I appreciate this video so much. After watching this video and hearing your clear instructions I had the confidence to clean my chimney. I am now feeling very proud of myself for solving a problem, saving money, and not being vulnerable to ignorance! Thanks!
Thanks for the video! You saved me from spending $140 for a professional cleaning! I found the chimney brush in my attic from the previous owner and only had to buy a new rod for $5 at Farm and Fleet. Took about an hour and was mess free.
Hi G Cis, You're Welcome, Thank you for your comment! I'm glad my video taught you a new skill, and saved you money!! Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
Thanks for posting this video. The chimney/pipe for my father's stove is simpler... no disassembly required. Your video has inspired me to take a closer look at ours to see what's involved.
Thank you for such an easily understood video. A late friend of mine claimed he used an old christmas tree to clean the stovepipes and chimney. I didn't have a wood stove then. I will try your way and maybe with more confidence using an evergreen.
You're welcome @KARIN WIECHMANN, I'm glad you found my video helpful! I certainly wouldn't recommend trying to clean your chimney with a Christmas tree; I can only think of that being a more difficult way of doing things! Best to use a proper chimney brush. It has been suggested by a few commenters that instead of using a steel bristle brush as shown in my video, a plastic bristle brush should be used to prevent the inside of the chimney from getting scratched up. I have never used a plastic bristle brush, so I can't say how well that works for cleaning the gunk from the chimney, but it's worth looking into. Also, when you have the pipe opened up, you should look up the chimney. If you don't see daylight at the top, you may need to go up on the roof to inspect it to see if a bird has built its nest there, and clear it away. Good luck cleaning your chimney; start early in the day and work slowly and carefully with the right tools and everything should go smoothly. Jon
My method works fine, and doesn't involve the dangers of climbing around on the sloped roof, trying to feed the brush down a chimney that extends 6 feet above the roof. You did bring up a good point, that the cap should be checked each time you clean. Thanks for pointing that out. Mine is never dirty enough to worry about because I don't use a screen, so I forgot to mention it. Once in a while a bird comes down the pipe, and gets into the house, but that gives the cat some fun, so no problem.
Hi Tim, Thanks for the tips! I'll have to look into getting a brass or nylon brush. I Installed the damper many years ago to have better control over the burn. It does what I need it to do, but most of the time I leave it open. It's been years since I cleaned the cat chamber... A bit of a pain in the butt. Seems to flow well, but I should get in there and clean it. I had no idea sweeps were that expensive now! Glad I know how to do it myself. Best Regards, Jon
Thank you! It has been 2 months and I still have no more smoke coming from the stove. It was so built up in the top of the stove that the smoke had no where to go but out the front. Thank you, again for such an awesome video!
Hi Michelle, Thank you for your comment and compliments. I'm glad my video was helpful for you and that your stove is once again working properly! Now don't ever let it get that gunked up like that again. Have a wonderful and warm Christmas! Jon
Jon That video was wonderful. It gave me the courage I needed and now the job is done with about as little mess as you promised. I live in Canada and burn 12 to 15 hours a day in the depth of winter. As we are just about to enter the winter, your advice couldn't have come at a better time. Regards Ted
+Ted Barnicoat Thank you for your comment and compliment! You have warmed my soul on this cold fall evening. Knowing that I've helped yet another person to become more resourceful is a great feeling!! Stay warm and safe this winter, and check out my other videos (and subscribe), when you have the time... Lots of good info there and more to come, soon. Best Regards, Jon
Thank you - we rent this house and a bird got into the stovepipe - your video gave me the knowledge to take the pipe apart and save the bird. :) While it was apart I cleaned all the gunk out. Yes, I use very technical terms! Now it's time to get the landlord to screen the top so the poor guys don't get in, in the first place! Thanks again!
Jane Waterman Hi Jane, Thank you for your comment. I'm so glad my video was helpful to you! Yes, I think the proper technical term for the stuff in the chimney is "crud", not "gunk" ;-> In all of my experiences with birds coming down the pipe, the critter finds his way into the stove and I just have to open the door so he can fly into the room. Then the cat has his fun chasing the bird around the house, until either he catches it, or I do. In the end, the result is always the same - The bird gets released back into the wild to tell his buddies about his exciting, and scary, experience! When I first got the stove, I had a screen around the chimney cap to prevent entry by thrill-seeking birds, but took it off after about a year or so because it would get gunked-up with crud that would restrict the airflow. I only get one or two birds a year, coming down the pipe, so it provides a bit of excitement on an otherwise ordinary day. While you're surfing around RUclips, don't forget to check out my other videos, and subscribe to my channel, if you wish. ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
ykostudio Thanks Jon - I wish it had been as easy as opening the door! I don't know how he got into the enclosed "space" at the top of the wood stove (again a technical term), but it seems he couldn't get into the part where the wood goes, hence the whole adventure in disassembling a stove pipe. The landlord has put mesh at the top to stop further ingresses from the local bird population - it's her call as to whether that accumulates too much "crud". :) Thanks again! :)
Great video and advice Thank you for sharing. Love the rubbish (trash) bag and elastic band idea. I'll be cleaning the flue of my canal boat's stove tomorrow and I'm going to try and use that idea by putting the bag inside the mutlifuel stove whilst I push the brush from the boat's roof end of the flue. Fingers crossed it will reduce the mess with my first attempt at this. Thanks again
+Alicia Oughton Thank you for your comment and compliment. I'm glad you found my video useful. Good luck with cleaning the chimney on your canal boat. I hope the bag in the stove idea works well. Let me know how it turns out by posting another comment, here. Your experience may help others who read these comments. Best Regards, Jon
WOW!! I really am #1 on Google!! I never knew. Thanks for telling me. I hope your cleaning went well, and that my video proved useful. If your chimney gunks up after one month, it could be an indication of a more serious problem, so you should check things out carefully. Also, stay away from soft woods, like pine, make sure the wood you burn is dry enough (well seasoned), and run your stove hot enough so you have less smoke going up the pipe.
+G14 G14 Thank you for commenting, I'm glad my video was of use to you! Check out our other videos for tips on Art/Crafts, Subaru Repair, and of course... Cooking! Naturally, you should subscribe so you'll know when the next video is online... And speaking of the next video (which I expect to finish tonight)... It's about how to make my mother's delicious Potato and Italian Sausage Stuffing Enjoy your Thanksgiving! Jon.
Hey,.... another trick my indonesian wife taught me for cleaning the glass is to dip a newspaper in water and then in ash and wipe your glass with that.... works like a charm... Matt H.
