Annual Chimney Cleaning

[kebo]

Each to their own, you wouldn't catch me on a rig like that.

When I bought my present house I had the stove installer put up an external stainless steel chimney. Now all I need to do is remove the bottom cap and clean it standing with both feet on the ground, getting too old to balance at the peak of a steep roof with a chimney brush.

Oaktree, can you please post a picture of your chimney? Would like to see your set up. Thanks...

 

[4570Man]

My chimney is 40 feet in the air. I just pay the "professionals" $150 to do it while keeping both of my feet on the ground.

 

[crazyal]

I have a cheaper aluminum ladder I bought off craig's list that has a hook mounted to it to hook onto the ridge. I put wheels on the ends of the hooks so you just roll the ladder up to the ridge and over. I also mounted 2x4 blocking every couple of feet so it holds the rungs a few inches off of the roof. I also have an old Airforce aircraft mechanic's lift. The hydraulic ram and pump were junk so I've got it fixed at it's maximum height and the loader on my backhoe with forks to pick it up. Between the loader and the lift it'll reach about 14' in the air. The great thing about the backhoe is that if the ground isn't level I can use the stabilizers to level the platform. It's real nice having a 2' by 8' platform to work off of. Since it has railings and kick plate I can put a ladder on the platform.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Standing on the ladder leaning against the chimney, or standing on the roof alone don't provide a stable enough platform. That ladder with the bottom supported by the bucket, and resting on the asphalt-grit shingles, isn't going to slide anywhere, or get kicked out from under me. Drive around New England and you'll see a lot of old places with wood burning fireplaces with wooden ladders actually attached to the roof going up to the chimney. They'd use a ladder to get on the roof, and then the roof ladder in the exact same way my temporary arrangement works.

 

[Oaktree]

Oaktree, can you please post a picture of your chimney? Would like to see your set up. Thanks...

Here you go. Not a great picture, but you get the general idea.

I'm usually a big DIY'er, but I considered the $500 I paid for installation when I bought the stove to be money well spent. No way could I have handled that by myself. My house is plank construction, they went thru 3 batteries in their Sawzall to cut the hole in the wall for the thimble...4" thick solid walls, not sure what kind of wood it is...not as hard as maple, etc. but not a softwood either.

 

[hunt4570]

Here you go. Not a great picture, but you get the general idea.

I'm usually a big DIY'er, but I considered the $500 I paid for installation when I bought the stove to be money well spent. No way could I have handled that by myself. My house is plank construction, they went thru 3 batteries in their Sawzall to cut the hole in the wall for the thimble...4" thick solid walls, not sure what kind of wood it is...not as hard as maple, etc. but not a softwood either.

View attachment 442214

Dont you get very dirty cleaning it from the bottom? I've had this type of set up before, but I still cleaned from the top with a bucket underneath to catch all the junk.

I once had a place where the flue was I think 1/4" plate steel, it got hot and expanded, when it cooled it contracted forcing most of the creosote off, pretty much self cleaning!

 

[farmer2009]

Dont you get very dirty cleaning it from the bottom? I've had this type of set up before, but I still cleaned from the top with a bucket underneath to catch all the junk. I once had a place where the flue was I think 1/4" plate steel, it got hot and expanded, when it cooled it contracted forcing most of the creosote off, pretty much self cleaning!

Ok. I have to ask. How did you reach the top? Bucket truck?

Reason why I asked is I'm adding a wood burner to an out building this winter and my chimney will look very similar. Just not as tall. Only 21-24 feet.

 

[hunt4570]

Ok. I have to ask. How did you reach the top? Bucket truck?

Reason why I asked is I'm adding a wood burner to an out building this winter and my chimney will look very similar. Just not as tall. Only 21-24 feet.

Mine was inside the house, but with the "T" in the rear of the fireplace with the removable cap on the bottom, which is what I as referring to, not the same placement. I could reach it while standing on the roof. Free standing tall like that in his picture would present a problem.

 

[Oaktree]

Dont you get very dirty cleaning it from the bottom? I've had this type of set up before, but I still cleaned from the top with a bucket underneath to catch all the junk.

My stove burns fairly clean, and I never burn green/wet/soft wood so I don't get a lot of creosote to begin with, but yeah you get a little dirty, mostly just hands and forearms. I'll just put a tarp on the ground under it to catch what comes out.

Ok. I have to ask. How did you reach the top? Bucket truck?

I have enough rod extensions for my cleanout brush so I can get all the way to the top. I suppose if I ever had to get at the top (say to replace the cap) I could disconnect one section and pivot the whole shebang on the roof brackets, though certainly not something I'd want to tackle myself.
When the stove shop installed it, they assembled it on the ground and hoisted it up, just 2 (very rugged) guys.

I did one time get the brush stuck and while twisting it to get it out unscrewed the coupling between 2 sections of rod. Had a helluva time getting the brush back out...ended up making a hook and using several sections of PVC pipe to push it up and hook onto the brush. After that incident always tied a rope to the brush!!

 

[Creamer]

Why not just get the proper sized ladder and lean it against the side of the chimney? I keep a 40 footer around just for such occaisions if needed. Spent most of my life on ladders... never once put one in a FEL! Get the right tool for the job my dad always told me... bless his soul.

You must not do much of a variety of jobs. I remember my Dad saying "If i had the right tool for every job I wouldn't need to be in business."

 

[JerryK]

That's the way I clean my barn stove, from the bottom. Pull the single wall from the stove up to the ceiling and take it outside to clean it. Stand up on a step ladder [ off to the side ], then brush the triple wall pipe going up to the cap. Wear a paper mask, and all that gets dirty is your hands/forearms.. and the floor. Not as nice as cleaning from the top, but that old barn roof gets slipperier as you get older. Get little or no creosote... but take a look at each summer anyway. Also go up and sweep around the triple wall/ceiling area up in the trusses.

 

[georgenelson]

I hope cleaning chimney is a simple one while comparing with water tank cleaning. Would you suggest me how to clean it is simple way?

 

[Hilbilly]

I used to climb onto the roof to clean my metal chimneys (one in the house and one in the shop) but now do it from the bottom, inside a nice warm building and both feet on the ground. I remove the first pipe above the stove and then do the following. Take a garbage bag and punch a small hole into it for the brush rods to go through. Feed the first rod through the hole, attach the brush and then tape the bag to the chimney. Start brushing and add extensions as required to reach the top. Remove rod sections on the way down until reaching the last one. Let it rest for a few minutes then take the bag off the chimney, with all the ash inside of it. Works great and there is virtually no mess to clean up.

 

[JerryK]

I used to climb onto the roof to clean my metal chimneys (one in the house and one in the shop) but now do it from the bottom, inside a nice warm building and both feet on the ground. I remove the first pipe above the stove and then do the following. Take a garbage bag and punch a small hole into it for the brush rods to go through. Feed the first rod through the hole, attach the brush and then tape the bag to the chimney. Start brushing and add extensions as required to reach the top. Remove rod sections on the way down until reaching the last one. Let it rest for a few minutes then take the bag off the chimney, with all the ash inside of it. Works great and there is virtually no mess to clean up.

NOT FAIR....!!!!! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GET DIRTY.....!!!!!!! [ I'll have to try the garbage bag method, THANKS..!!!! ]

 

[Hilbilly]

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GET DIRTY.....!!!!!!!

Then I've got some great news for you ............... your hands will still get dirty from the soot on the rods as you pull them through the bottom of the bag.