chimney cleaning from the bottom.

[Trapper_Pete]

I burn hot and clean and here is why.

I decided it had been about 2 years since I cleaned and I should give it a check. that sounds bad but I seldom have anything at 2 years over the last 11 I worked up 1 year for a few then 2 years.

I was out running errands all morning and had let the fire go out so when I returned home I cleaned.

but I had the idea to take it a step further and send my phone up as a before and after taking video I don't have a good way to post the video but I grabbed some stills.

I clean from the bottom I have a 12/12 pitch roof and the stove pipe extends 6 feet out of the roof . I know this concerns some people that I will plug the cap.

but here is the photo proof it works at least for my set up.

the phone up the chimney was fairly low tech I painters taped the phone to the fiber glass chimney rods started a video with the light on then send it up add a rod send it up it is just about 16 feet 4 for foot rods exactly from the ceiling thimble then turn around when I hit the top slowly and come back down.

 

[Trapper_Pete]

I got about a 1/2 cup of dry black powder out and I could see bare metal.

the top section is the thickest , when I get to it the most comes down , the lower 2 sections have almost none

going up even dirty the seam at each section is clearly visible and defined

this chimney is in it's 11th season of primary heat , it is a double or tipple wall insulated stainless steel chimney.

the pictures are dirty top section of pipe , dirty cap , how I set up the bag , how I tape the bag to the thimble for very very little clean up in the house , the small amount I got out in the bag , post cleaning top section and post cleaning cap.

I went up and down twice. for the pipe and I work it around a little bit when I get to the cap.

 

[Streblerm]

That is exactly how I clean mine. Except for the phone on a stick inspection.

 

[moresnow]

I got about a 1/2 cup of dry black powder out and I could see bare metal.

the top section is the thickest , when I get to it the most comes down , the lower 2 sections have almost none

going up even dirty the seam at each section is clearly visible and defined

this chimney is in it's 11th season of primary heat , it is a double or tipple wall insulated stainless steel chimney.

the pictures are dirty top section of pipe , dirty cap , how I set up the bag , how I tape the bag to the thimble for very very little clean up in the house , the small amount I got out in the bag , post cleaning top section and post cleaning cap.

I went up and down twice. for the pipe and I work it around a little bit when I get to the cap.

Great example of a clean burning setup. Your insulated/double wall connector pipe from the stove to ceiling is a large benefit in my experiance. I noticed a much cleaner pipe when I upgraded to the double wall. I put in a telescoping setup to be able to lift it off the stove top a bit and clean bottom up with the bag like you. And clean inside the stove around my combuster etc. Appears as if you have figured out correct fuel seasoning!

 

[GVS]

That is exactly how I clean mine. Except for the phone on a stick inspection.

ditto

 

[Trapper_Pete]

thanks.

this is a telescoping double wall pipe , 3 screws pull down a few inches haul it out to the deck and brush it out there.

then I stand on the stove and clean the chimney. when done I put the pipe in place wife holds down while I push up get it in tight and lined up ,then she holds it in place while I put the screws back in.

 

[weeks auto]

I clean mine from the bottom except that I shove a shop vac hose in there with it and just cover the inlet around the hose and brush shaft with a towel. works great and only takes 10 minutes or so.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

ditto

Same way here too, and I also can go a few years in between cleaning as I burn hot and burn dry wood. And the pipe is going on 30 years old, still working just fine!

 

[rancher2]

Trapper-Pete
You have burning down to a fine science.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

thanks.

this is a telescoping double wall pipe , 3 screws pull down a few inches haul it out to the deck and brush it out there.

then I stand on the stove and clean the chimney. when done I put the pipe in place wife holds down while I push up get it in tight and lined up ,then she holds it in place while I put the screws back in.

Almost the same exact thing with me, take the inside pipe apart in two sections, take them outside to brush with a steel bristle brush, inspect to make sure nothing is rusted or rusted through, stand on the stove to shove the brush up with a garbage bag taped around the bottom, bring it back down and put everything back together, hit it with some stove polish and I'm good to go!