Hi Matt Hura, Thank you for your comment and alternate method for cleaning the glass! One thing about me, is that I strive for simple, easy, low mess procedures, whenever possible. That's why I like the razor blade method. Your wife's method is simple, and easy, but it seems the potential for mess is greater (I already have far too much mess in my life without adding to it). Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
Love the video..my husband paid a chimney sweep company to come to our house today and I was at work..I have a fireplace and wood burner in house and wanted to use them mind you I just bought this house a couple of months ago and I just inspected the fireplace 3 days ago and seen creosote built up everywhere and said I need to clean it before we burn and didnt inspect wood burner cause I knew it would need cleaned also anyways this company/man charged him $130! To clean the fireplace only I was so mad when he told me so I inspected the fireplace and there was sooo many spots he just didnt even touch and you could see what he cleaned and what he went around and left so now I have to go over the fireplace and now thanks to your lovely video on the wood stove ..you just my other cleaning project go alot smoother and simpler for me with your video thanks alot! Oh and I live in northern indiana just minutes from university of notre dame we have very cold winters bc of lake Michigan and lake effect snow so not sure if maybe thats why there so expensive bc they know they can get the money for chimney sweeping but I thought it was awfully high for doing half the job:/
Hi Kelsey, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it useful! Thank you for your comments. I don't honestly know what a good price is for cleaning a chimney; I haven't checked with the local sweeps here in southern NY since I got my stove back in the 1990s. I guess it all comes down to perspective - how much you can afford to have someone do the the job for you, and the quality of the work performed. Of course, if you are going to pay someone to do the work, you have every right to demand that it is done completely and correctly. I am warmed three times by my woodstove... First, from splitting the wood by hand, Second, by burning the wood, and Third, by the comments from nice folks like you who take the time to leave a comment on my video! Thank you, and stay warm and safe this winter! - Jon
ykostudio In my area (Greensboro, NC) going chimney sweep rates are about $100 to $120 per clean. I guess if I had the need to clean twice per season I could negotiate a lower price with him, but since my fireplace is only used for creating a nice ambiance in the room it only needs cleaning every few years. So a hundred bucks is worth it to me and not have to deal with the grime.
Hi Nikolai, I guess it depends on how you are set up. If you can't work from the bottom, you don't have a choice. If you have a choice and have a fear of heights, or you don't want to put yourself at risk of falling off the roof, or you just don't feel like pulling the ladder out of the garage, working from the bottom is the way to go. Also, the top of my chimney is 6 feet above the roof, so that makes things much more difficult up there. Thank you for your comment, Jon
, I got a crazy estimate of $250.00 to clean my 1 year old woodstove chimney, so i decided to research and find out how to clean woodstove chimney, and i Thank you! thank you! thank you!!! i just finish watching your very helpful video. I really appreciate your time and dedication to make this video... :-) good job!
Hi Kat, Thank you for your comment and compliment. I'm so glad you found my video helpful! $250? Yikes! When I got my stove in the mid 1990s it was about $50 here in southern NY state. As you now know, it's not a terribly difficult job. Just work slowly and carefully, and in about an hour or two you'll have your stove ready for the winter burn. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. Best Regards and Stay Warm, Jon
Margaret Mackey Thanks for your comment and update on the cost of chimney cleaning in upstate NY. My main gig is antique restoration, and it's very rare that the money I make (figured hourly) gets anywhere near that much, even though the skills required are far beyond that of cleaning a chimney! I'm glad you have found my video useful. Have a look at my other videos, for more useful tips around the house! ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
Cleaning mine today. Googled "proper woodstove pipe cleaning" and you were the #1 pick. Great video! Thanks for taking the time out to show people how to do it. I just took the brush from the roof down 1 month ago and I already have smoke billowing out from the stove. I didn't get a whole lot out of soot from the stove. So now I will do it your way.
Thanks,I really liked your video ! I do my job once a year but from the roof using weights from the bottom of polyester brush (same size as diameter of chimny) and rope on top. Then i take pipes apart and outside for cleaning, clean and check stove and back together. I must keep screen on or get doezens of birdis to free from stove. My cap doesn't need cleaning but replacing when burnt/corroded through.Thanks again .
Hi Les, Thank you for your comment and compliments! Sounds like you've got things well in-hand. I enjoy going up on the roof from time to time to take in the view, but local code requires my chimney to be too high for top-down cleaning to be practical, so I go from bottom up. I'm still using the original cap, and never had a problem with it, except with the screen clogging up in the beginning when I used a screen to keep the birds out. Without the screen, I only rarely get a bird in the stove, and then my cat gets some exercise when the bird gets into the house. After I remove the bird from the cat's mouth, I release it back into the wild to tell its buddies about its exciting brush with death. Stay Warm! - Jon
Thank you for your vid. After having a flue fire the other night 20/07, (first time ever), really scared the piss out of me. Nothing like being woken by a panicking woman and then trying frantically putting it out while only wearing boxer shorts and it's 3 deg cel outside. Sounded like a freight train roaring through the loungeroom.
Hi Brent McClay, You're Welcome, Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you found my video useful! Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
Another great way to clean the glass is to place a damp newspaper in the ashes and rub on the glass. Rinse then dry with either dry newspaper, paper towel or rag. Nice video.
@Alice Merchant - Thank you for your comment. Scouring the grunge off the glass using a damp newspaper dipped in wood ash, then rinsing and drying the glass is another way of cleaning the glass, but when carbon has been baked on, it does require some effort. I'm all about finding simpler and easier ways to get the job done, and using a razor blade is about the simplest/easiest way I've found to get the glass clean. Enjoy your Holidays! Jon
You're welcome, Carlos. Thank you for taking the time to let me know you found my video useful. Subscribe to my channel if you want to know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and by all means have a look at my other videos. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
Hi Joanne Turner, You're Welcome, Thank you for your comment!. Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
I should have put it in the video to check the cap with each cleaning. About 15 years ago, I used to get gunk on the screen around the cap, so I removed the screen. No more problem. Now, once in a while, a bird will come down the pipe and fly out into the house when I open the stove. Great fun for the cat!! After the cat catches the bird, I remove it from the cat's mouth, and release it back into the wild with a great story to tell its bird buddies!
40 or fifty bucks? I live in the North Ga mountains and guys won't budge on $175. I've just been squeamish doing it myself on getting the stove pipes back together as it has a 45 degree elbow in it...very fragile as well. Doing it today...finally. Thanks Jon.
Hi Ken, Thank you for your comment. $175?... Wow, how the value of the dollar has declined! Last time I checked prices on chimney cleaning was MANY years ago, so I guess I'm a bit out of date. Work slowly and carefully. If you have any mechanical skill, you'll probably do fine. If you have chimney parts that are fragile, this would be an excellent time to replace them... Just make sure you have everything you need before you start. Fragile is definitely NOT a word that should come up when you describe your chimney, as it performs such an important task in channeling the poisonous exhaust gases out of your home! Let me know how it turns out; I love hearing about people's successes! Good Luck! Jon
if you had the correct tools and vaccums you could sweep it from the top and clean the combustor out very easily. My statement is hands down accurate. Myself and every other sweep do this way everyday at 6 different houses. If homeowners are going to tackle this they need to not take the pipe down and do it from the top carefully.
