Sweep Chimney: How often

[Vic99]

I started burning Dec. 1st. Today I had my stainless-steel-lined, insulated chimney swept for the first time. Figured I'd hire someone for the first time, then perhaps do it myself afterward. It was tough for me to estimate, but I'd guess there was maybe 3 - 4 single handfuls of gray creosote for my 2 story (plus half story attic) chimney.

Sweeper said this was fairly light and the liner is doing its job keeping the temp high. Most days I also burn wide open for 20 minutes once I get up to temp. to minimize build up as per the manual.

So, he swept from the bottom, but in order to do this, we had to pull my stove out since it has no back access and is only 2 inches from my fireplace opening. The stove weighs 450 lbs. It wasn't easy to move and my hearth pad was cracked and scratched some. Thus, I'd rather not move it every year.

I burn 24/7.


Is it advisable to either:

1) sweep every other year or

2) a) sweep from the roof one year. Some of the creosote would thus fall to the bottom of the liner. There is maybe 10 inches at the bottom where some dust may fall because the liner comes down from the chimney and then makes a 90 degree turn to go into the back of the stove. That 10 inches is under the 90 degree bend.

b) then pull the stove the next year to sweep properly and empty that catch basin.

3) use some other clever plan that someone here will wow me with . . . the kind of wow in the Verizon TV commmerical where they zoom into the cat's fur to the mesmerized flee that says, "WWWOWWWWWWW!"

What do you reckon?

 

[Hanko]

I clean both my chimneys twice a year, I think I could get by with one. Good stoves and dry wood dont produce much creosote. I usually do it in the fall prior to burning season, and then again late nov or early dec. generally if i have anything in there at all its in the fall when im running the stoves on idle. You will come up with your own pattern, just pay close attention at first

H

 

[eba1225]

Clown,

Last year was my first year burning and I did not clean as it was a new installation, until I noticed the draft wasn't as expected, that was mid Feb. So I got all the tools and cleaned it myself and pulled out about 1 gal of soot. So now I know I will be cleaning twice a year, at the beginning or end of the season and once during the first warm spell of the new year.

Erik

 

[Jags]

Shop vac with drywall dust collector and flexible hose. Stuff hose in the stove and into pipe, getting as close to the elbow as possible. Start up vac. Sweep from top to bottom.

 

[rdrcr56]

I do what Jags said, sweep down into the stove, then with a piece of flexible 3/4 in. tube taped to my shop vac and a mechanics mirror vacuume the ash on top of the baffle plate.

 

[begreen]

There are so many variables in flues, stoves and wood that there isn't any one right answer for this question except maybe "as often as needed". You could go for many seasons with a pretty clean chimney needing only a once a year cleaning, if that. Then have a year with poorly seasoned wood and need 2-3 cleanings to keep the creosote down. At a minimum the flue should be inspected annually. However, some folks have colder flues and stoves that don't burn very cleanly. They may need an inspection once every few weeks in the winter.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree totally with BeGreen. We used to clean our chimney 4 times per season. After putting in a new stove and new chimney last summer, we have yet to clean it...and it does not need cleaning either.

 

[Vic99]

Backwoods,

When did you put that Woodstock in?


Jags, rdrcr, and others:

If I put a hose above/behind the baffle plate, particularly if it is narrow as suggested, do you think I have any hope of getting ashes from the actual flue liner? . . . ashes that have fallen from a roof sweep. I'd say the flue pipe that shoots straight back from the stove (perpendicular to the floor) is about 2 or 2.5 feet long.

Thanks.

 

[Hogwildz]

Yeap it should. If you can easily remove the baffle or baffle tubes, enough to get the vacuum hose back there, it should grab the ash. What it doesn't will surely burn or float out next season.
Thats one of the hottest spots in the liner, so buildup is less of a concern there.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Clownfish, we put the Woodstock in last summer. First fire wasn't until in October. Have really been amazed with the stove, especially how much less wood it takes to stay even warmer than we did with the old heater. Not sorry at all that we got it. We did also look at the Hearthstone line but after much checking decided the Woodstock should be the one. Hope the summer has been good for you.

 

[stanleyjohn]

I was told from a sweeper that on average have it cleaned after 2 cords are burned.I will watch how they do it the first time they do it then buy the proper equipment and do it myself.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

stanleyjohn, just remember that the sweep needs chimneys to clean so he can make dollars. Therefore, he will recommend cleaning much more often. However, so much depends upon your wood and your whole setup. The wood is the biggest thing when it comes to needing chimney cleaning. Burn not properly seasoned wood, burn it slow and you very well might need a cleaning after 2 cords. Burn seasoned wood with a decent draft and you might not need a cleaning for 5-6 cords or possibly more!

As for learning how to do it, there isn't much to learn. A brush, some poles and maybe a ladder and something to put the soot and creosote in. There really isn't much to technique except pushing the brush to get the stuff off the inside of the chimney. Then take the soot and creosote and put it on your garden. Might even save some creosote for the wife's potted flowers (put it in the dirt and cover it for no smell). They love it.