When to have chimney liner cleaned ?

[Mike_Hearthstone]

I have a wood burning stove insert with a metal chimney liner inside my brick chimney.
I've had the stove about 4 years - so not too long.
I'm wondering
a) when is realistic to start worrying about cleaning the liner ?
b) how to really check if liner needs cleaning. I think it's pretty difficult to access the liner from inside my stove. It requires a lot of disassembly of the stove.

Mike

 

[BrotherBart]

Welcome Mike. That liner needs to be brushed at a minimum once a year. Possibly more often based on the quality of your firewood and burning habits. If you can't do the work from the roof, get a professional sweep out there to clean that thing and see what the results are.

For sure before you start burning for another season.

 

[Excavator]

Yep, once a year at least. I do mine from roof and tie heavy lawn bag to my clean out T behind stove. The cap on top of my liner is the place that needs the most cleaning and I remove the cap then take down off roof and clean the cap over garbage can. Then I brush the liner few times and get about a quart of fine black stuff

 

[Enzo's Dad]

Yep, once a year at least. I do mine from roof and tie heavy lawn bag to my clean out T behind stove. The cap on top of my liner is the place that needs the most cleaning and I remove the cap then take down off roof and clean the cap over garbage can. Then I brush the liner few times and get about a quart of fine black stuff

Just did mine this morning with the sooteater from the top down., Glad I read your comment...Mine was very dirty around the cap, I took it down and cleaned it. Nice pile of fine dust in the fire box.
Since this is my first time cleaning a liner, Im guessing your never going to get the inside shiney clean correct?

 

[bholler]

If you have good wood and a good setup you may not need to clean it every year but you should check it every year at least and 4 years is way to long