I posted a few years ago about why chimney warmer was the best. Many commented and suggested various ideas. I chose to use a propane torch for about 3 minutes but my wife and kids wouldn’t be up for this. I would like to buys something I could just turn a switch. Anybody know of one I can just and what would be a good one? I have a 6” pipe inside.
Probably got into the same patch of weeds last time, but any permanent draft inducer that I've ever heard feedback on sounded like they can help, but tend to be spendy, and also cause some maintenance headaches too...there's no free lunch. I'll let others with first hand experience with them recommend (or not) specific brands/models...
www.amazon.com/Conair-Mid-Size-Styler-Dryer-White/dp/B001LQY1X4/ref=sr_1_19?crid=3USQJF0OOFFY0&keywords=hair+dryer&qid=1698024150&sprefix=hair+dryer+%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-19
Yes, that sounds good too! brenndatomu suggested it to me years ago (tall masonry chimney) and I had a similar one to this that was given to me but I never used, works great! Idk, without electricity. My youth was a newspaper rolled on an angle lit on the top, will have to figure something similar out since no newspaper here and them too.
Want something that works fast and costs nothing to acquire or operate? Try paper. Just takes a little bit.
yeah we always used the free local “news” paper too. It really doesn’t take much of a temperature differential to start the natural convection cycle.
Unless you have a chimney that seems to have a tendency to have "cold plugs"...those seem to benefit from the hair dryer/heat gun trick the most...paper just gets you smoke in the house often times. I don't have a chimney like that, but I have tried to light a fire in an open fireplace that seemed to have this issue often. I wish I would have known about the hairdryer thing back then, I bet it would have solved the issue instantly!
That’s fair Dave. I think the hair dryer idea is a great one. I can only speak to the stove side of things as I’ve never had to deal with an open fireplace. However, our stove was in the basement and was “difficult” to get the draft started on a cold stove. The trick was to put a bunch of semi crumpled newspaper in the stove and light it. Then close the door but leave it open just a crack. After a few minutes no smoke no fire but a warm stove ready to be lit as normal. Never had the smoke problem. I was just a kid when I learned this skill and it became one of my chores. At the risk of sounding like a there is something that offers push button-switch flipping convenience for those incapable or unwilling to learn how to start and run a stove. It’s called a gas furnace.
Have you considered replacing the 90 with 2 45’s ? Connector pipe. Cracking a nearby window for cold starts. These have surely been recommended in prior discussions?
