Hey Folks, I just got an endoscope to check my chimney pipe. I am going to check it out and if any build-up is minor I am thinking to do my own sweeping. I have been burning good dry wood so I don't anticipate much of anything. Does anyone have a recommendation on sweep brushes? I have a steel lined flue. Thanks
Depending on the liner size- a poly brush in that size with the extension poles. I've used the flexible extension pieces and I didn't really like them. Something like this: Amazon.com
I use a 6-inch brush like the link in RGrant's post except mine is metal and not poly. Simply put on a length of PVC pipe using the eyelet end of the brush , a hole drilled through the end of the pipe and a bolt secures the brush. My cleanout is simple since I live in a single story ranch I just go up on the roof, pop off the cap, send the brush down a couple times and done. Let it settle and then clean out anything from the stove. It takes me longer to get the ladder out than the actual cleanout. This gets done at least twice a burning season; once at the start and again roughly halfway through.
I'm not sure. It would not be too hard from the top. I have access to an extension ladder and am not afraid of heights. I am not sure what it would take to clean from the bottom.
I would highly recommend buying a soot eater. The head works like a weed eater. The head has thick weed eater string that you trim to the size of your stove pipe. It works with a corded or cordless drill. It comes with sections of flexible rods. I haven’t used my stove pipe brushes in years. The soot eater is way faster and the pipe is much cleaner than using a brush. I bought mine at Menards. They costs a hair more than a brush kit but it’s nothing compared to what it would cost a sweep to come out.
x2 These things are awesome. I always used manual brushes and switched up to this one last year. There's no going back now. The plastic strips are replaceable and look like weed eater line. They do a far better job than the brushes.
I bought one of those “soot eaters” this year but there were no instructions for trimming. What is the optimal length for an 8x8 square flue liner? I’ve cut the strings back some, but not certain what works the best? Thanks!
Another sooteater user here. I clean my liner from the bottom and it takes about 10 minutes. Whatever falls into the stove gets burned in the next fire. If you have a stainless liner, the general advice is to avoid metal brushes.
I second the soot eater, and not cutting the lines. No need and eventually they'll wear down to size - shortly after which I replace the lines.
Are the rods specific to the soot eater, or will the rods I already have work? They are the fiberglass screw together type (not sure of brand), but I don't have an end for the drill....
I have an all fuel 8" ID triple wall stainless chimney and clean it once a year in the summer with a poly brush and fiberglass poles (dry wood). I clean from the bottom and dug a shallow hole below the clean out tee which points down. I have three pole sections (3/8" diameter, not 1/4") with screw joints with a total length of 18 feet (chimney is 17'). All the joints were screwed together, tightened, and wrapped with duct tape when new to prevent the joints from scratching the chimney liner. Obviously, I carry the 18' pole from storage to the chimney and then screw on the brush. The poles can bend 90 deg with a 2 1/2 foot radius, i.e. the gap between the bottom of the chimney clean out and the bottom of the shallow hole is a little over 2 1/2 feet deep. The hole is less hassle than the 20 foot step ladder. I fish the brush/rod up the chimney until it pops out the top and, pull it back down and repeat until no soot is brushed off, around 3 strokes. My chimney is 25 years old, in near new condition, and exterior. I knocked down the old masonry chimney and installed the new one myself. I love the "new" chimney and it was the best $2,000 (yes, $100 per ft) I ever spent (and that was 25 years ago). Then... I fish a an 8' flexible hose from the clean out down the furnace flue pipe into the furnace firebox. Pulling the hose through the furnace reaches an attached (duct tape) rope which then pulls a second attached poly brush (duct tape) from the exterior clean out, down the furnace flue pipe, into the firebox. Last, I reach in with a long handle ladle (Amazon) to scoop out the fly ash at the bottom of the furnace flue pipe. Scrape all the fly ash into the ash draw and dump. The chimney is hooked up to a wood-coal hot air furnace in the basement. Obviously, I was inspired by that PBS Canadian TV show... i.e. the duct tape.
If you use the screwed rods, make sure your drill doesn't rotate the wrong way... It's a hassle getting the brush out of the flue if it disconnects. I do sometimes accidentally flip the direction - and am glad for the soot eater connections.
