Safest bet was that I didn’t clean it. And it had accumulated quite a bit of soot…
…and so it was definitely time to give the stovepipe a good pre-winter scrub.
I used to be much more diligent about cleaning the stovepipe, to the point of neurosis, thanks to that early chimney fire. Different circumstances, different stove, very unlikely to happen again. Nowadays it’s just soot rather than creosote but still. It’s bad practice to neglect stovepipe cleaning.
And it’s a lot less of a hassle since I listened to some neighbors…
…who showed me that I could greatly reduce the mess by taping a trash bag to the pipe and working the brush through that. Thanks to lack of practice I still managed to make a pretty bad mess that took a while to clean up.
Of course the bottom section is way easier…
…since I can just take it outside, put it on the sawbuck and scrub to my heart’s content.
Saw the second pic and thought you were putting up halloween decorations. Maybe I should read the words before being distracted by the pictures.
Because it comes out of the chimney stack sideways, over the stove, I have to clean my chimney from the top. Unfortunately, last year the deposited creosote glued it absolutely full-stop stuck together, so I can’t get the cap off. I haven’t found *anything* that will dissolve, and I seem reduced to sawing it off with a hacksaw.
Am I the only one with this problem? Help!!
This seems to be a fair bit of work which, since I’m lazy, I’ve avoided by having gas heating backed up with a gas fireplace for when the furnace quits.
I’m surprised there aren’t easier ways to deal with the creosote buildup.
@ Malatrope – This may help…
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-creosote-remover/
I’ve used advice from his column several times with great results.
Thank you, Mr. Anonymous!
Malatrope – I have a similar thing that happens with the bee smokers I use to discourage wild bees from setting up housekeeping on the property where it’s not convenient. The smokers get a serious coating of pitch/creosote on the inside and around the lid. If I forget to leave the lid slightly ajar they can seal up good and tight once the fuel is consumed. I just use a bit of heat – propane torch – heat gun – blow dryer – and the pitch softens up and I can pry the lid open.
Thanks! Most of the products marketed to do this are preventers, not fixers. I will try heat. Unfortunately, I left it too long and there’s rain and snow to contend with now, but hopefully we’ll get at least one more day of dry/warmish weather.
Meanwhile, get out and vote, everybody! If the communist wins, we won’t be allowed to burn wood for heat anymore.
You’re welcome, Malatrope. Hope it works for you.
taking a lesson from the Little Prince and his volcanoes, even the inactive ones… something in what you wrote reminded me of the Little Prince and his volcanoes. A clean chimney means a cozy good night’s sleep.