Chimney Clean Out Door

Snotzalot · Post by **Snotzalot** » Sat. Mar. 14, 2015 5:14 pm

Any suggestions for sealing the out side chimney clean out door to it's frame? Is any sort of seal needed?

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Sat. Mar. 14, 2015 5:34 pm

depending on how well it fits, you really dont' need to seal it. as long it closes and locks/latches. you could put a small piece of rope or flat gasket or maybe a little silicone around it. As long it doesn't fall off or open and you loose your draft on your stove.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sat. Mar. 14, 2015 11:42 pm

If you opt for the silicone, after applying the bead of silicone place wax paper between door and frame and close and latch the door. After allowing time for complete cure of the silicone you may remove the wax paper.
When applying the silicone keep in mind how much will be oozed out...so don't over do it and make a huge mess.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 6:32 am

Orrrrrr, just put a rock up against it. It don't need to be air tight. How about a pix?

SWPaDon · Post by **SWPaDon** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 6:40 am

freetown fred wrote:Orrrrrr, just put a rock up against it. It don't need to be air tight. How about a pix?

Believe it or not FF, mine actually does need to be almost airtight. I don't have a door, just a removable brick near the bottom of my inside chimney. I have to wrap the block and plug every slight opening around it or my draft will drop drastically, and my fire will suffer greatly

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 6:46 am

Hmmm, interesting. You must not have a very good draw on your chimney. Back to every set up being different. Maybe if you put a door in, it would be different, they normally seal real well. But the wrapped brick works so that's good:)

SWPaDon · Post by **SWPaDon** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 6:57 am

I don't have a manometer to check the draft with, although I've thought about getting one. The guys in here that use them have me curious as hell about draft numbers LOL.
I burn bit coal, as you know, and some of the coal I have now looks like sand. I need to keep the best draft I can in the furnace in order to burn that fine stuff.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 7:23 am

I've never had one. I use the lit paper towel concept at my T coming out of the stove. Sounds like one would be beneficial in your set up:)

Sunny Boy · Post by **Sunny Boy** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 7:31 am

A leaky chimney cleanout opening will reduce draft strength - just as any air leaks into the pipe joints, or other parts of the chimney system will.

Paul

SWPaDon · Post by **SWPaDon** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 7:50 am

The only way I can describe my draft (without a mono) is if I pull out the block at the bottom of the chimney, while the chimney is warm, it will suck pieces of newspaper out of my hand and they will come out the top of the chimney (as long as they are a tad smaller than red brick size).

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 8:08 am

Well then--by God, you got draft:) Is a BIG difference without the brick/block being wrapped???

SWPaDon · Post by **SWPaDon** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 8:20 am

Big difference. There is no mortar in that spot, and that leaves about a 3/8ths inch gap on 3 sides the clean out block. It sucks enough air thru there to kill the draft to the furnace. So I wrap the block and make a very snug fit.
Gotta keep that draft as high as possible burning bit, so the soot doesn't build up too much.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Mar. 15, 2015 10:15 am

AAAAAAHHH, you forgot to mention a 3/8 gap on 3 sides. Gottcha--YES, that'd be a draft killer