Due to events almost entirely in my control, and a lack of initiative when it was a better idea, I went to bed last night with a cold wood stove. This means that I got the pleasure of sweeping the chimney this morning when it was all the way up to about 22 F, and rather windy. Then I cleaned out the ashes from the last fire of winter 2017, and got the ash vacuum I bought two years ago on clearance for $20, out of the box and used it to help me find the cracks between the fire bricks so I could replace them all since most were broken. After I pried all of the broken bricks out, I visited tractor supply for a supply of unbroken bricks. the new bricks look great, but the first fire of the season felt even better, especially after the oil beast stopped growling in the basement. While I was scooping the creosote out of the base of the chimney, I discovered a fresh bloom on the rose bush next to me So I guess I wasn't the only one busy with ignoring important stuff and caught with my pants down by winter.
church dooryard from the roof of the parsonage. At least the parsonage roof has a hatchway so I don't have to climb a ladder to sweep the chimney!
Then just as it went pitch dark I dumped another great load of scrounged oak onto the mountain of rounds in my to be split pile
L Never knew Ridgid made a soot vac, how do you like it? That would be great for cleaning the ash from my fireplace.
I thought I was bad putting it off until last weekend. Just before it rained. Great to know I wasn't last. Kindling left over from last year is almost gone so gotta/should work on that tomorrow.
Read through this thread a bit earlier today and was feeling a bit guilty myself. So, I just got done unclogging a bath vanity drain that I have been putting off. The drain was slowing down, just enough to begin annoying you, but not bad enough to jump on it right away type of slow, you know? But now that it is done, big difference. I give up my seat at the procrastinators meeting!
I have a huge "to be split" pile, it's almost a year old!! I've just been too dammed busy to get to it...
Wow Rowerwet that is perhaps putting things off a bit too much! May next year be much better for you and you won't have to run that furnace to keep warm. Also it is always easier to clean the chimney when it is warm outdoors. Or perhaps one could do like I do and that is to leave the chimney cleaning to my wife! It works!
It works great for small amounts, I used it to remove the stuff I couldn't get with the ash shovel. It wasn't a great seller, the plastow store marked them way down because they wouldn't sell, I got mine in the later spring after they had already clearanced the last of the snow blowers
I work 40+ as an aircraft mechanic, and also pastor a church, I scrounge firewood to heat the parsonage so we don't have to buy oil. I was so carried away with all those downed trees just blocks from home, I waited a little bit too long on the chimney. You should see my pile of rounds now, if I keep it up the kids will have to play in the front yard!
Being a Pastor at a church is enough to keep you busy let alone a full time job. Do it while your young enough.
So quick didn't have time! Just a quick parts count and operational check, then pick yourself up and adjust accordingly.
