Its a Bird, Its a plane, its my new Toro leaf blower

[Eric Bommer]

I want to thank Imacman for his recommendation for getting a leaf blower to clean my stove. What difference and how easy. I thought I was very good at keeping my stove clean but wow was I wrong, "0" ash in any of the clean out areas. I mounted my blower to the exhaust of the stove pipe and went down stairs and banged on the heat exchange with a hammer and opened and closed the door a few times. Then the best part while the blower was running I took a paint brush to clean all of the lose ash in the stove and it was just suck right out. No mess at all. By far the easiest and the cleanest way to maintain your stove.

One question. I have my clean out Tee inside(basement install). Has anyone ever tried to do kind of the opposite. Blow air through the Tee straight up the pipe to create a vacuum in the stove. Figuring if I have a good fit in the Tee and I blow 400CFM through the chimney I should create the same vacuum in the stove as connecting it directly to the stove pipe.

Just thought it would be a little simpler once I build the jig to mount the blower to the Tee

 

[brack86svo]

Blowing air into the bottom of the tee? More then likely, there would be so much pressure that it would blow air into the stove as well. Your better off sucking it out the exhaust.

 

[Justin M]

One question. I have my clean out Tee inside(basement install). Has anyone ever tried to do kind of the opposite. Blow air through the Tee straight up the pipe to create a vacuum in the stove. Figuring if I have a good fit in the Tee and I blow 400CFM through the chimney I should create the same vacuum in the stove as connecting it directly to the stove pipe.

I think you should try it and let us know what happens. Make sure to take video too.

 

[N.E S4]

I think you should try it and let us know what happens. Make sure to take video too.

I have tried it that way. It was too cold outside and I did not get the correct PVC to attach it on the outside. I pulled out the T base, block the stove exit and blow it out from the inside. I used a 90 degree PVC and a reducer to a 2" and insert it pass the stove exit, works great.

I did got some ashes on the floor from inserting the 2" but very little.

 

[heat seeker]

I have tried it that way.

block the stove exit

Sounds like you blew out the venting, but did nothing for the stove itself.

 

[Justin M]

I have tried it that way. It was too cold outside and I did not get the correct PVC to attach it on the outside. I pulled out the T base, block the stove exit and blow it out from the inside. I used a 90 degree PVC and a reducer to a 2" and insert it pass the stove exit, works great.

I did got some ashes on the floor from inserting the 2" but very little.

That might work for the exhaust pipe, but the point was to clean out the stove. I don't think it's likely to create any vacuum in the stove from the venturi effect in the manner that the OP was describing. Likely he will create pressure and a big mess.

 

[imacman]

I'd stick with just the vacuum on the end of the pipe AFTER the stove is cleaned completely first.

 

[N.E S4]

That might work for the exhaust pipe, but the point was to clean out the stove. I don't think it's likely to create any vacuum in the stove from the venturi effect in the manner that the OP was describing. Likely he will create pressure and a big mess.

Just the pipe. I bought a black and decker when I got home there was no vacuum attachment I had to just blow the pipe and clean the stove with an ash vac. The replacement is coming I'll try the suction attachment from the outside next time.

 

[smoke show]

I want to thank Imacman for his recommendation for getting a leaf blower to clean my stove. What difference and how easy. I thought I was very good at keeping my stove clean but wow was I wrong, "0" ash in any of the clean out areas. I mounted my blower to the exhaust of the stove pipe and went down stairs and banged on the heat exchange with a hammer and opened and closed the door a few times. Then the best part while the blower was running I took a paint brush to clean all of the lose ash in the stove and it was just suck right out. No mess at all. By far the easiest and the cleanest way to maintain your stove.

One question. I have my clean out Tee inside(basement install). Has anyone ever tried to do kind of the opposite. Blow air through the Tee straight up the pipe to create a vacuum in the stove. Figuring if I have a good fit in the Tee and I blow 400CFM through the chimney I should create the same vacuum in the stove as connecting it directly to the stove pipe.

Just thought it would be a little simpler once I build the jig to mount the blower to the Tee

no pics= never happened.