If we do go from the bottom we use a spinning rotary system that can make 90 degree turns and go straight through the stove. We use a 3 motor hepa filtration vaccum to control the dust, not a garbage bag.
couple if tips 1 use a soft bristle brush the wire brush will remove the SS coating and thin the pipe. 2 Remove that pipe damper not needed. 3 clean the catalytic as well as you do your self you don't need liability. Most sweeps in y area that are legit cost around 150 to 200 to sweep the flue.
Hi & Thanks for the video. I have the Same Stove, and lately i has been pushing smoke into the room, a little, but any is unacceptable. While I have replaced the wire mesh on the chimney cap many times, Ive never cleaned the chimney. Now I'm thinking it's way overdue, although until this year the stove has worked beautifully. I describe it as my favorite appliance. I assumed I would be pulling down the damper and refractory box and catalytic element and cleaning from the rooftop, cleaning the chimney from top down, sending all that blackness into the firebox and removing it from there., I assumed I'd have to disassemble the back of the firebox, and get to that area. I've Never done it, and can't find a tutorial on it, but I have faith I can muddle my way through it. Hearing you suggest that any soot and creosote will burn off the catalytic element is surprising.... Do you Ever clean from the top down? It would save chimney disassembly effort and time, but add the complexity or having to remove all the soot from the stove...Any Pearls of Wisdom and Experience there? I'm also thinking maybe it's time to replace the catalytic element and am expecting to need repairs to the refractory bits. I hear, and have read, both of those parts wear out, and my stove is going on 35 years old, I've had it for 20, and I expect its never been done. They are expensive parts, and money is tight, but a new stove is out of reach. Thanks again,
Hi @freebuilder007, If you're pushing smoke into the room with the catalytic element not in use, and the stove doors open, or when you add wood at the top, it could be an indication that your chimney needs cleaning, or that a bird has built a nest at the top of the chimney. I clean the chimney from the bottom because I find it easier, and safer (I like that!). The top of my chimney is about six feet above the roof, which makes it more difficult to get to, plus there is the extra time and effort of hauling out the extension ladder and carrying a bunch of tools to the roof! I find that disassembling the bottom of the chimney and having the chimney grunge fall into a garbage bag saves time and effort and is a pretty clean process. The catalytic element should be cleaned from time-to-time because ash does accumulate. To get at the catalytic element on my stove, you must first remove the fireback. First, remove the hood on the fireback by rotating it up, and sliding it to the side. Then remove the two wedges (one on each side of the fireback) and pull the top of the fireback toward you. Then jockey the fireback around and remove it from the stove. Now you will be able to see the fiber housing that contains the catalytic element. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS PART!! It is VERY fragile, and easily damaged. Likewise, be careful handling the catalytic element as it is also very fragile. You can blow any ash off the catalytic element, and scoop or vacuum the ash from the catalytic housing and its exhaust ports. Yes, if the catalytic element and/or its housing are worn out or damaged, you will have to replace them if you want the stove to operate as originally designed. Take your time and be patient removing and replacing the fireback. It can be a bit of a chore, especially if things have warped a bit from the heat. Good Luck! Please feel free to come back and share your experience and insights, so others may benefit. Jon
+Jonathan Reid Thank you for the compliments, I'm glad you enjoyed my video and found it useful!! That old phone is kinda cool; I brought it home many years ago with visions of mounting it on the wall as a functioning conversation piece. Unfortunately, it has resisted all attempts to open it, so it just sits there and looks good. Every year, I think of putting it on eBay, but never get around to it. One of these days.... My wife and I have other useful videos here on RUclips for cooking, art, auto repair, and removing water marks from furniture ruclips.net/user/ykostudiovideos . Check them out, and if you feel so inclined, subscribe to my channel so you'll be notified when we put new videos online. Stay Warm and Be Well, Jon
I installed my stove/chimney, and did the job to conform to local codes, so the chimney has to be that high. I clean my chimney once or twice a year, as needed, and am careful not to create much dust, so very little is inhaled.
9:40 the sound produced from the brush scraping the inside of the chimney cut through my entire existence rendering me identical to a cat eating ice cream. Nice job though..I never seen it done from inside but makes sense to avoid the roof of ladders outside in god knows what weather conditions
@Stover Boyz - Thank you for your comment. So, the sound of the brush scraping the inside of the chimney cuts through your existence? Never bothered me, but then neither does the sound of fingernails on a black board! BTW, my cat loved eating ice cream! Yes, cleaning the chimney from the inside is by far simpler/easier/safer than climbing up on the roof and trying to feed the brush down a pipe that is as tall as I am! No fun trying to do that on a sloped roof during cold weather, and if there is snow on the roof... FORGET ABOUT IT!! Enjoy your Holidays! Jon
Good info. You should also be removing the baffle under the port to let the creosote fall through into the unit for safe removal. It will build up over time and clog the port, reducing air flow and causing smoke spillage. Have you made a video for that yet?
Thank you for your comment, @Scott Tadema. I haven't made any other wood stove videos, though I have given some thought to making one for removing the fire back and cleaning the catalytic chamber. Maybe in the future. The rest of my videos are related to cooking, cars, and art. You can find them by typing YKOSTUDIO in the Search box at the top of the page. Jon
Yes, I scooped out most that fell down from the bottom pipe. Didn't get it all, but I'm not too worried about that as long as it doesn't block the airflow.
I don't mean to sound rude but I've done chimney sweeping now for about 5 years now and I can say you don't want to use a chimney brush that has metal brisels on it you want to use a brush that has plastic brisels so it doesn't scratch the protective coating that is lined down the pipe allowing more creosote to build up.
You're not being rude, at all, Dillan! It sounds like good advice, and others have also mentioned it. At the time I made this video (and when I bought my gear) I was not aware of plastic bristle brushes.
Hi WolekZ, You're Welcome, Thank you for leaving a comment! Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
+Craig Bodeker Thank you for your comment. Glad you like the video. $160 is a great deal?? Yikes!! No wonder the Sweeps who have commented here don't like my video. I wouldn't recommend steel wool for cleaning the glass. Too much chance of scratching the glass, though the use of Windex or some other mild solvent makes sense for softening the carbon build-up. I still think using a new razor blade, as shown (or with Windex), has the best chance of cleaning quickly without scratching. Best Regards, Jon
poke a hole in the bag near the top and slide the handle down through it. slightly more annoying to get down at the end but even less fiddling about while you are working at the ceiling.
