Plan of attack for DIY chimney sweep

[SammyGeeks]

This is my first year seriously heating with our Progress Hybrid. The stove has been great, but at this point I'm sure the chimney needs a sweep. I don't think I'm up for doing it from up on the roof, so I'm trying to figure out if and how I can attack this from inside. There's no access to the flue from within the Progress, so I'm wondering if I can take out a section of stovepipe to do the cleaning.

It looks like there's some kind of cementing where the pipe attaches directly to the Progress, but not at any of the other joints. Is that normal? If I disconnect the pipe there, I guess I'd have to clean it up and re-apply, but I don't know what product to apply. I also have a short section of single-wall before it transitions to double-wall, and I'm not sure if that would be a better place to take things apart and access the inside. Attached pic shows both locations.

This is all really new to me, so I'm also not sure if everything is supported at the ceiling/roof or if the stove is supporting the pipe and it will come down on me if I start to take it apart. Pic includes both sides of where it goes through the roof (outside pic is actually from the other stove that we don't use, but it's the same set up for both).

Any advice appreciated

 

[John Lehet]

I didn’t get that cement at that collar joint with the install of my progress. Maybe you didn’t have quite such a good fit, or maybe your installer just liked cement. It looks like you’ve got a slip joint at the top. If you remove those screws, the pipe should slide down and you should have room to move it away and have room. I’d say ideally though you want to pull all that black pipe and take it outdoors and get anything out of there too. So, ditch that cement. Re-cement if you need to.

 

[brenndatomu]

That does look like a slip joint up top...if you take it apart, put a plastic shopping bag over it, then tape it tight, carefully do the same on the bottom when you pop it off, then you can carry it outside without making much if any mess.
At that point you can poke your chimney brush through the side of another plastic bag (maybe something more durable...glad trash bag?)
I say the side because you don't want it right on the bottom...then the brush can be put in the bottom of the chimney and the bag taped to it. Add sections of chimney brush rod as needed the get to the top.
Some people make a second hole in the bag to attach an ash vac or shop vac also...just make sure you have a fine dust filter installed, or you'll have a light dusting of soot everywhere!
I know I've seen videos of people cleaning this way...so there may be some other helpful suggestions out there too...

 

[Highbeam]

Yes, you can remove the black pipe and sweep from inside.

That orange rtv on the stove collar is not normal but can be replaced if you want. Can’t believe he used orange when black is available.

 

[DBoon]

My experience (although with a rear-vented Woodstock Keystone) is that the black pipe will be where the bulk of your creosote will be if your main vertical run is double-wall insulated pipe. It's not a bad idea to just remove all of that once a year, take it outside and clean it well, and reinstall it. If (because it is all a vertical run) it looks good after the first year when you take it apart, then you can consider something different in the future.

 

[barnaclebob]

I remove the stove pipe and take it outside to brush. Then vacuum out the upper part of the stove as best as possible. Next I've got a 1 gallon bucket with a small hole in the bottom center and some slits cut that I can poke my chimney sweep rod joints through. A bigger hole is drilled in the side for a shop vac hose. The shop vac stays in the driveway with an extended hose inside. The bucket gets securely taped to the ceiling penetration.

You don't need the sealant at the base of the stove pipe.

 

[SammyGeeks]

I appreciate everyone's advice. It sounds like I didn't need to be worried about issues separating the pipe at all. I didn't think of taking the whole black section outside. That portion is maybe 4 feet long, completely removing it will definitely make my life easier.

That orange rtv on the stove collar is not normal but can be replaced if you want. Can’t believe he used orange when black is available.

I looked into this briefly. The rtv color may be related to temperature resistance. Apparently the high temperature stuff is often red/copper colored like this.

 

[Highbeam]

I appreciate everyone's advice. It sounds like I didn't need to be worried about issues separating the pipe at all. I didn't think of taking the whole black section outside. That portion is maybe 4 feet long, completely removing it will definitely make my life easier.



I looked into this briefly. The rtv color may be related to temperature resistance. Apparently the high temperature stuff is often red/copper colored like this.

You can get many colors of high temp rtv. Even black. The highest temp one I could find was actually a bronze/copper color. I used it for the door gasket.