How to clean an insert vent

[robsmt]

I'm a new stove owner. I have a Quad Mt. Vernon insert and was wondering the best way to clean the vent pipe. It is a 3" liner directly attached to the exhaust blower. The liner is fed up my existing chimney which is about 23-25 feet. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Arnold]

I have an insert too…......I pull my vent off the rear of my insert & use my handy homemade adapter to connect my electric leaf blower's outlet to my liner & fire up (pun intended ! ) the blower to clean the vent out. (Blows the soot up & out) Then I use my ash vac to clean the combustion blower & the rest of the stove innards….......Keeps me off the roof too !
Not quite as easy as connecting the blower's suction side to thru the wall venting on free standing stoves, , but its worked for me.

Tom in Oh

 

[Excell]

How often do you clean your stove with the blower ? Do you ever use a brush and do a though job ? I am installing a pellet stove in my garage ,which will run every day but usually not 24 hrs .
I bought it used ,the guy said he had only used it for ,four months ,it was filthy . I was hopeing that I would only have to clean it once per year .

 

[krooser]

How often do you clean your stove with the blower ? Do you ever use a brush and do a though job ? I am installing a pellet stove in my garage ,which will run every day but usually not 24 hrs .
I bought it used ,the guy said he had only used it for ,four months ,it was filthy . I was hopeing that I would only have to clean it once per year .

After every ton or sooner of you run your stove on "low" a lot...

 

[robsmt]

Arnold - How is your connection made to the blower? Mine is high temp siliconed on. Do I cut the silicone and reapply after cleaning? Sorry if this seems basic, but again I am new to this. Thanks

 

[Clay H]

I also am about to try the leaf blower trick but from the outside since my pipe outlet if 5' above the ground out the back wall.

 

[Clay H]

check this out

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/44392/

 

[Arnold]

Arnold - How is your connection made to the blower? Mine is high temp silicone on. Do I cut the silicone and reapply after cleaning? Sorry if this seems basic, but again I am new to this. Thanks

Yes......... you have to remove the vent from the stove outlet & re silicone the connections when you're done.

(Pulling the insert out to clean it is a real PIA, but you have no choice.)

Your cleaning schedule will depend on how many tons you go thru. I get by with it(blower trick)just twice a season. I give the inside of the stove a very thorough cleaning every couple days & don't let much ash build up in the burn pot area. It makes a real difference what brand of pellets you burn too........try several bags & see what brand burns the best for you with the least ash. Better pellets = less build up.

Tom

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

I have a Whitfield insert with the vent pipe going all the way up the chimney.

I have a cleanout T at the bottom of the pipe that I can take off and on fairly easily. It is about the size and shape of a tuna can. I clean this out after every burn or two. Also, I tap the vent pipe and find that most of the ash will fall into the cleanout.

Finally, I purchased a pellet pipe brush and three feet extensions that screw together. I use this once a year when the season is over. I go all the way up the pipe with the brush. I also unhook the pipe from the stove as I have about an 6 inch horizontial run. I find ash from the stove builds up in this area.