Soot Eater
- Thread starter Tar12
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
double-d
Feeling the Heat
There is a newer version of the SootEater, it has White Rods, which are more flexible than the Black rods, and has additional improvements. I've had good results with mine, and use it with metal flues of clay tiles. For the DIY it's not bad, but for a detailed clean, a certified sweep is the best option.
jatoxico
Minister of Fire
I'm surprised you found many less than stellar reviews. I've had mine for a few years now and it's been a home run.
jatoxico
Minister of Fire
Yes could be. If this is for residential use and you have any mechanical sense at all I wouldn't be concerned.
yes there are much better versions for professional use but honestly from what I have seen and heard the soot eater is a good product for a homeowner. It would never hold up to the number of cleanings we do but our setup cost about 5 times what a soot eater costs. And we still brak a few rods a year.
Used mine for the first time a few days ago. SOLD.I cut the whips to fit a 8" pipe. I have 6". Worked like a charm. Rod connection is very positive. OP is correct. Getting the rods apart is really the only trick. Mine is the black rod model. Never even saw the newer model?
I called the company yesterday and apparently they are owned by HI--C now. I asked hard pointed questions and felt I received honest answers from them. They did indeed have some issues with the joint pieces not being machined properly and they addressed that and that satisfied my concerns.I have one enroute. Thanks for everyones input...
Last edited:
I found this helps getting the rods apart once they "bind" up:
- Reverse the drill (gently) to "unwind" the rods
- I use the simple homemade tool shown below.
It's just a small metal plate with a #6 bolt fastened to it. The head of the bolt pushes the button to release the rods. Much easier than using the supplied tool.
Last edited:
Easy Livin’ 3000
Minister of Fire
Thats how they answered the phone.I may have misspelled the name but apparently soot-eater was bought out.
Easy Livin’ 3000
Minister of Fire
I did a web search. It's Hy-C. Looks like they are accumulating some brands, mostly relating to wood heating. Some venting products, a wood furnace brand, chimney caps, wood racks, hearth boards, and the infamous Magic Heat heat reclaimer/ creosote producer.
I have broken a black rod using the sooteater in my BK. It was my fault as I was trying to assemble too many rods on the floor and then push them in all at once. It kinked, then broke while cleaning the NC30.
Be patient, one rod at a time.
Be patient, one rod at a time.
claydogg84
Minister of Fire
Absolutely love mine. We have 22 foot ceilings in our main room, 25 foot to the cap. Saves me a TON of time and work cleaning my pipe. Have to verify that the spring loaded buttons are fully seated before shoving them up the pipe, but it does and outstanding job.
I have a spare, just in case.
I have a spare, just in case.
The only rod I ever broke was forcing it full speed up a 90 degree elbow. Now I manually push the first rods thru that elbow then attaching 2 rods at a time I only go about 3/4 speed. I wasn't sure just how clean I was getting things so I had a chimney sweep inspect the liner last year after a cleaning and he said I was good to go. Been using this for 3+ years now and if I ever damage it beyond use I'll buy another.
I have the soot eater with black rods. I've had it a few years and it works good for my mid-winter clean when I cant get up on my metal roof. I've never had a problem. I agree, it's actually difficult to get apart. I'd buy another for sure.
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
Soot Eater is a very good and simple device for DIY. Just keep in mind that they are really only good for softer stage one and two creosote. If you have any hard stage three stuff, that takes a more pro approach.
FWIW, mine is the black rod one. No problems, but I don't have to bend it too much. Never occurred to me that they might ever break or come apart. I guess it's like anything else, just don't be too aggressive.
FWIW, mine is the black rod one. No problems, but I don't have to bend it too much. Never occurred to me that they might ever break or come apart. I guess it's like anything else, just don't be too aggressive.
Can any soot eater owners tell me how many elbows this thing can handle? I really hate taking my stove pipe off my furnace between it and the thimble. Would a soot eater be able to go out the back of my furnace through two 45s and one 90 before going up 18'?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Similar threads
