Posted: 11/5/2014 5:18:09 PM EDT
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Winter is coming to SoCal and I want to enjoy the new "cool" weather with a fire in the fireplace.
The chimney hasn't been cleaned for years but I probably should. I would like to not pay a guy to do it, if I am capable and willing to figure it out. So should I go buy a brush and rods or one of those "Creosote Sweeping Logs." Thank you cold climate pros! |
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Quoted:
If you hire someone (that has the proper tools) there will be less of a chance of having all that ash getting all over your living room. This. I had a chimney fire once. It sounded like a train was coming through the house.  Even in San Diego, I go through about a cord a year. I get it cleaned every three years.
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Well, this is Arcom, and true to tradition I do both. 
Our house is heated with a wood furnace, so I clean the chimney every year. I throw one of those creosote logs on a hot fire first, let it (and the fire) burn out, and let the chimney cool down somewhat - not all the way, because I don't want all the gunk to congeal back to a solid mass. Then I get up on top and run a chimney brush through a few times to knock everything down, and scoop it out through an access door at the bottom of the chimney. I have no idea how much value the creosote log adds to the process, since I've pretty much used one every time. I never really have all that much stuff in the chimney, though... I try to burn hot fires that help to keep the chimney warm and keep creosote from condensing out before it exits the chimney. All that being said, it wouldn't hurt to let a pro do it the first time. They'll usually inspect the chimney the first time, and let you know of any problems that might not be apparent to a novice. Once they get it cleaned up the first time, probably no biggie to DIY from then on. Just MHO, YMMV. |
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Quoted:
Well, this is Arcom, and true to tradition I do both.
Our house is heated with a wood furnace, so I clean the chimney every year. I throw one of those creosote logs on a hot fire first, let it (and the fire) burn out, and let the chimney cool down somewhat - not all the way, because I don't want all the gunk to congeal back to a solid mass. Then I get up on top and run a chimney brush through a few times to knock everything down, and scoop it out through an access door at the bottom of the chimney. I have no idea how much value the creosote log adds to the process, since I've pretty much used one every time. I never really have all that much stuff in the chimney, though... I try to burn hot fires that help to keep the chimney warm and keep creosote from condensing out before it exits the chimney. All that being said, it wouldn't hurt to let a pro do it the first time. They'll usually inspect the chimney the first time, and let you know of any problems that might not be apparent to a novice. Once they get it cleaned up the first time, probably no biggie to DIY from then on. Just MHO, YMMV. Not too bad. The only thing you missed is: Burn Dry Wood! 20% or less as measured by a moisture meter, about $25 at Lowe's etc. I used to burn Madrona (a notoriously wet wood when unseasoned) in Seattle during the late 80's, you couldn't see any smoke from either my house chimney or wood fired sauna. |
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Quoted:
Not too bad. The only thing you missed is: Burn Dry Wood! 20% or less as measured by a moisture meter, about $25 at Lowe's etc. I used to burn Madrona (a notoriously wet wood when unseasoned) in Seattle during the late 80's, you couldn't see any smoke from either my house chimney or wood fired sauna. Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, this is Arcom, and true to tradition I do both.
Our house is heated with a wood furnace, so I clean the chimney every year. I throw one of those creosote logs on a hot fire first, let it (and the fire) burn out, and let the chimney cool down somewhat - not all the way, because I don't want all the gunk to congeal back to a solid mass. Then I get up on top and run a chimney brush through a few times to knock everything down, and scoop it out through an access door at the bottom of the chimney. I have no idea how much value the creosote log adds to the process, since I've pretty much used one every time. I never really have all that much stuff in the chimney, though... I try to burn hot fires that help to keep the chimney warm and keep creosote from condensing out before it exits the chimney. All that being said, it wouldn't hurt to let a pro do it the first time. They'll usually inspect the chimney the first time, and let you know of any problems that might not be apparent to a novice. Once they get it cleaned up the first time, probably no biggie to DIY from then on. Just MHO, YMMV. Not too bad. The only thing you missed is: Burn Dry Wood! 20% or less as measured by a moisture meter, about $25 at Lowe's etc. I used to burn Madrona (a notoriously wet wood when unseasoned) in Seattle during the late 80's, you couldn't see any smoke from either my house chimney or wood fired sauna. Absolutely. Not only does it help keep things from getting gunked up, it's also more efficient. Burning green wood means a lot of the energy that would otherwise be converted to heat instead gets used to vaporize the water in the wood. End result is that you have to burn more wood to maintain the same temperature in the house. |
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Get a proper sized brush and fiberglass rods from Lowes/Homers place/Menards and go at it yourself.
Open the flue all the way, Tape an old sheet over the front, and scrub like a crack addict with poison Ivy. While you are up there, eyeball things for cracks and degradation of the liner. Fix anything that needs it. The logs sort of work, but are simply a gimmick that somewhat reduces the amount built up. The same thing can be done with throwing an aluminum can in the fire now and then. Aluminum oxide crystallizes creosote to some degree, and it falls off and into the fire where it is burnt...somewhat. Burn seasoned wood, brush at least once a year, and you'll never have issues with a creosote fire. Don't waste your $$$ on the logs or Powdered stuff. |
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Christmas is on the horizon. I use a sweep who has a frame to help remove my insert from the fireplace. I need to call him this year if we're going to use the fireplace.
Last time he was here he mentioned he was always saddled up on Christmas morning. Seems people like to throw the gift wrappings in the fire. Paper catches fire, some floats up, gets lodged and catches the creosote on fire. |
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Quoted:
Winter is coming to SoCal and I want to enjoy the new "cool" weather with a fire in the fireplace. The chimney hasn't been cleaned for years but I probably should. I would like to not pay a guy to do it, if I am capable and willing to figure it out. So should I go buy a brush and rods or one of those "Creosote Sweeping Logs." Thank you cold climate pros! Use a leaf blower...Watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPHeO1Tdv0w |
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Quoted:
Christmas is on the horizon. I use a sweep who has a frame to help remove my insert from the fireplace. I need to call him this year if we're going to use the fireplace. Last time he was here he mentioned he was always saddled up on Christmas morning. Seems people like to throw the gift wrappings in the fire. Paper catches fire, some floats up, gets lodged and catches the creosote on fire. Hmmm. Given the time of year, a thread dedicated to chimney fire prevention and suppression is probably in order. midmo's shiny new chimney fire thread in Homestead, Farm and Garden Everyone please feel free to populate with your thoughts, practices and experience. |
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We burn 2-3 cords of wood a year, and hadn't cleaned for quite a while.
Just had it done. Guy was here for less than an hour. Huge, powerful vac, no dust or mess. Cost included a complete inspection with a report and color digital photos all printed out in his van. $129 for everything. Said it was only the second dirtiest chimney he'd done this year.
The creosote build-up was a half inch in places, and it wasn't if, but when we were going to have a chimney fire. Set up with him to give us a call to do it again after the burning season is over. It's cheap insurance. |