At Home In The Woods

[Obed]

Have I mentioned that I really don't like being on our roof? I ended up standing on the chimney chase. It's funny how when I first get up on a high spot, I'm very nervous. After I while I get more comfortable. I'm still very careful and slow moving up there because one misstep could be fatal.

I made certain to keep my feed on the edges of the chase where I would be supported by the framing. The cover of the chase is just a piece of aluminum or sheet metal; it has no support in the middle.

It took me a little while to figure out how to access the chimney through the chimney cap. I wondered if the chimney cap would just lift straight up off the chimney. I tried to lift straight up on the cap but it seemed to be secured to the chimney. So I removed 5 screws around the top and removed the cover off the cap.

What I saw down the flue was informative. I have posted pictures but it is really tough to draw conclusions looking at the pictures; they don't adequately portray the conditions. The flue had the light flakes of creosote attached to the flue. Tapping on the side of the flue would cause a shower of flakes to fall down the chimney. There were no chunks. Even what you see in the chimney cap around the flue is mostly a flakey consistency. The last picture is a zoomed in photo looking way down the flu. Running a chimney brush down the chimney looks like it will easily clean the creosote flakes off the flue wall.

We still are having the chimney sweep come by on Tuesday to get his opinion and to have them clean the chimney. However, we are going to purchase chimney sweep brush(es) and plan to clean the chimney ourselves next time. The chimney sweep company estimated $150 to inspect and clean our chimney. The equipment to clean it ourselves will cost around $135. Part of the motivation to clean the chimney ourselves in the future is economics. However, a large factor revolves around the fact that if I clean it, I will know I will get a good job.

One of the chimney sweep companies we called sounded like they would clean the chimney from inside the fireplace instead of from the roof. Our FP has air circulating pipes at the top of the fireplace that obstruct good access to the chimney. It's hard for me to understand how our chimney could get a good cleaning from below.

 

[Obed]

While standing on the chimney, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the view over the trees.

 

[clemsonfor]

I can not understand why you would ever WANT a utility trailer.

If you get a lumber rack you can carry anything you want in your truck and not have to worry about a trailer.

Save your pennies and get a dump trailer when you can afford one. Now that is a very useful trailer. Think of it as a sort of an extra heavy duty utility trailer, with the added benefits of being able to accommodate large loads of junk which you can say "good bye" to with the push of a button.

And, if you need mulch, topsoil, soil amendments, manure, gravel, sand or anything for your garden you will get a much more reasonable price by buying in bulk and using your tractor to spread the heap.

If you have something that won't fit in the bed of the truck, a properly-sized dump trailer will haul it just a well as a utility trailer.

Firewood? Id love a dump trailer for wood but there a bit pricy!

 

[Obed]

There are those times that a dump trailer sure would be nice. But they are heavy and expensive. I've never seen even a used one go for under $3k here, and that is very rare. $4-5k is a more common used price for smaller ones and $6-8k is not that uncommon. All used prices. It sure would be an all-purpose trailer to cover a lot of needs (if you got a longer one) but you would need to maintain a heavy truck to pull it. And then it would likely be too big to use around the land with your tractor.

No easy answers, are there?

Wow, I didn't know they were that expensive. That pretty much rules out a dump trailer.

Obed

 

[Obed]

That window would be pretty easy to replace with a bigger one if you really wanted to. Vinyl siding is very easy to rework (shouldn't need anything new - just re-use what is there) and the gable wall means it should not be load bearing. That's a 1-day project for someone experienced. Pull the vinyl, cut and reframe the wall, install new window and fit/re-install the vinyl. As long as the interior remains unfinished...

Just a thought, if you find it to be a big hassle down the road.

Yes, it would be doable. However, for the infrequent times I climb through the window, i couldn't justify replacing it. I can get through it, I just have to work a little at it.

Obed

 

[clemsonfor]

Have I mentioned that I really don't like being on our roof? I ended up standing on the chimney chase. It's funny how when I first get up on a high spot, I'm very nervous. After I while I get more comfortable. I'm still very careful and slow moving up there because one misstep could be fatal.

I made certain to keep my feed on the edges of the chase where I would be supported by the framing. The cover of the chase is just a piece of aluminum or sheet metal; it has no support in the middle.

It took me a little while to figure out how to access the chimney through the chimney cap. I wondered if the chimney cap would just lift straight up off the chimney. I tried to lift straight up on the cap but it seemed to be secured to the chimney. So I removed 5 screws around the top and removed the cover off the cap.

What I saw down the flue was informative. I have posted pictures but it is really tough to draw conclusions looking at the pictures; they don't adequately portray the conditions. The flue had the light flakes of creosote attached to the flue. Tapping on the side of the flue would cause a shower of flakes to fall down the chimney. There were no chunks. Even what you see in the chimney cap around the flue is mostly a flakey consistency. The last picture is a zoomed in photo looking way down the flu. Running a chimney brush down the chimney looks like it will easily clean the creosote flakes off the flue wall.

We still are having the chimney sweep come by on Tuesday to get his opinion and to have them clean the chimney. However, we are going to purchase chimney sweep brush(es) and plan to clean the chimney ourselves next time. The chimney sweep company estimated $150 to inspect and clean our chimney. The equipment to clean it ourselves will cost around $135. Part of the motivation to clean the chimney ourselves in the future is economics. However, a large factor revolves around the fact that if I clean it, I will know I will get a good job.

One of the chimney sweep companies we called sounded like they would clean the chimney from inside the fireplace instead of from the roof. Our FP has air circulating pipes at the top of the chimney that obstruct good access to the chimney. It's hard for me to understand how our chimney could get a good cleaning from below.

Yea its time to clean it. Not terrible but if you got it at the bottom it may be like that the whole way up and if it lights of the "train will be a coming". I was going to suggest as much as you do yourself and such a self sufficient person you will want to buythe brush and clean it at least twice a year till you figure your wood and burn temps out, then maybe you can clean it once a year.

 

[Obed]

Firewood? Id love a dump trailer for wood but there a bit pricy!

clemsonfo,
What is the size of your trailer bed? Also, what lengths are the logs in the trailer? How did you decide on cutting them that length?
Obed

 

[955Lincoln]

Yea its time to clean it. Not terrible but if you got it at the bottom it may be like that the whole way up and if it lights of the "train will be a coming".

If I'm not mistaken those pics are from the top. If so, I think it looks very bad.

 

[tommu56]

If that the screen looks really small openings to me for solid fuel

I would have thought it would be more open.
It looks like the one on my gas fireplace.

tom

 

[Obed]

If I'm not mistaken those pics are from the top. If so, I think it looks very bad.

Yes, the pictures are from the top. I have to qualify and say the chimney looks much worse in the picture than in person. There are no chunks of creosote. It's all flakey and easilly falls off the chimney. My impression is that the flakey stuff is normal. If I were seeing chunks of creosote I should be more concerned. Is there anybody out there who has cleaned chimneys who can comment?

My wife and I have decided to forgo hiring the chimney sweep. We are going to order the chimney brush and clean the chimney ourselves. We probably won't burn another fire until we clean the chimney.

Obed