@clayton leal - I've heard this suggestion before, but the way I do it works well for me. My method isn't written in stone. It's merely a suggestion on how to do it and save the expense of hiring a sweep to come in and do it for you. Do what works best for you. Jon
To James Bryce - For some reason RUclips isn't allowing me to reply directly to your comment... Anyway, Thank you for the comment. I'll try to answer your three points - 1) Why don't I just drop out the baffle in the stove? Apparently, you don't know this stove (Vermont Castings Defiant Encore). Are you referring to the "inner door" that gets closed when you want to direct exhaust through the catalytic chamber? That opening is too small to fit the brush, and even if it would fit, pushing the rods up that way would be very difficult. Much simpler to remove the section of chimney and go from there. Much safer to do it from in the house than from up on the sloped roof. 2 and 3) Never hiring anyone/Insurance concerns/Hire a pro. If I needed to hire someone, I would. This isn't rocket science! It's a simple process that the average handy homeowner can perform. Why should I pay someone to do what I can easily do, myself? Nobody is going to burn their house down by cleaning the woodstove chimney. In fact, cleaning the chimney pretty much eliminates the possibility of a chimney fire. You sound like a "Nervous-Nellie", but I'm guessing (based on your profile photo) that you're a fear-mongering chimney sweep. Don't worry, I don't think you'll lose too much business. There are plenty of folks out there who just don't want to bother and would rather pay to have it done for them. My video is for those who want to do it themselves and could use some good advice on how. It's also for those who want to keep their chimney clean and safe, but can't afford to have it done for them. Better that they do it themselves, rather than putting it off and risking a chimney fire. Best Regards, Jon Olson TRGTC
Burning wood stove for about 40 years . Get a stove with a removable baffle,don’t need to remove the pipe . What a mess . I clean my chimney the first of each month ,same time remove the door and clean the glass( cheap oven cleaner) .l burn low and slow or it will run out house .Clean the chimney and glass in about 30 minutes.You don’t want a build up in your chimney. A chimney fire can burn your house down.l keep a clean wood burning stove in a clean house no smoke or dust ,you do need to work at it to keep the area clean . I have a ash scoop with a lid,clean out hot or cold no smoke or dust ! Stay safe, stay warm!
@Pat Cornwell - Sorry for the delayed reply. Those are good suggestions. My Vermont Castings Defiant Encore stove has a lid with a handle for the ash pan which makes getting rid of the ash a pretty clean affair, but the only way to clean the pipe without climbing up on the roof is to remove the bottom section of pipe as shown in my video. Jon
This is a very helpful video. Thank you. I'm doing this tomorrow and would like to know if I should be concerned about the creosote that will collect on the plate which separates the interior of the stove and the flue. I'm guessing this will naturally safely burn away?
Hi Troens Spring, Thank you for your compliment and question. I'm sure the Professional "Sweeps" will tell you that none should be left to burn, and that is certainly best. When I clean my stove, I do my best to leave as little as possible behind, but there is always some that escapes me, and it hasn't caused me any problems. If there is only a very small amount you should be OK, but I would try to get as much out as possible just to be on the safe-side. Subscribe to my channel if you want to know when I've posted new videos (I will be making some soon), and by all means have a look at my other videos. This link should take you to them - ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Best Regards, Jon
Hi Brian, Thank you for the compliment. Compare the pellet stove brushes to the larger wood stove brushes. If the only real difference is the size, and what they call it, you should be good to go. At worst, you may have to buy the wood stove chimney brush closest to the size you need, and then cut it down to size. If you do this, the brush should fit snugly (slightly over-size) into the chimney. You don't want a "perfect", or loose fit because it won't clean as well. Please leave a follow-up message to let everyone who reads this know how it turns out. Best Regards, Jon
When cleaning the pipe right above the stove, and your pushing the dust down into the stove, did you have to take off the baffle inside so the dust can travel down?
Hi @Richie Sun, For cleaning the 3 feet of pipe right above the stove I remove the damper so I can run the brush down the pipe. These days, I have a piece of cardboard inserted at the bottom to catch the crud that comes loose. From time-to-time I open up the back of the stove to clean out the ash that accumulates there. It's not something that needs to be done every time, but it does need to be done occasionally to get rid of ash that might block the exits from the catalytic element box. Jon
I have 2 90's in my section of pipe. One 90 bends into the wall, the other comes out of the stove. How do I clean the section of the pipe and reattach to the ceramic collar on the wall to get an airtight fit?
Hi Josh, Unfortunately, I have no experience with pipe connections like yours. If anyone else who reads this has info they can share, I hope they will do so. If you look through the previous messages, I know there was one from a nice fellow named Travis Nelson who is learning to be a sweep. He might be able to give you some pointers. Since I have not seen your setup, I can't even guess what you might need to do, and I certainly don't want to give you bad advice. You may have to get a professional sweep in there once, to see how he does it. Once you know how it's supposed to be done, you may be able to do it yourself. If you decide to do it without seeing it done first, just remember to work slowly, carefully, and patiently... and search for more info online. If frustration sets in while you're working on it, take a break to cool down and think about it. I wish I could be more helpful, but that's about it. Please leave a message to let everyone know how things turned out, and any insights you may have learned. Good Luck! Best Regards, Jon
Good video! I just wanted to share a better way to clean the glass. Just take a wet paper towel and dip it into the ash and then rub the ash on the glass. It will turn all black, but all you have to do is wipe it off. It’s super easy. No scrubbing needed.
I don't recall if I ever mentioned this... If you have a wood stove that can be used with the doors open with a screen (like a fireplace) and you want a romantic fire that pops and crackles, I've found that Cedar works really well. Just make sure you don't leave the stove unattended like this, as embers can still get through the screen and cause problems like burn marks on the floor or, at worst, a burned house. Be safe, and stay warm. Jon
hunter smith Hi Hunter, Why is it "very stupid" to occasionally burn a little Cedar in a wood stove? I usually burn hardwoods like Oak, Ash, etc, but for special evenings when a noisy fire adds to the mood, Cedar works well.Best Regards, Jon
hunter smith Cedar unless it has been treated with paint or oils or anything does not produce toxic fumes,the reason one should try not to burn cedar is because it is very inefficient and also burns explosively/Very hot and can over fire, cedar does have some natural oils but I do not think it has been proven to be toxic, it is great as kindling but I would not burn cedar as my main species
Hi, is it possible to measure for a poly brush when taking the stacks off from the inside. Everything I've read says to measure from the roof top. I live in a two story house and the roof top is not a friendly place to be.
Hi Z Modo, Thank you for your question. Measuring the diameter of the chimney (to determine the brush size you need) should be no problem from the bottom, if you're using a steel pipe chimney as the diameter will probably be the same at the top, as the bottom. If instead you're trying to figure out how many brush rods you need, in order to run the brush all the way up the chimney, that shouldn't be too hard. If you have a steel tape-measure that is long enough, you could run it up the chimney until it hits the top cap. It really shouldn't matter where you measure from, as long as you can get a good measurement. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Jon
Just a thought... Next time make a small hole in the bottom of the bag and feed the rod through then attach the brush to the rod inside the bag. Feed the brush up and pinch the bag where the rod feeds through the bag and brush up and down.
