Tis the season for inspecting your set-up!!

This. If my screen looks good I figure the flue looks good. However, if I get a nice warm day mid-season and there's no snow on the roof I might still take a peek just for reassurance sake.

 

I removed the screen when I had the cap off…

 

Inspected the screen/cap, and cleaned the chimney today.
Black ash, light and fluffy generally.
Some "family" burned less than seasoned wood, but the setup looked good.
The top of the wood stove got wet, so I might scrape and sand that briefly.
Otherwise im ready for winter, one more chore off the list this summer.

 

I have been thinking about it , winter is coming but no stove or chimney preparation has occurred here yet, I think I will wait till it's not 85 outside to crawl up on the roof

 

The other morning was cool enough for me to sneak up there.
I waited till September last year, but that's a little late to fix something if parts are needed.
We had a 62° morning, with a rainy day in front of us. Had it been too much cooler, I would have thought about a morning fire to take the chill off, maybe cook breakfast on.
That I haven't inspected my setup can't be a reason I choose not to have a fire though.
I should have dont that chore in May. Next year.

 

Winter is coming

 

I'll get up on my roof sometime around mid-September to do the cleanout. It's been 2 years since I'd last done it ( better wood = less cleanings ). I average around September 20th for a first fall fire. Other than that, I'm almost ready for another burning season

 

Both a new SS cat, from Condor, arrived yesterday. And a full gasket kit for the wood stove. I'll need to research what size/thickness goes where.

 

I just made an appointment with chimney sweep for this Friday morning.

I'll remove the stove top to access cat and insulation. The cat will be cleaned in diluted vinegar/water

I'll check all gaskets, which were replaced last year.

Can burning be all that far-away?

 

The sweep just left. All's looking good.

As he was getting set-up, he asked how much wood was burned since the last cleaning, which was last summer. I told him just shy of 4 cords. His eyebrows went up and mentioned the rule of thumb was a cleaning after each cord burned. I smiled and explained the 3-year program. He didn't become a believer until he opened his vacuum and there was barely a covering of soot/creosote in the bottom. I did ask if he started with it empty. He had. He commented to keep doing what we're doing. Oh, I intend to.

A couple of before/after








I'll let the cat soak for a few hours.

All set for another year.

 

Just got my oldest to drop the flame shield on my Buck 91 to check the CAT. No fly ash or clogging. Cleaned the chimney, should be ready to go! It's amazing to me that since going to a CAT stove that cresol isn't a problem anymore.
Won't be long until the snow starts flying!

 

Just got up on the roof a couple weeks ago and this is what I saw(yes, pre-sweep pic). 3 full seasons worth. I didn’t even get a full cup of stuff out of it.

 

After getting small birds in my stove on 3 separate occasions now, I finally smartened up today after sweeping my stove pipe. I’m also glad I checked everything out because it’s time to fix the seam where the pipe meets the roof.

 

I definitely had a little buildup on mine underneath the top especially. A little super clean, a wire brush and then scotch brite got it good again

 

The only reason I haven’t put one of those on mine is the frequency of needing cleaned. I’ve only had a bird nest in my flue once but that was pretty bad. Then I had a bird in the stove once. I really don’t want to but probably should.

 

Just had the stove chimney swept.

Same as past years. Bottom of vacuum had very little in it. 5he man said we could go with cleaning every other year. We'll stick to annual cleaning.

Soaking cat in water/vinegar mix before putting stove back together.

Don't forget your off-season cleaning/maintenance.