Just a question, my plastic brush like the one that you have pictured is VERY tight inside the 6" pipe, is yours like that or is it easier to move up and down? I even years ago took it back to the stove shop and they tried it on a piece of pipe and said "it's the right size, it's tight but should ease up with time" but it didn't, it is very tough to push up and down but at least that way I know it did the job although it is only fine soot that I get since I burn hot, never any tar like creosote which is great!

 

[Trapper_Pete]

the poly brush is tight like a brush in a rifle barrel you may have to go all the way to the end then come back having the bristles change direction in the cap.

I was told when the chimney was installed to only use nylon it wouldn't scratch the Stainless and cause it to rust

it may loosen up but it might take a long time if we only clean every 2 years

 

[PA. Woodsman]

the poly brush is tight like a brush in a rifle barrel you may have to go all the way to the end then come back having the bristles change direction in the cap.

I was told when the chimney was installed to only use nylon it wouldn't scratch the Stainless and cause it to rust

it may loosen up but it might take a long time if we only clean every 2 years

Yes you are right, and everytime I use it it will go so far up and I can't push it anymore and it is REALLY tough to get it to come back down, I literally have hung on and lifted myself up with all my weight and the wife pulling too and it is always so hard to get it to break free and come back down, I don't know how many times I have thought "well I've screwed up, I'll have to call a chimney sweep" but we always do manage to get it back down but it is VERY tough lol!!!

 

[Del_]

Yes you are right, and everytime I use it it will go so far up and I can't push it anymore and it is REALLY tough to get it to come back down, I literally have hung on and lifted myself up with all my weight and the wife pulling too and it is always so hard to get it to break free and come back down, I don't know how many times I have thought "well I've screwed up, I'll have to call a chimney sweep" but we always do manage to get it back down but it is VERY tough lol!!!

A soft brush is recommended for the double wall stainless chimney.

And your problems will be over.

Or get a bigger wife.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

A soft brush is recommended for the double wall stainless chimney.

And your problems will be over.

Or get a bigger wife.

Ha!!! It's one like the OP pictured in the first post, a black plastic brush.

I don't need the last suggestion lol!!!!

 

[Trapper_Pete]

maybe I don't have a problem because I don't have any issue getting weight or power behind it . I don't generally think of my self as big , but in reality I am only average height and weight for the NFL.

 

[LondonNeil]

I clean mine from the bottom except that I shove a shop vac hose in there with it and just cover the inlet around the hose and brush shaft with a towel. works great and only takes 10 minutes or so.

 

[Trapper_Pete]

i tried to chuck my fiberglass rod up in the drill , great idea except the fiber glass rod didn't like the spinning torque and I had to stop when I cracked it.

but a rod that would take the torque would be great and would be a very fast way to clean.

 

[LondonNeil]

you need rods suited for rotary sweeping, and a brush for it too. look up 'Soot eater' or 'cyclone' brushes

 

[PA. Woodsman]

maybe I don't have a problem because I don't have any issue getting weight or power behind it . I don't generally think of my self as big , but in reality I am only average height and weight for the NFL.

I am 5' 11' and 230 so I have the power and weight behind it, but I think what happens is the brush pushes up over the top of the pipe and the bristles spread out over the edge of the pipe under the cap and it takes quite a bit to "reverse" it to get it pulled back down, once I get it "unstuck" I have no issues pulling it back down. That is why I had thought about getting a 5" brush instead of this 6" brush and just push it up and scrub it around, but every year I just let it go and then struggle with it when the time comes again lol!!

 

[Trapper_Pete]

I wonder if you gave your brush a little trim might be as simple as chucking it up in the drill and running it on some 60 grit sand paper .015 -.020 might make a big difference in resistance while still cleaning the chimney fine.

or spend the coin and get the rotary cleaning brush and chuck it up in the drill , that would be sweet , I just can't justify the money when I have a setup that works and gets such little use.