I have had a chimney cleaning service do ours the last two years for $125.00. Both times he said he felt guilty as it was so easy and so clean it only took a few minutes to do. They even said I should try doing it . So I bought a poly brush and rods, I check the chimney every week for any build up but there has not been much. This morning I decided to give it a cleaning anyway even though it did not look all that dirty. I watched them each time so I would know how to go about it. They first took a large plastic bag put the brush and first rod threw it then taped it around the bottom of the chimney . Well I tried this and failed as you can see in the picture below. The good part of this is I only got a few cups of powdery crud. What I would like to know is how do you guys catch the crud as it comes out . I am thinking of a bucket or pail of some sort to fit up to the bottom of the pipe with a hole in it to feed the rods up. Here is the crud that I got it missed the bag and on to the ground.
Don't feel bad, I clean my parent's chimney and the bag broke in their kitchen! Now I use a big, heavy duty bag and I use a ton of tape. I also make sure to hold onto the bag tightly around the hole that the fiberglass rod goes through.
Mine go's right in the stove after the baffle is taken out. But we do use a Burlap bag at my buddy's across the road. Works great and wont rip if hit with the brush. One of these would work also I imagine.
Why not lay something on the ground instead of trying to catch it as soon as it comes out of the vent? Just may have to clean up the ashes/soot on the ground a bit? That's ok.
I can't help you as I have to go top down with no cleanout. That looks like a very easy setup to clean indeed! Messy, but its a messy hobby we have here. If you get so little, I'd just wear a mask and let it fall into a bucket. If you are worried about messing up the new digs, just tape up some trash bags and pull them down when done.
Thanks for the replies I think the next time I will try a rubber bucket . Don't want to just let it drop to the ground as that is a patio and Jane does not like the stains it leaves on the concrete . If you want to be happy for the rest of your life keep the wife happy first .
I have to do mine inside the house. I use a heavy garden trash bag, which I put in place AFTER the brush is inserted into the pipe. There is always a little spillage, but the creosote is hard, not sooty, so cleanup with a shop vac is quick. (Remember to check that the cloth/paper filter is in place, not just the foam )
Looks good! I clean from the top down (that section of roof is flat) and I use a cool whip container that fits perfectly in the bottom portion of pipe at the flue. It catches everything that falls down the chimney when I brush. BONUS* You get to eat cool whip.
Methinks one would not want the neighbors too close! It is almost unbelievable how much he got from that chimney.
I just poke a hole through the plastic bag, then tape the heck out of the bag to the pipe. But when I poke the hole, I poke it to the side so that the majority of the soot falls down to the bottom of the bag and not through the hole. Good Luck...
That's a really nice looking install. I can see where that little bit is catching on your trim - don't want that soot getting on your nice Hardiboard shingles. Idea's that are coming to mind for a long term cleaning plan: Use a large band clamp(or two back-back) to fasten the bag - beats screwing with duct tape in the cold. Quick release would add a nice touch http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-hose-clamps/=w4211u Make or buy a piece of poly tubing (I'm thinking any woven industrial sack dog/cat/bird food) would work for several cleanings. Clamp the tube/bag in place and brush away use a 5gal bucket to catch the mess or keep the bag closed
I do the same as Chvymn99, never have a problem. Duct tape a heavy black trash bag to the box at ceiling level, after putting the brush in the chimney. Hole in the side just below the box, pull the end of the pipe down through it, attach other lengths and start cleaning. I'm doing it in the house, and never have any mess. You don't need a very big hole in the bag, and if you put it at the top, the soot just falls down into the bottom of the bag. I always feel a bit silly using a huge bag for the couple of cupfuls I get out of the chimney.....
