Chimney clogged

Installed a lopi cat insert a year ago. Wood is decent but lately I've had problems getting up to temps the last 2 days. As recently as 2 nights ago, cat temps were hitting over 1,000 according to cat thermometer probe.

I have to call a sweep and get the stainless liner swept and the chimney cap vents brushed off. Chimney is 25 feet up and roof is covered in snow so this won't happen this week. I'll watch what the sweep does and then get my own brush for next year. It will be something that I do once or twice a year from now on whether it needs it or not.

Insert is idle now since it's not producing any heat and opening the door is backpuffing smoke. I have alot of wood and am shut down for now. Live and learn.

 

Get a Sooteater, depending on your setup it might allow you to clean from the bottom up (through the stove)
Even if not, it's still a great chimney cleaning tool.
My guess is you have a plugged screen on your chimney cap, as you have surmised.

 

Got any pictures? A set of binoculars might help you see if your cap is clogged. I have had a similar problem with back puffing and have had to get on the roof to hit the cap with a wire brush. Quick remedy to the problem.

 

Thank you. I suspect this is my issue. Roof is covered with snow so nothing happening this week. I also looked into the sooteater. I need about 24 feet from the cap to the top of the insert so I'll likely buy an extra rod or two.

You guys really gave me great advice and now I know this will need a cleaning every couple months. That chimney cap will get gunked up over time so a brush to scrape it every few months will be needed.

 

Are you able to see the cap from ground level? I'd think you should be able to see if the mesh/screen and if it's clogged up.

 

You should give acs (anti creo-soot) a try it is a liquid you spray onto the fire and it keeps the creosote from building up.
I've been using it for years on a non-cat stove (which it can be used for as well) and I brush my stove pipe about every 3 years give or take.
No reason to do it sooner other than "feel good" after 3 years I push out about a coffee can of soot.

 

This happened to me when my wood was not dry enough.. also about 25’ chimney cap with wire mesh to keep birds/chipmunk etc out of chimney. Climbed ladder banged it on siding and it was good to go

 

Takes a ladder to get onto lower roof, 2nd ladder to get on taller roof, and a third ladder to get to cap...roof has snow on it. Don't want to get injured so i will wait out this week and I may have a sweep do this one and then plan preventative sweeps so it doesn't get clogged like this again.

 

Rent a man lift from the local rental place and get er done yourself, sooner for probably less than a sweep will charge. That's what I'd do if i were you.

 

Never use anti creosote stuff in a cat stove. Cats get ruined by it.

 

I agree with what's been mentioned.
My dad had this issue about a week ago. Since I have them 2 years ahead, he has perfectly dry wood (non cat insert) but still clogged the cap screen. Said his draft was significantly reduced, so he cleaned that off and everything was back to normal. Don't blame ya for not wanting to get up there.

 

Just to be clear, that screen can likely be cleaned by running a Sooteater up through there from the ground (again, depending on your setup)
Might not be perfect, but probably get it clean enough to make things work again

 

I had a house that did that. The chimney came up through the center of a two story chalet style house. It was 30' to the cap. Three years in to living there my wood was finally dry enough that it stopped clogging the cap. It also helps to start the fire off hot and run the temps up. I had a spot where I could look at the cap with binoculars to see if it needed cleaning. I would check it before a big snow storm was forecast. Good luck and hope you can find a work around.

 

Not highly recommended but I’ve got a 24’ extendable paint pole and have gently (or not) tapped the cap to knock it free in a pinch

 

Well, lots of good suggestions given.

But I am a redneck, I would think that a some rat shot/bird shot out of a .22 rim fire would knock some of that debris off …

 

A sooteater run up through the stove will have it solved in 10 minutes. Don't be surprised if a 25ft uninsulated liner in an exterior chimney needs a mid-season cleaning every year.

 

This is similar to what I do. Instead, I just cut down a really long, skinny tree (without many limbs) and use that to tap my screen. I have to do this a few times a year - especially in the fall and spring. The wet, foggy weather combined with a cooler fire likes to clog the screen.

Looks like you might be able to set up an extension ladder against the chase and use a really long stick to just tap the screen.

 

The sweep is here. He told me I should have this swept every 50 fires. I'm done with the sweep. Twice a year with me cleaning the cap and running a soot eater brush down will be the new routine.