Looking to Clean My Chimney - Help on Tools Needed

Hi gang,

Looking to cut the cord on these goofy chimney sweepers - do it myself !

Any tips? I have vacuum etc .... wondering about a proper brush selection for 6" flex liner.

I don't understand why cleaning the chimney is felt to be needful ? We burned wood in our current chimney for 5 yrs & never cleaned it. I did look inside it a few times,but never saw anything but the clay liner,since we don't eat off the clay,we never bothered cleaning. I certainly never plan to clean now that we are burning coal.Has your chimney actually had a build-up inside in the previous yrs.? I thought only wood burning with the creosote issues was the reason for ever cleaning a chimney.

Ten long heating seasons with each season burning three or more tons of coal a year, I've never had to clean the chimney walls. I vac out what's in the horizontal sections of the stove pipe. Then I shovel out about a two gallon bucket worth of fly ash that drops into the chimney base.

Visual inspections each year through the chimney base cleanout door, with a big Maglite and a mirror, there is no evidence of ash buildup on the bricks.

Paul

Never had to clean mine with coal. Still see the clay liner fine. For me it would be a waste of time.

I have personally seen an 8 inch chimney so plugged with fly ash that there only remained a 2 inch hole in the center. The ash had the consistency of cement and even using a full length of 1 1/4 black pipe would not budge it.

I do mine every year. Not much build up but it's just something I have always done, wood, coal, whatever. My Dad always said "ya take care of what ya got & it'll take care of you" My 6" brush is real stiff for my solid pipe, I'd be a lil wary with flex--I'd probably look for a less stiff brush--not sure.

I think every year it should be at least checked, and since davids is stainless, it should be cleaned in the spring, then checked before lighting in the fall. Birds, squirrels, bee's, and crazy stalkers and thieves have been found in chimneys. But to each their own.

Are you cleaning from the top of the chimney, or going up from near the stove or the cleanout? I have to do one of mine from the inside and just use a flexible rod with a plastic brush on it (Ive read steel brushes can scratch the chimney which can cause more corrosion but who knows). I poke a hole thru a garbage bag with my cleaning rod, then attach the brush, push brush into chimney a few inches, tape the bag onto the chimney pipe, go up and down with the brush a few times, pull out rod with brush into the bag, untape the bag and go outside with it. Not much mess that way. Might be complicated with an insert this way but Im not sure. No roof climbing involved which is nice.

All you should need is a flexible rod and brush to clean from the top.

Edit: you can trim the brush a little if it fits real tight. Just use a side nipper/wire cutter and cut the ends a little.

I use brushes on mine when needed. If you burn coal only, the best clean out I remember was a 'you tube' where they used a leaf blower into the thimble, and blew everything out the top!!! I'll bet that got the neighbors attention. I recommend an inspection with a mirror 2 or 3 times per burn season, and, clean if needed.
Cheers

I'll inspect it .. would clean from top if needed.

D-frost wrote:I use brushes on mine when needed. If you burn coal only, the best clean out I remember was a 'you tube' where they used a leaf blower into the thimble, and blew everything out the top!!! I'll bet that got the neighbors attention. I recommend an inspection with a mirror 2 or 3 times per burn season, and, clean if needed.
Cheers

Yup, if it's 'youtube' it must be true

I remember the first time I saw that video I almost pee'd my pants laughing. If you watch it, hang in there as it take a little bit to get blowing.

franco b wrote:I have personally seen an 8 inch chimney so plugged with fly ash that there only remained a 2 inch hole in the center. The ash had the consistency of cement and even using a full length of 1 1/4 black pipe would not budge it.

This was with anthracite or bit coal? Bit coal I could understand but anthracite? I can't even make my stove smoke much less put out enough hydrocarbons to plug an 8 inch chimney!!!

MA,
That's the 2nd you tube I've seen-amazing! The first was inside blowing out."Different strokes for different folks"!!!
Cheers

blrman07 wrote:

franco b wrote:I have personally seen an 8 inch chimney so plugged with fly ash that there only remained a 2 inch hole in the center. The ash had the consistency of cement and even using a full length of 1 1/4 black pipe would not budge it.

This was with anthracite or bit coal? Bit coal I could understand but anthracite? I can't even make my stove smoke much less put out enough hydrocarbons to plug an 8 inch chimney!!!

Anthracite. Probably running 30 or 40 years. Commercial building, flat roof, no rain cap. Not soot but solidified fly ash very much like you see clinging to bricks in a fire pot after many years and just as hard.

I cleaned my 6" SS liner with brush and flexible rods for last several years. This year I poked through the liner as I think it had been weakened by overheating just above stove connection during several years of wood burning before my enlightenment and switch to coal several years ago. Post by Beeman - Death of a Stainless Steel Liner...

I think good to clean annually to remove fly ash, which can restrict chimney diameter. I typically get about a 1 gallon volume of fly ash from a season of burning. Be careful cleaning a liner if you used to burn wood. I strongly recommend very flexible rods--much easier to work with. Also, wear gloves when handling rods as fiberglass fibers stick in your hands!