What chimney cleaning device do you guys prefer?

[Andrewj]

I saw the Rutland products poly cleaning brush ..that ok? I have a stainless 6 inch straiht run chimney pipe.

 

[jlightning]

That is the exact same setup I used in the past and then purchased a sooteater and will never use the traditional chimney cleaner again. There is nothing wrong w/ the setup you have, I just like the fact that I can clean my chimney without going on my 3 story roof....a lot safer.

 

[bobdog2o02]

I just got a soot eater from amazon. Going to use it on mine and my in-laws stoves. I used the poly brush up till now. It works.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Is the soot eater flexible enough to get around corners well? (not 90 degrees, but a couple of 45's)

 

[bobdog2o02]

absolutely.i'll be using it from inside the stove going up. i dont have any bends but have a small insert and wish to disassemble as little as possible. The manufacturer claims it can do 90's the shaft pieces can be bent 180 without much effort.

 

[Boog]

I clean my chimney with a "Mr. Neuman's Invention" contraption, then follow it up with a wire brush. Been working good for about 35 years now.

 

[midwestcoast]

Yep, I use the rutland 6" round poly and fiberglass poles on a 6" flex liner. Works just fine. The bottom of my liner is "ovalized" so I actually have a second brush that I trimmed to fit in there easier. The poly brush is very stiff, so if the fit is tight in a corrugated liner you need to trim it down a bit.
After my last annual cleaning I vowed to buy a soot eater and do it all from the comfort & safety of my living room. I don't much care for wrestling or working from a 32' extension ladder. I never get much more than a cup or 2 of ash & creo out of mine.

 

[Jags]

Is the soot eater flexible enough to get around corners well? (not 90 degrees, but a couple of 45's)

Yes - it will do 45's without issue.

Another vote for sooteater.

 

[jatoxico]

Is the soot eater flexible enough to get around corners well? (not 90 degrees, but a couple of 45's)

Been using a Sooteater for the last 2 seasons and a couple 45's should pose no problem. I have to make a 90 over about 2 lengths of rod to get it in the pipe and its no trouble. Others report going through a 90 degree elbow w/o an issue but the rods will be in constant contact on the inside of the elbow so if there are sharp edges or screws there you could cut up a rod that way.

Due to the length of my chimney I had to buy (and need to use) an extra set of rods. One set is stiffer than the other. I use those last since the more flexible set can be like trying to push a wet noodle through a straw with all 36' attached. There was a thread a few months ago about it and I believe new buyers are getting the more flexible rod sets when they buy. Other than that the system works well and gets right up into the cap.

 

[NHcpa]

Don't know, do you use a drill on the brush?

 

[jatoxico]

Don't know, do you use a drill on the brush?

Yes to the drill. The head looks like a string line trimmer and even uses that type of line to whip the ash/creosote. There are videos out there. I like the bottom up cleaning aspect but can be used from top down too. Gets past dampers and draw down adapters easily. Brushes are fine too, matter of preference.

 

[toddnic]

Sooteater

 

[Driver]

I was just looking at these on Amazon, how often does the line need replaced? Should I buy extra line when ordering or will the original last quite a few cleanings. I know chimney ht. and condition will affect the life of the line. Just wondering how it holds up for all of you that have been using them for a while.

 

[jatoxico]

I was just looking at these on Amazon, how often does the line need replaced? Should I buy extra line when ordering or will the original last quite a few cleanings. I know chimney ht. and condition will affect the life of the line. Just wondering how it holds up for all of you that have been using them for a while.

Line holds up well, have not had to change mine yet in two years which is probably 5-6 cleanings.

 

[jlightning]

I would also suggest an 18 volt drill for the sooteater setup. I am using an older 14.5 volt drill and it has to work really hard.

 

[smokedragon]

Yep, I use the rutland 6" round poly and fiberglass poles on a 6" flex liner.

+1 to that. I don't have a very steep roof, so I clean top down.

 

[Ehouse]

My fave is an offset smoke pipe so I can clean from down below.

 

[Camben]

This is a great thread. I have a chimney that's pretty high and I'm scared to get up there. I pay a chimney sweep $145 to take care of the cleaning. Buying one of these would be great as I could clean it from the family room. The only thing that he does in addition is that he takes off the flame arrester and cleans it. Is that something that really needs to be cleaned?

 

[jlightning]

If there is tight wire mesh on your cap then you may want to clean it more often. Mine doesn't have that but I still run the cleaner up into the cap and give it a couple of spins. I have a spotter outside ready to yell to me in the house when the sooteater enters the cap.

 

[Camben]

If there is tight wire mesh on your cap then you may want to clean it more often. Mine doesn't have that but I still run the cleaner up into the cap and give it a couple of spins. I have a spotter outside ready to yell to me in the house when the sooteater enters the cap.

Thanks, I think mine is expanded metal but will need to check. Sounds like I'll be able to clean my chimney myself.