Hi @Cole Galbraith, Thank you for the suggestion. I think someone else suggested the same thing a while back. The only problem that I see with it is that, when you're done, you have a hole in the bottom of the bag that now contains much carbon and creosote dust. Good chance of leakage, and an unhappy wife!! If you do it that way, and it works for you, then keep doing it that way. Again, Thanks for the input! Jon
Hi Raven, If you prefer to do it that way, go right ahead. I've never had a problem with leakage, and it feels to me that your way involves more work, and more potential for dropping a bag full of soot while removing the brush from the rod to get the rod out of the bag.
Great video. What you just did would probably take me 4 hours. Id gladly pay someone $50 to do it for me. We all have our strengths, chimney sweeping is not mine, for sure :)
Thank you for your comment, @jac city. Nothing wrong about hiring a professional sweep to clean your chimney, if your budget allows it! The important thing is that you keep your chimney clean, so your stove works at its best, and to greatly reduce the risk of a chimney fire. Stay Warm! Jon
+lockodonis Thank you for your question. A good resource for this type of thing is www.rubberband.com According to their website, you can find supersize rubberbands (which should work for this purpose) at Walmart and Target, though you will probably have to order them. If you have any other questions, please let me know. Best Regards, Jon
ykostudio thanks for the quick reply, to be honest I was trying to be funny with the elastic band thing/broccoli thing....but alas I've failed on that count, 😔..... but regardless of that, great video and I got some great tips...... cheers from the uk .. 👍
Ahhh, very dry British humor... I guess I should have known, but I didn't recognize your accent. I'm glad you liked the video, and that it provided some useful info for you. Feel free to check out (and comment on, if you llike) my other videos. You can find them at ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio Be well, and come back anytime, Jon
I put a woodstove in my house a year ago. I used it part of last year and all of 2018. It started smoking in 18, so I figured the chimney was getting clogged. I ordered a drill driven spinner brush, and prepared to get dirty. When I took the stove apart, I was shocked a how heavy the interior pieces of pipe were. They weighted a ton. I found out why. They were packed full of black stuff. And the chimney was packed clear through the roof! Its not far, but it was packed. And my stove was packed too. Its very small, one of those 1 or 2 loggers. Just wondering why its this way. Green wood? Previous owner never cleaned the chimney? I know it was the worst I d ever seen. The crap that came out of it filled 9 plastic grocery bags and I dumped some of it outside. The 9 bags was in the stove and brick flue through the attic. Any ideas as to why?
on stainless or steel chimneys use poly brushes not steel. You can get a bag of file rubber bands for about 2.50 at Walmart that work great. Does the pay phone work?
Thanks for the suggestion of poly brushes. Sounds like a good idea. Thanks, also, for the source of rubber bands. The pay phone doesn't work as-is. I haven't been able to get it open without fear of destroying the case.
Hi Lemony, I use two 6 foot rods and an 8 inch diameter steel brush. I got them back in the 1990s from a local hardware store and don't remember the brand. I have heard that the poly brushes are less likely to damage the surface of the inside of the chimney (I haven't tried one yet), so you might want to try a poly brush first and if it doesn't do a good enough job, get a steel brush. The Defiant Encore is a nice stove. I'm glad I bought it. Once in a while you should remove the fire-back and check/clean the catalytic chamber. I haven't opened mine in years, because everything seems to be working fine. To remove the fire-back on mine, I remove the hood at the inside back of the stove, then remove the two wedges (one on either side of the fire-back). The fireback can then be tilted forward and removed, exposing the catalytic chamber. The material of the chamber and catalytic honeycomb element inside it are easily damaged, so Be Careful! Merry Christmas, Jon
Do you think the brush would get hung up on the screw's that hold the chimney sections together? Mine is 12' long from the top of the stove to the ceiling. multi section 8" chimney with 4 screw's per section.
Hi Trophy 205, 4 screws per connection?? That' seems like overkill. My stove has only 1 screw per connection on the single wall pipe (not sure about the double wall). Anyway, I don't think the brush will get hung up... The bristles should bend and go around the screws. Best Regards, Jon
@Laurie Borbon - Thank you for your coomment. I'm glad my video has helped you. Also, please make certain that the top of your chimney is clear of bird nests or other obstuctions. A clean chimney is a good thing, but a clog at the top will still cause problems! Enjoy your wood stove...It's a wonderful thing! Jon
@Skinny 717 - I used to use a wire mesh around the cap, but it would collect gunk, and I don't enjoy taking it off to clean it, so I did away with the mesh. Unfortunately, that means that occasionally a bird will build a nest at the top of the chimney that needs to be removed to keep things safe, but that doesn't happen often. From time-to-time a bird will come down the chimney and get trapped in the stove, which can be a bit of a hassle now that I no longer have cats. In the past, I would let the bird out into the room and one of my cats would hunt it, and catch it. Then I would just have to remove the bird from the cat's mouth and send it out the front door to fly off and tell its buddies about its brush with death! Jon
Hi Hector, If I remember correctly, it was probably about 4 months or so. Generally speaking, you should clean your chimney at the beginning of the season, and during the season if you feel the stove isn't burning as well as it should (or if smoke comes into the room when you open the door of the stove to add wood).
I use a large 26 or 30 pound empty dog food bag. Poke a hole in the bottom of it with your pole place the end of pole through the hole and open mouth end around the pipe with brush up through pipe and walla no mess.
Hi +Ellen Robinson, Thank you for your comment, and for sharing your method of using an empty dog food bag to catch the soot. Do you attach the bag to the pipe? How? To my mind, I think that size bag might be a bit larger than needed for the job, and though strong and durable, might be a bit stiff to work with. Also, when removing the rod, do you find that you need to use extra care to prevent leakage from the hole in the bag, or from soot attaching itself to the rod? When I first started cleaning my own chimney, about 20 years ago, I considered putting the rod through the bag as you do, but decided instead to use the method shown in the video, because it eliminated the need to seal up that hole when done... I'm big on eliminating extra steps, whenever it's practical to do so. In the end, if you're satisfied with how well your method works for you, that's really all that matters. Again, thank you for sharing. Please feel free to check out my other videos at ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio and Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos. Best Regards, Jon
No need to attach it to anything. Just insert your rod through the bottom of the bag and push the top opening of the bag to the ceiling and clean out your metal stove pipe. All the soot and dust falls into the bag and when you get ready to pull your brush out it goes into the bag too and you walk it all outside. The stiffness of the bag helps to keep the mess all inside the bag.
