This used to be such a big deal; I had tarps everywhere and made a huge mess. Took longer to clean the cabin afterward than it took to clean the stovepipe.
People kept trying to tell me I was doing it all wrong, but what did they know? Every time, I lamented my inability to get up on the roof and clean the pipe from the top down, and then commenced to make a big mess cleaning it from the bottom up.
Anyway, I’m too old for that nonsense so now I’ve listened to better advice.
Lift the bottom section of the stovepipe on its coupler and slide the woodstove out from under it, then remove the section and take it outside…
Punch a little hole in a trashbag. Attach the brush to a pole section, slide the pole through the hole, and tape the bag to the hanging portion of the stovepipe. Add the necessary sections to the pole to clean all the way up to the pipe cap.
Go outside and clean the remaining section, then put it all back together. Vacuum up the tiny remaining mess. Miller time.
Tobie was very skeptical of all these unnatural goings-on, but eventually got with the program – which meant just getting the hell out of my way and letting me work. Good boy.
I suspect one of the qualities of wisdom is the willingness to suspend our pre-conceived beliefs and listen to those who have already BTDT.
Every Friday, my grandmother (maternal side) used to put a pound of black powder in the grate then cover the fireplace with a metal sheet then light the powder. Chimneys never needed sweeping… But that was 120 years ago in the Western Isles off the coast of Scotland. A modified approach might work for your chimney.
Probably a few ounces would work for you. As long as you do this weekly there is no chance at all of soot buildup in your chimney.
The object of the game should always be to work smart, not hard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPHeO1Tdv0w
Carbon footprint? Tvoyu mat’!
If you tried that here, they’d make you inject DEF!
How are D&L doing with their pellet stove cleaning? As I recall, that was quite a chore to do as well.
They’re fine with it. Got a low stool to replace the knee pad.