground there was only 1/2 inch or so. In the end I just flooded that area with the hose so that it wept through the clean stone. I think I am burning OK as well.

Lakeside and Diane: thanks for the thread. There are great suggestions there. Needless to say I learned very quickly. ANd I just got money's worth with my sooteater: it was $25 cheaper than calling a sweep!

BeGreen: LOL. I don't have a pic of myself. I was alone and my hands were soooo dirty (as well as every other square inch of my body for that matter) that I didn't dare touch my camera with the fear of getting it filthy dirty. My wife was out running errands and I had a monitor to make sure the kid was OK in bed.

The funny thing is that for the first 2 minutes I was like "Ok, let's try to stay somewhat clean" and after 2 minutes was like "staying clean is just not an option with the mistakes I have just made...ugh!" So I decided to go big or go home!

When my wife got back and saw me she kindly suggested I strip off in the basement before coming upstairs. :D However, the message was not intended in some kinky way

Andrew

 

[Tallweeds]

So I decided to go big or go home!

Way to "cowboy up" and gitrdone!

 

[Swedishchef]

Thanks Tallweeds. I was apprehensive at first but quickly got over it. Last night I made my first fire since cleaning and decided to go outside to make sure everything was working smoothly. LOL.

Andrew

 

[Got Wood]

Dont want to rain on the parade but to me a gallon of soot/cresolte from buring 4 cords seems like a lot. I burn between 5-6 cords a year and my annual clean out doesnt fill a coffee can. I am significantly ahead with my wood - working on 2016-17 now and am about 1/2 way done.

 

[bag of hammers]

Dont want to rain on the parade but to me a gallon of soot/cresolte from buring 4 cords seems like a lot. I burn between 5-6 cords a year and my annual clean out doesnt fill a coffee can. I am significantly ahead with my wood - working on 2016-17 now and am about 1/2 way done.

Was kinda wondering the same...? I burned probably less than half of that, but I didn't get enough soot to fill a large plastic cup after one full season. I'm thinking that's probably because I have a bit less chimney (based on Andrews description), a straight run (no tees, bends), and very dry wood (nothing green), and some good hot fires mixed in. But I'm still too "green" to really tell from the pics.

Andrew - don't feel bad about the mess - I have a relatively easy time cleaning with a poly brush from the top (I go up a couple times or more to do regular roof inspections, etc anyway). I did get a face-full one time pulling the brush up and out of the top, not paying attention (actually, more than once, I have to admit). One time I didn't even realize how dirty I was until a my wife started laughing (and I looked in the mirror). I think the neighbors would be running scared if I actually got my hands on a soot eater...

 

[Wood Duck]

How long did the whole process take? I use the standard rods and brush and I guess I am working only about half an hour, although somehow it seems like a big job when I am am trying to schedule a time to do it.

 

[Swedishchef]

Got Wood: I agree, it was a lot of soot. And I know what it is from: I had to burn 1/2 cord of relatively green wood last night. I somehow put it in with my dry stuff and well, it eventually got burned. Is your chimney inside? Mine is outside. I think I got about 1 coffee can full or so? It was hard to tell. The next time I will do better and measure it as well.

Bag of hammers: must have been a cute face ANd yes, I had more soot than I wanted...

Wood Duck: it took me 2 hours (including removal of stove pipe, etc) however I am sure I could get it done in 45 mins next time. Learning saves time!!

ANdrew

 

[raybonz]

Got Wood: I agree, it was a lot of soot. And I know what it is from: I had to burn 1/2 cord of relatively green wood last night. I somehow put it in with my dry stuff and well, it eventually got burned. Is your chimney inside? Mine is outside. I think I got about 1 coffee can full or so? It was hard to tell. The next time I will do better and measure it as well.

Bag of hammers: must have been a cute face ANd yes, I had more soot than I wanted...

Wood Duck: it took me 2 hours (including removal of stove pipe, etc) however I am sure I could get it done in 45 mins next time. Learning saves time!!

ANdrew

No wonder you have creosote you burned 1/2 cord of green wood last night?! LOL you must need a trainload of wood every season!

Ray

 

[Swedishchef]

lol. Thanks for pointing that out Ray!!

Andrew

 

[raybonz]

lol. Thanks for pointing that out Ray!!

Andrew

LOL couldn't resist that type Andrew!

Ray