newbie needs help cleaning tee joint behind pellet stove

[lizziwhizz]

My husband and I had an Everguard 4" chimney liner installed on our Quadrafire pellet stove this fall. We are long overdue for cleaning out the tee at the back (it has been a rocky winter for us). We cannot get the cap off the tee to clean it out.
(I am new at this so please forgive me if I don't give the right information, give unnecessary info, or make up words or something!)

The pipe comes from the back of the stove and makes a 90 degree turn up the wall (with the tee at the bottom), goes up maybe 4 feet, makes another 90 degree turn, goes out the exterior wall into the chimney, then turns up again and goes straight up the chimney.
We cannot get the tee open (it's just like a cap at the very bottom of the tee.) I called the installer and he says yeah, they can be tough, it just takes some muscle. The installer said that it is likely clogged with ash/soot (which I'm sure is true, as I said, we are way overdue for cleaning it), which can also make it tough. Now, I admit my husband and I are more likely to play for the math team than the football team, but seriously!
We are at a loss for how to get the tee open. The installer said using a pipe wrench is likely to damage it. My husband tried heating it with a small butane torch but that didn't seem to do anything.
The stove lives in our finished basement and is the primary heat source for our 1300 sq.ft raised ranch, and we supplement with a propane stove on the main level and (gulp) electric in the bedrooms.

When we bought the house a year and a half ago we thought replacing the wood stove in the basement with a pellet stove would be a great choice for us (there is no oil in the house). Now with all the trouble we've had (this tee joint is just the latest; we also happen to be burning those athens pellets of dubious quality), I'd almost rather be paying off a huge debt of installing an oil furnace and hot water baseboards.

 

[tinkabranc]

Do you have an oil filter wrench handy? Works well.
This is what I use to unlock that stubborn little Tee cap.
I wrap mine in a thin cloth first though so it does not scratch the paint.

 

[lizziwhizz]

I had to google pictures of an oil filter wrench, and yes, we have tried that! :lol: it just slides around and doesn't seem to get much of a grip (ours has a plastic strap; are there also metal ones that might grip better/tighter?)

 

[crausch]

Have you tried something like this tool?

(broken link removed to http://www.dezignaweb.com/seenontv/itm00108.htm)

This is less likely to damage the pipe, then a pipe wrench.

 

[lizziwhizz]

yep, that looks like the pictures i came up with when i searched for oil filter wrench, so whatever it is called, we did try it.

 

[Delta-T]

if the "t" cap itself was siliconed in there with RTV you will find it quite challenging or darn near impossible to get that sucker off. might be easier to unbolt the exhaust flange from the stove (assuming the machine has this, I'm not familiar with your model) and move the stove a little so you can clean it out from the face. Mind you this is not optimal because it is difficult to get those fancy cleaning brushes to make 2 turns sometimes. good luck

 

[tinkabranc]

I had to google pictures of an oil filter wrench, and yes, we have tried that! :lol: it just slides around and doesn't seem to get much of a grip (ours has a plastic strap; are there also metal ones that might grip better/tighter?)

Since you already have the tool on hand, try wrapping it in a cloth and tighten it up
as much as possible while on the Tee. Twist to unlock it.
Once unlocked, you should be able to twist it back and forth by hand to work it out.

 

[Souzafone]

Look at the pipe the T fits into and you should see where some raised nubs on the T fit into corresponding grooves on the pipe. The grooves will give you an idea of which direction and how far to turn the T. It doesn't unscrew. From what you're saying it sounds like it is siliconed into place. If this is the case try inserting something along the line of a hacksaw blade into the pipe and see if you can break the seal. You may have to break the blade if clearance is an issue.

 

[sydney1963]

I haven't been able to get my tee cap off for a couple of months. Came off easy the first 3 times and now it won't budge, have tried everything. I'm gonna wait until the end of the season to clean the whole pipe. Stove is running great.

 

[donbryce]

How about getting a replacement 'T' section, then take the old 'T' off the stove, then from the pipe. If you can then work the cap out 'at the workbench', return the replacement, or if it just won't come out, put the new 'T' in, making sure the clean-out cap is just in snug, with NO SEALANT! Of course, you could just make the 'T' removal a normal maintenance procedure too, as that will also allow access to the stove outlet....

 

[save$]

I wasn't able to get the tee off my stove either. I remember the installer having his caulk gun in hand when he put the pipes together. However, I was able to get exhaust pipe off the back of the stove, then inserted a vac hose in to the tee, also did the same to the stove. But for now, I am no longer going to concern myself with that process. I used the leaf blower and to clean. Real slick! I don't have mine going up a chimney. It just goes up 4 feet then out the wall. Real easy to hook up the leaf blower outside. I don't know how affective the leaf blower method is when you have to go up on a roof or top of a chimney. I do know that when you hook up the vac of the leaf blower, turn it on, then go back in and open the door to the stove, you can really see and hear what a strong draft and pulling effect the leaf blower is having. It won't clean the large burning area of the stove, but it does a fantastic job of the exhaust system from the outside to the open area in the stove.

 

[exoilburner]

When you use the oil filter wrench (strap wrench). Try using it on the end bead of the cap like the attached picture. I noticed when I torqued the wrench on the other end or middle of the cap it would distort the cap and bind the cap to the "T". After moving it down to the more rigid end, the cap twists easier. If it still sticks try lightly tapping all around the sides of the cap with a rubber mallet.

After getting the cap off I shot some light oil between the inner and outer pipes of the cap. The oil made it twist off much easier the next time.

 

[defield]

exoilburner,

What brand and model strap wrench are you using?

Is the strap rubber or a woven material.

Looks very adjustable to fit many diameter objects.

I think I would like to purchase one like yours.

Thanks,

Ranger

 

[exoilburner]

exoilburner,

What brand and model strap wrench are you using?

Is the strap rubber or a woven material.

Looks very adjustable to fit many diameter objects.

I think I would like to purchase one like yours.

Thanks,

Ranger

Ranger,
Got my strap wrench at Sears, Craftsman brand. The strap is soft rubber and grips well; way better than woven. Its really handy to adjust because to lock the adjustment you just slip the strap in the long slot of the handle; doesn't slip on the vent pipe. In the picture you can see the strap sticking out the slot in the handle. The slot goes the whole length of the handle.

The Sears model number is 45570 and is a pair that comes with a smaller strap wrench. Has a Sears lifetime warranty.

 

[lizziwhizz]

Thank you all for your suggestions!

We ended up using a pipe wrench and some of that grippy shelf liner stuff and all our muscles. I think, as a few of you mentioned, that it was siliconed shut. Of course when I called the installer for help and they didn't mention this.
And not very much soot came out considering we have burned almost 3 tons of pellets and we ought to have emptied it after each ton. So I'm concerned about how much soot is farther up the liner at the other 90 degree bends. Nothing I can do about it now, I guess, but at least we got through this.
So thank you all! I am glad I've joined this forum so I know where to come for knowledgeable help.

 

[lpgreg]

I wouldn't expect soot to come out of there but there should be possible a lot of ash to come out of there, at least after burning 3 tons. After I open up the end of the T, I tap my flex pipe and ash falls from inside there. Greg