Woodstove user tips

[sherpa]

I was wondering if anyone has a home formula for removing creosote from their chimney?

I take down my stove pipe about once a month and clean it but I have never cleaned my chimney.

I read that you could apply a creosote removal chemical to your firewood before you burn it?

I figured someone might have discovered what it is?
I am sure there may be some other ways to remove creosote?
Any comments?
Thanks,
sherpa

 

[radioman]

never cleaned your chimney?! hmmmm I think you better put out the fire and get up there and give it a clean. You should clean it out once a year, twice a year is good if you burn alot of wood and heat your home with wood.

 

[Thomas]

Chimney brush works well,or 8"x8" plate on pole extendsion pole for cleaning corners.

 

[LJH]

never cleaned your chimney?! hmmmm I think you better put out the fire and get up there and give it a clean. You should clean it out once a year, twice a year is good if you burn alot of wood and heat your home with wood.

Ayup. It's a messy PITA but pales in comparison to your house burning down. Or even the lesser adrenaline rush of a chimney fire, which will do a bang-up job of cleaning it for you but isn't recommended.

 

[Carl_NH]

You can use some dry powder - sold in big box stores - Rutland Creosote Removal - we use this in our fireplace twice a week. It doesnt REMOVE creosote, but it makes it more porous - breaks down the particles / composition making it easier to clean.

As others said clean your chimney now - get a brush for your size and 3-4' lengths of 1/4" galv pipe and you can clean from the bottom. There are fiberglas rod versions too.

 

[mjarrels]

Clean it the ole fasion way... drop a live chicken down the chimney.

mark

 

[Ed of all trades]

The most important thing is to keep the creosote from forming in the first place. Creosote forms the same way fog does on your glasses when you come in from the cold, if you keep them worm they don't fog up. If you get your chimney hot twice a day, morning and night you will have a lot less buildup. By the way start with a CLEAN chimney. I have seen a large log chain melt in two pieces that was used to get the hot burning creosote out of a chimney, now that is hot. Sherpa clean your chimney or hire a chimney sweep, cheaper than a new house.

 

[Piperflyer]

no chemicals work, it takes good old elbow grease

 

[tcreeley]

Burn a hot fire for an hour each day. 2-3x a winter I am up on my roof chipping the creosote from my stainless steel chimney cap. Your chimney needs to stay hot to work well (inside hot). I took down my masonry tile/block chimney that was outside the house and replaced it with a stainless steel metal asbestos chimney. Does a better job - insulated. I burn on a slow burn all the time- wood is my only heat.
It is the sticky creosote that I don't like. The flaky stuff comes off. Have a clean out at the bottom of the chimney.
I used to try potato peels and creosote removers- never saw a difference. Daily hot fire is the only way to go.

 

[sherpa]

Thanks for the comments.
I have a daily hot fire, I dont think my chimney is all that bad, it draws very well.
As I stated, I do clean my pipes often, I can tell when they are dirty with creosote flakes.
I do have a clean-out at the bottom of my chimney and I will clean it out again this week.
Then I will work from the top and check the clean-out at the bottom to see what all was in there.

I have a chimney here in a small older cabin and I called a fellow in 1989 to come out and clean it. He said he cleans them by starting a chimney fire and burns them clean. He said I could do it myself and he told me how to do it. I did it like he said and it worked fine but I will never do that again!

I appreciate your suggestions!
Sherpa