Posted: 3/15/2013 2:12:36 PM EDT
I burn a fair amount of wood. I have my pipes cleaned professionally once a year. Had been twice a year, but my sweep said it was unnecessary. Ok, I'll save money. 
I'm not sure whether it makes more sense to have the chimney cleaned in the spring right after I shut down the stoves for the season, or right before I fire 'em up in the fall. I figure it might be easier to get the crud out when it's fresher, but I kind of like the idea of having it done right before use in case something decides to die in there over the summer or something. My sweep seems to be of the opinion that he'll come out now and do it, and that's best so I don't forget, (or call another guy). Bueller? |
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i do my own twice a year. Only thing i think i've noticed is the crap seems to detach better when the pipes have sat a week (or whatever) and are cold. I could be dreaming though but it seems that if the creo is thick it kind of starts to peel away on its own. I'll just sweep it in a couple weeks (spring) and then once again about mid-end of jan in middle of winter just in case, but its my only source of heat so I bet you could just do once.
Hey what does he charge you (if ya dont mind) and do you think it requires paticular insurance as i've thought about doing this. |
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I think we paid $170 last year, but I've got two stoves and two liners up one chimney.
Sounds like later might be better all around if letting it sit actually loosens the stuff. ETA- as for insurance, my guy has it. I checked that. Nobody walks on my roof without insurance. Their own insurance. 
If you were looking to get into it, I know we have a few honest to god chimney pros on here somewhere. They could tell you better than I, but I'd look into the cost of insurance and the possibility that the state might require some kind of license or certification as well. That's just a wild guess though. |
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I think we paid $170 last year, but I've got two stoves and two liners up one chimney. Sounds like later might be better all around if letting it sit actually loosens the stuff. in red ^ -I "think" it might, it seems like it to me it just removes easier, and thx for the price check. I don't do it in fall cause in CO it seems like all the sudden its winter in one day and it just suddenly dumps snow half the time, so I get it over w/ in spring for one sweep. |
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Get on your roof , take rope , chain (tire chains ) tie rope to chain , drop down flue, swirl about , descend roof , clean out fire box . If you live in the
west where you must burn conifers it's good to be on top of things , however if you're in the eastern states (oak , hickory ,ash ) etc. areas you should be good to go once a year EDIT: also do the mirror up the flue ; should see a square/rectangle of light |
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Get on your roof , take rope , chain (tire chains ) tie rope to chain , drop down flue, swirl about , descend roof , clean out fire box . If you live in the west where you must burn conifers it's good to be on top of things , however if you're in the eastern states (oak , hickory ,ash ) etc. areas you should be good to go once a year I've lived here four or five years, and that's all the experience I have burning cords and cords of wood. At some point I may do just that, but for now, having a professional inspect my setup once a year is relatively cheap insurance. My guy's a talker too. Some guys like to work to themselves and that's fine, but this guy likes to chat and knows a lot about his profession. I soak that shit up man. 
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I had a Vermont castings wood burning insert with a stainless steel chimney liner installed a couple of years back.
Works great. I burn only well seasoned ash or birch hardwood, I only burn about 1/3 chord or less per year. How much wood can I burn before having the flue cleaned? After every chord? 2 chords? Or just have it cleaned every year? |
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I had a Vermont castings wood burning insert with a stainless steel chimney liner installed a couple of years back. Works great. I burn only well seasoned ash or birch hardwood, I only burn about 1/3 chord or less per year. How much wood can I burn before having the flue cleaned? After every chord? 2 chords? Or just have it cleaned every year? is it big enough to get eyes in the chimney from underneath somehow?.... or up for getting on the roof? If you can flashlight it and get eyes on it you'll be able to tell if it needs it. if it looks kind of fuzzy/moldy looking creo and lots of it, then ya better sweep. If it looks like tar/black sappy then you really need to season your firewood better + burn hotter. 1/2" of stuff tword the top, just below the rain cap for a foot or so wont kill you, but keep an eye out. thats where i've seen most wood burner setups recieve buildup. From what i've seen sold around here as "seasoned" isn't (I cut my own). Beyond that I think it has a lot to do with if you can keep it burning hot/clean & not smokey. I always compare it to BBQ'in if your into that  . I talk the talk but truth is my wife doesn't like me keeping a clean fire so I give a little and let it get smoldery, so im guilty. she gets pissy pants'd when its flamin even if its not that much.
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| Got a coal/wood stove in the basement heating the entire house. I burn October into April depending on temps. I have my own poles and brush to clean the chimney. When I burned wood, I would clean out before the season every September. I do find bird bodies every now and then, plus I like to check the condition of the tile chimney and the cap to the chimney. I've been burning strictly coal for the last couple of years due to not finding any free trees to cut, but I still check the chimney every September. It's spotless bunring the coal compared to the wood. I'll be letting my stove burn out any week now and after I do, I'll take apart the pipes coming out of the stove leading to the chimney and clean those and block the hole in in the hearth from the pipe. If I don't take the pipes out, they will rust pretty good over summer from the humidity coming down the chimney. |
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<drinking> just stuff the pipe with paper and light it, that'll take care of your problems</drinking> I burn a mix of hard and soft woods, typically seasoned at least nine months, in the high desert. I run a creosote sweeping log (tm) every couple months, and sweep about the same. |
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Bump for the drunken St. Paddys opinions. i cand for this...... bcause the drinking moer than this will.... and This is the dude I'm listening to if he can get an opinion on chimney sweeping out before puking. New guys, keep an eye. This is how you get the most out of GD. Just have insurance. |
| You're ahead of the rest of the fireplace owners OP. Good work on staying up on it. As a firefighter, I can't tell you how many chimney fires I've responded to in 11 years. It's a lot. I think I would be in favor of getting it done in the fall, prior to use. That way, as you stated, there's no surprises in your chimney waiting for that first cold day's fire. Alternatively, you could have it cleaned in the spring, and do a visual inspection in the fall. |
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I do my own. Stainless steel multi-walled pipe. Installed right and has good draft.
Used to clean it 2 times a year, but found it didn't need it. Now once a year before first fire, nice to know no critters in there when trying to fire it up. No need to get in the roof on mine, all done from below with sectioned pole and brush, |