Hi Ellen, Thanks for the follow-up. It sounds like your method works well for you, and in the end that's really what matters; finding a method that works well, and that you're comfortable with. Be Well, Jon
In NY Long Island the job costs $180 bucks. I am doing it myself tomorrow thanks to your video. I see your bristles are metal I was recommended to use polymer plastic bristles. Will I destroy my flue with metal? Mean this opens it up for rust on the inside, right??
@RWHEEL FUN - I'm glad to hear that my video is helping you save money on the upkeep of your stove! Take some of that $180 and go out to a nice dinner, or better yet, watch some of my cooking videos, then take some of that $180 to the supermarket, buy what you need, and make a delicious meal at home! As far as the brush material is concerned - When I bought mine, metal was what was available. I'm told (and it makes sense) that a plastic brush is a more gentle way of cleaning your chimney and presents less chance of damaging the inside of the chimney. I think a metal brush will probably clean off the stuck-on creosote better than a plastic brush, but the plastic brush may work well for you; I've never tried using one. Good luck with cleaning your chimney! Work slowly and carefully. Jon
@OhNo Trejo - I have never used those creosote cleaning logs they sell in the stores. I have been curious about them, but never did any research on them, since I can clean my chimney easily enough with a brush. You said that you have one, and are going to try it. Please post again to let me know the result. Jon
+leapingfeather For some reason, your comment doesn't have a Reply option, so I must reply here, in a separate comment... I'm so glad my video was useful to you, and helped you to learn a new skill. Your comment has brightened my day!! Best Regards, Jon
Good Sweep job sir ! Vermont castings Defiant Encore is an older model V/C. Now they just make the Defiant or the Encore and others but they do not call it the Defiant Encore. This stove does not have a baffle, it has a combustion box and if he was to sweep the chimney from the top without removing the pipe he would have plugged the combustion box and removing that Box which is made of light weight ceramic is not easy, you got to pull the whole damper assembly and the walls of the stove. You do need to access the front of the box which is not too hard to get to the Cat, some of these Defiant Encore's have two wedges on the floor on the left and right side you can knock upward and then pull the fireback out, some of these stoves have a steel flapper just above the fireback that has to come out first and then just pull out the cat and Vacuum inside the combustion box very gently, you do not want to damage that box and it can be very easy to damage it . . . .also I have seen sweeps damage this box by sweeping this stove from the top down without removing the pipe.
Anthony Saponaro Hi Anthony, Thank you for the compliment, and for sharing your knowledge of this stove. Yes, mine has the very fragile secondary combustion box with catalytic behind the fireback, the flapper above the fireback, and the two wedges that secure the fireback in place. It's always a chore to clean back there because the fireback is such a snug fit on my stove, and the box has become even more fragile with age. I do mention in the video to be very careful not to damage the box when sweeping the lower pipe. Early on, I did have to take apart the inside of the stove to repair a defect....No fun at all! Best Regards, Jon
My dad taught me an easy way to clean the glass on wood stoves. Take newspapers, paper towels or such, dampen them, dip them into the soot and rub on glass. Lye is made from ash/soot and so the ash is very effective at cleaning the glass. Even the stubborn stuff comes off. Finish up by polishing with a clean cloth. No dangerous razors blades, no expensive wood stove glass cleaners.
Hi Linda, Thank you for sharing! Years ago, I used dry newspaper to clean the glass, but never tried your method. I prefer the blade because it creates the least mess and is FAST, but certainly, do what works best for you. I seem to recall a recipe for curing olives that involved putting them in wood ash. Happy Thanksgiving!
Not supposed to use metal brush on metal liner makes scratches and easier for creosote to start bonding to the liner and harder to get it off plastic rotary brush is better
Thank you for your comment, @ryan keane. Not using a metal brush has been mentioned a couple of times in the comments, below. Too bad I didn't know that all those years ago when I bought the chimney cleaning equipment. Switching to a plastic brush at this point would probably be like closing the gate on the corral after the horse ran off, but it's good to have it mentioned here in the comments for others to learn from! Jon
I've noticed that if you want the glass clean, just burn the stove hot for a bit and the glass clears up. And, do you know anyone that uses those chemical logs that are made to clean out the chimney by just burning it in the fire with success?
@Rusty Baxter - Yes, running the stove hot can help to keep the glass clear. I have never tried the chemical chimney cleaning logs, and don't know of anyone who has, so I can't offer an opinion on how well they work. Jon
@Hi-Level - I guess you would use additional extension rods on the brush. I use two rods, each about six feet long, when I clean my chimney. For a seven meter (about twenty-three feet) chimney you would need four of these rods. Jon
@Ripp Snortin' - Thank you for your comment. NOT easier, more difficult! Cleaning the chimney from the top involves putting up the extension ladder and climbing up on the sloped roof, then removing the chimney cap and dealing with feeding the brush down the chimney (the top of the chimney is about 6 feet up from where it comes through the roof). MUCH easier and more comfortable to work in the warm house, and no worries about the possibility of falling off the roof! Of course, it IS necessary, from time to time, to get up on the roof and clean out the chimney cap if a bird has decided to build a nest in it, but that doesn't happen all that often! Enjoy your Holidays! Jon
I cleaned my chimney 2 days ago but I still have a layer of "glazed creosote" that I can't remove it go's up the chimney about 4 feet, the rest of the chimney is very clean. Is it ok to use the chimney as it is ? It is a block and tile 12"x 8" chimney and I use it for my wood stove. I tried my best to remove this stuff but it's like solid rock.
Hi Joseph Maximus, Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with your "glazed creosote" problem. If you have been using your wood stove without any problems so far, I would guess that it's probably OK if you don't run the stove too hot, but you should search Google for more info, just to be sure (better safe than sorry). This also may be a situation where speaking with a professional is a good thing. Is it possible that the glaze is just a discoloration of the tile caused by heat? If you find a definitive answer to your question, please take a moment to post it here so others can benefit from your new knowledge. Sorry I couldn't give a better answer. Jon
I am learning the trade from a 35 year chimney sweep expert at the moment and we came across this issue yesterday. The first 5 feet coming out of the stove were a baked on glaze. After asking my trainer the expert, he said that it wasn't really an issue unless it was so thick that it obstructed the airflow considerably (which he had never seen anything that bad in his 35 years) The glaze really isn't a fire hazard, its the foamy creosote that will create a chimney fire(kind of reminds me of a brittle black sponge). If you use a hair dryer/propane torch/ burn some uncrumpled newspaper initially to get the cold air that's in there flowing up and out of the chimney before starting a nice brisk fire this will stop a lot of buildup and possibly reduce the buildup that is in there already. Also, be sure to clean the chimney cap as well.
+Joseph M Glazed creosote is very dangerous and difficult if not impossible without calling in some 'professional help". That stuff can get pretty thick and needs to be removed before there's a fire. Seems to be that someone has been trying to make long-lasting slower fires and not using well-seasoned wood. I don't know what kind of stoe you have, but this problem should be taken care of before heating season comes. Be safe.
