How often do you clean your chimney?

[eba1225]

I have been experiencing a harder and harder time in getting a good roaring fire going. :-S I first thought that it was due to the wood, but ruled that out when I used 'different' wood and still had the same problem. My fire with the doors open about an inch burns good, not great, but not as good as I remember it did when the the stove was first started. :grrr:

I have summized that probably the chimney and or the cap have a buildup of soot or is partially plugged.

I have not cleaned the chimney/liner since it was installed in Oct. and it has been running pretty much 24/7 since then and at a low air setting.

I plan on sweeping/cleaning it this evening.

My question to you guys is how often do you sweep your liner?

Erik

 

[isuphipsi1052]

At the beginning of the season, at least once during the season (weather permitting access to the roof), and at the end of the season...

 

[slowski74]

I like to clean mine once during Jan. and then after the season is over.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Used to do it 4 times per year. Since getting the Fireview we have not cleaned it once and have been burning 24/7 since October.

 

[quinn]

The last time I cleaned my chimney was after a season of burning about 8 cords three years ago. 1.5 cups of white dust was the sum total removed from the 21 foot chimney. With the stove burning that clean, I don't clean my chimney.

 

[billb3]

Once, in the Summer, on a nice day.

I used to, however, inspect it more often in the Winter.
But then, I sorta had to.


My chimney had to come down last Spring before it fell on someone / something.
Leaning tower of Pisa. When the last anchor popped, it wasn't safe any more.
Brick / lined chimney. Outside.

We won't discuss what it looked like for awhile, nor define "for a while".


It was a surprisingly good functional chimney, it had just become the i in team.

I was going to put in a pellet stove, but found it a tough transition.
100% oil is tougher.


"Hey, I bet on a windy day you could crack nuts with that chimney".
I heard them all.

 

[chrisman34]

For a while thear I was once a week! :down: I am at 2 weeks now and don't see any need! LOL Hopeing to go the rest of the season! But I was burning cool and bad wood as well.

 

[Henz]

so many variables. I burned by stove for 1.5 years without cleaning it. I jsut cleaned it a few weeks ago cause I was also getting some puff backs and figured that it was definatly past due..The cap was the worse and my guess contributed the most to the decreased draft, but I cleaned the entire thing..was not that hard to do actually

 

[Girl]

I am a afraid of heights.
I call the chimney sweep once a year before the season starts.

 

[bruce]

begining, new years good to go!

 

[jebatty]

Once per year, usually in the early Fall before the start of heating season. Been doing this for 18 years. I have very little build-up in my chimney, burn dry wood, mostly aspen, a little oak, birch and ash.

 

[BrotherBart]

Late Dec. or early Jan. and then in May.

 

[RedRanger]

Just bought my own brush and rods, so going to be twice a year now. Only got a 5" dia. liner with a 20ft draw,so doesn`t take much cresote to affect things. If, and that is a big IF I keep on aging, maybe I will just do the summer clean and have the chimney sweep do the winter one.

Of course there is always "liquid courage" for the winter one. but probably not a wise choice when 20ft off the ground

 

[woodburn]

Yeah, I'd save the liquid for AFTER the job is done! Tastes better that way too!

 

[BrotherBart]

Of course there is always "liquid courage" for the winter one. but probably not a wise choice when 20ft off the ground

Are you telling me people would actually climb up on a roof sober? No way man!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Every two months. I don't get much from the chimney, but I do get some buildup on the single wall.

Matt

 

[eernest4]

I cut a 3 ft x 4 ft hole in the roof last summer because my chimney up 48 feet high & no other sane way to get up there. Then I had to make a hatch cover to plug up the hole,
%-P because by oct them nites were starting to get chilly & that hole made quite a draft.

So now, to clean my chimney, all I have to do is walk up the attic stairs & pop the hatch
& im good to drop the wieghted christmas tree top down the chimney & pull it back up .
I have ropes on both sides of the christmas tree top just in case it gets stuck in the chimney.

once in the late fall & again in the spring. I aint going up there with ice or snow on the roof,
its 40 ft straight down. I probably shiver so hard from the cold winds that the shivering alone make me fall. A frame roof anyways, steep & dangerous. Need to straddle the peak.

 

[johnsopi]

You cut a hole in your roof so that you could use a christmas tree top to clean clean your chimney? Surely you jest.

 

[glassmanjpf]

Usually do it in January and again at the end of the season. At that time I add a wire mesh to the cap to keep the birds out. So 2x works for me.

 

[Jimbob]

Once a year, usually in early May.

 

[raybonz]

Once a year here in early fall..

Ray

 

[WoodMann]

Not as often as I'd like to. Say- I did a cleaning yesterday evening, and the cap was caked pretty good. On cleaning it, I found a diamond mesh surrounding the cap breather sides. It was secured with bailing wire which I thought the previous owner put on so I removed for cleaning the cap, I wonder though if it might be prudent to leave it on as to catch embers as I did not reattach it thinking it would cause obstruction. I did see a small one stray out last night. I was rinning 500* in the box 300* in the flue..............

 

[caber]

All depends on the quality of the wood. We usually have it cleaned by the local sweep in late February. I like having him give it a thorough inspection for damage, kinks, potential problems, whatever. This was a bad wood year. Next year our stock will be back to normal.

 

[eba1225]

Update,

Cleaned it Friday evening. When I took off the cap I was amazed, looked like about 1/4 - 1/2 in of soot/creosote on the liner. Came off very easy with the nylon brush. I figure that I brushed out a gallons worth of soot.

The caps holes were at about 50% with again what looked like creosote/soot, which came off easily with a brush.

I attribit it to doing a lot (>75%) of burning with the draft on low.

Well now I know a cleaning at the end of the season and then again the first warm spell after Christmas.

Thanks for all of your words of wisdom.......and no I will not cut a hatch in my roof.

Erik