@Ryo Johnson - Thank you for your comment. Yes, the damper in the chimney pipe is unnecessary. I installed it early on as an experiment to further control the airflow and see if I could extend the burn time after I got a good fire going. Enjoy your Holidays! Jon
Hi Tiger, Thanks for your question. Back when I bought the stove, in the late 1990s, I didn't know much about these things and figured it wouldn't hurt to have something that told me how hot the inside of the chimney was. The price was right (it was on clearance sale), so I bought it. Over time I came to realize that I really didn't need it after all, but left it attached to plug the hole. I haven't used it in over 12 years. Best Regards, Jon
I prefer to do it from the roof if at all possible. Don't have to disassemble the dirty pipes. Don't have to breath the creosote dust, etc. I notice you were sniffing a lot. Hope you don't have sinus problems. Breathing that gunk will cause it. I understand your chimmney is too tall to reach well, personally I'd have it lowered if my draw was adequate.
@Johnathan Ross - Cleaning from the top isn't an option for me; the top of my chimney is about 6 feet above my sloped roof. MUCH more difficult getting out the ladder, climbing onto the roof, and trying to send the brush down the pipe while trying not to fall off the roof! Cleaning from the bottom is safer, easier, and there is very little chance of mess if done carefully! Jon
There are still nice people on the planet willing to share their knowledge with others. Thanks.
@maestrovso - You're welcome. Thank you for your comment.
Jon
Thanks for the compliment, I'm glad you liked it.
Stay warm,
Jon
You're welcome, happy that you found my video helpful. I hope the cleaning went well.
I appreciate this video so much. After watching this video and hearing your clear instructions I had the confidence to clean my chimney. I am now feeling very proud of myself for solving a problem, saving money, and not being vulnerable to ignorance!
Thanks!
Jennifer 😭😭😭😭
Same here! Tho i won't get to mine until later this week. But I feel clear about it.
Thanks for the video! You saved me from spending $140 for a professional cleaning! I found the chimney brush in my attic from the previous owner and only had to buy a new rod for $5 at Farm and Fleet. Took about an hour and was mess free.
Hi G Cis, You're Welcome, Thank you for your comment! I'm glad my video taught you a new skill, and saved you money!!
Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other
videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them -
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Best Regards,
Jon
Stodoys is a solid company with solid woodworking plans.
@Cravens Boughner - What has this got to do with cleaning wood stove chimneys?
Jon
Thanks for posting this video. The chimney/pipe for my father's stove is simpler... no disassembly required. Your video has inspired me to take a closer look at ours to see what's involved.
+ashemoski Thank you for your comment. I'm always happy to hear that my videos have helped others!
Best Regards and Stay Warm & Toasty,
Jon
You're welcome. Glad you liked it.
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Thank you for such an easily understood video. A late friend of mine claimed he used an old christmas tree to clean the stovepipes and chimney. I didn't have a wood stove then. I will try your way and maybe with more confidence using an evergreen.
You're welcome @KARIN WIECHMANN, I'm glad you found my video helpful! I certainly wouldn't recommend trying to clean your chimney with a Christmas tree; I can only think of that being a more difficult way of doing things! Best to use a proper chimney brush. It has been suggested by a few commenters that instead of using a steel bristle brush as shown in my video, a plastic bristle brush should be used to prevent the inside of the chimney from getting scratched up. I have never used a plastic bristle brush, so I can't say how well that works for cleaning the gunk from the chimney, but it's worth looking into. Also, when you have the pipe opened up, you should look up the chimney. If you don't see daylight at the top, you may need to go up on the roof to inspect it to see if a bird has built its nest there, and clear it away. Good luck cleaning your chimney; start early in the day and work slowly and carefully with the right tools and everything should go smoothly.
Jon
My method works fine, and doesn't involve the dangers of climbing around on the sloped roof, trying to feed the brush down a chimney that extends 6 feet above the roof. You did bring up a good point, that the cap should be checked each time you clean. Thanks for pointing that out. Mine is never dirty enough to worry about because I don't use a screen, so I forgot to mention it. Once in a while a bird comes down the pipe, and gets into the house, but that gives the cat some fun, so no problem.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the tips! I'll have to look into getting a brass or nylon brush.
I Installed the damper many years ago to have better control over the burn. It does what I need it to do, but most of the time I leave it open.
It's been years since I cleaned the cat chamber... A bit of a pain in the butt. Seems to flow well, but I should get in there and clean it.
I had no idea sweeps were that expensive now! Glad I know how to do it myself.
Best Regards,
Jon
Thank you! It has been 2 months and I still have no more smoke coming from the stove. It was so built up in the top of the stove that the smoke had no where to go but out the front. Thank you, again for such an awesome video!
Hi Michelle, Thank you for your comment and compliments. I'm glad my video was helpful for you and that your stove is once again working properly! Now don't ever let it get that gunked up like that again.
Have a wonderful and warm Christmas!
Jon
Jon
That video was wonderful. It gave me the courage I needed and now the job is done with about as little mess as you promised. I live in Canada and burn 12 to 15 hours a day in the depth of winter. As we are just about to enter the winter, your advice couldn't have come at a better time.
Regards
Ted
+Ted Barnicoat
Thank you for your comment and compliment! You have warmed my soul on this cold fall evening. Knowing that I've helped yet another person to become more resourceful is a great feeling!! Stay warm and safe this winter, and check out my other videos (and subscribe), when you have the time... Lots of good info there and more to come, soon.
Best Regards,
Jon
Thank you - we rent this house and a bird got into the stovepipe - your video gave me the knowledge to take the pipe apart and save the bird. :) While it was apart I cleaned all the gunk out. Yes, I use very technical terms! Now it's time to get the landlord to screen the top so the poor guys don't get in, in the first place! Thanks again!
Jane Waterman Hi Jane, Thank you for your comment. I'm so glad my video was helpful to you! Yes, I think the proper technical term for the stuff in the chimney is "crud", not "gunk" ;->
In all of my experiences with birds coming down the pipe, the critter finds his way into the stove and I just have to open the door so he can fly into the room. Then the cat has his fun chasing the bird around the house, until either he catches it, or I do. In the end, the result is always the same - The bird gets released back into the wild to tell his buddies about his exciting, and scary, experience!
When I first got the stove, I had a screen around the chimney cap to prevent entry by thrill-seeking birds, but took it off after about a year or so because it would get gunked-up with crud that would restrict the airflow. I only get one or two birds a year, coming down the pipe, so it provides a bit of excitement on an otherwise ordinary day.
While you're surfing around RUclips, don't forget to check out my other videos, and subscribe to my channel, if you wish.
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Best Regards,
Jon
ykostudio Thanks Jon - I wish it had been as easy as opening the door! I don't know how he got into the enclosed "space" at the top of the wood stove (again a technical term), but it seems he couldn't get into the part where the wood goes, hence the whole adventure in disassembling a stove pipe. The landlord has put mesh at the top to stop further ingresses from the local bird population - it's her call as to whether that accumulates too much "crud". :) Thanks again! :)
Great video and advice Thank you for sharing. Love the rubbish (trash) bag and elastic band idea. I'll be cleaning the flue of my canal boat's stove tomorrow and I'm going to try and use that idea by putting the bag inside the mutlifuel stove whilst I push the brush from the boat's roof end of the flue. Fingers crossed it will reduce the mess with my first attempt at this. Thanks again
+Alicia Oughton Thank you for your comment and compliment. I'm glad you found my video useful.
Good luck with cleaning the chimney on your canal boat. I hope the bag in the stove idea works well. Let me know how it turns out by posting another comment, here. Your experience may help others who read these comments.
Best Regards,
Jon
WOW!! I really am #1 on Google!! I never knew. Thanks for telling me. I hope your cleaning went well, and that my video proved useful. If your chimney gunks up after one month, it could be an indication of a more serious problem, so you should check things out carefully. Also, stay away from soft woods, like pine, make sure the wood you burn is dry enough (well seasoned), and run your stove hot enough so you have less smoke going up the pipe.
Great video..nice team work!! I am now ready to clean my stove, thanks guys
+G14 G14 Thank you for commenting, I'm glad my video was of use to you!
Check out our other videos for tips on Art/Crafts, Subaru Repair, and of course... Cooking! Naturally, you should subscribe so you'll know when the next video is online... And speaking of the next video (which I expect to finish tonight)... It's about how to make my mother's delicious Potato and Italian Sausage Stuffing
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Jon.
Hey,.... another trick my indonesian wife taught me for cleaning the glass is to dip a newspaper in water and then in ash and wipe your glass with that.... works like a charm... Matt H.
Hi Matt Hura, Thank you for your comment and alternate method for cleaning the glass!
One thing about me, is that I strive for simple, easy, low mess procedures, whenever possible. That's why I like the razor blade method.
Your wife's method is simple, and easy, but it seems the potential for mess is greater (I already have far too much mess in my life without adding to it).
Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other
videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them -
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Best Regards,
Jon
I found this trick and it works extremely well!
Wuuuhhhhh...? Ok I go try now! 😬
Love the video..my husband paid a chimney sweep company to come to our house today and I was at work..I have a fireplace and wood burner in house and wanted to use them mind you I just bought this house a couple of months ago and I just inspected the fireplace 3 days ago and seen creosote built up everywhere and said I need to clean it before we burn and didnt inspect wood burner cause I knew it would need cleaned also anyways this company/man charged him $130! To clean the fireplace only I was so mad when he told me so I inspected the fireplace and there was sooo many spots he just didnt even touch and you could see what he cleaned and what he went around and left so now I have to go over the fireplace and now thanks to your lovely video on the wood stove ..you just my other cleaning project go alot smoother and simpler for me with your video thanks alot! Oh and I live in northern indiana just minutes from university of notre dame we have very cold winters bc of lake Michigan and lake effect snow so not sure if maybe thats why there so expensive bc they know they can get the money for chimney sweeping but I thought it was awfully high for doing half the job:/
Hi Kelsey, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it useful! Thank you for your comments.
I don't honestly know what a good price is for cleaning a chimney; I haven't checked with the local sweeps here in southern NY since I got my stove back in the 1990s. I guess it all comes down to perspective - how much you can afford to have someone do the the job for you, and the quality of the work performed. Of course, if you are going to pay someone to do the work, you have every right to demand that it is done completely and correctly.
I am warmed three times by my woodstove... First, from splitting the wood by hand, Second, by burning the wood, and Third, by the comments from nice folks like you who take the time to leave a comment on my video!
Thank you, and stay warm and safe this winter!
- Jon
ykostudio In my area (Greensboro, NC) going chimney sweep rates are about $100 to $120 per clean. I guess if I had the need to clean twice per season I could negotiate a lower price with him, but since my fireplace is only used for creating a nice ambiance in the room it only needs cleaning every few years. So a hundred bucks is worth it to me and not have to deal with the grime.
we are cleaning ours today...thanks for a great video!
Hi Nikolai,
I guess it depends on how you are set up. If you can't work from the bottom, you don't have a choice. If you have a choice and have a fear of heights, or you don't want to put yourself at risk of falling off the roof, or you just don't feel like pulling the ladder out of the garage, working from the bottom is the way to go. Also, the top of my chimney is 6 feet above the roof, so that makes things much more difficult up there.
Thank you for your comment,
Jon
Thanks Jon, very nice job
, I got a crazy estimate of $250.00 to clean my 1 year old woodstove chimney, so i decided to research and find out how to clean woodstove chimney, and i Thank you! thank you! thank you!!! i just finish watching your very helpful video. I really appreciate your time and dedication to make this video... :-) good job!
Hi Kat,
Thank you for your comment and compliment. I'm so glad you found my video helpful! $250? Yikes! When I got my stove in the mid 1990s it was about $50 here in southern NY state. As you now know, it's not a terribly difficult job. Just work slowly and carefully, and in about an hour or two you'll have your stove ready for the winter burn.
If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.
Best Regards and Stay Warm,
Jon
ykostudio they charge $225 to $250 here too....that's why I'm watching this video - near Albany NY. Thank you!!!
Margaret Mackey Thanks for your comment and update on the cost of chimney cleaning in upstate NY. My main gig is antique restoration, and it's very rare that the money I make (figured hourly) gets anywhere near that much, even though the skills required are far beyond that of cleaning a chimney!
I'm glad you have found my video useful. Have a look at my other videos, for more useful tips around the house! ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Best Regards,
Jon
Thanks for sharing , Well done
Cleaning mine today. Googled "proper woodstove pipe cleaning" and you were the #1 pick. Great video! Thanks for taking the time out to show people how to do it.
I just took the brush from the roof down 1 month ago and I already have smoke billowing out from the stove. I didn't get a whole lot out of soot from the stove. So now I will do it your way.
Great video, thank you!
Thanks,I really liked your video ! I do my job once a year but from the roof using weights from the bottom of polyester brush (same size as diameter of chimny) and rope on top. Then i take pipes apart and outside for cleaning, clean and check stove and back together. I must keep screen on or get doezens of birdis to free from stove. My cap doesn't need cleaning but replacing when burnt/corroded through.Thanks again .
Hi Les, Thank you for your comment and compliments! Sounds like you've got things well in-hand. I enjoy going up on the roof from time to time to take in the view, but local code requires my chimney to be too high for top-down cleaning to be practical, so I go from bottom up. I'm still using the original cap, and never had a problem with it, except with the screen clogging up in the beginning when I used a screen to keep the birds out. Without the screen, I only rarely get a bird in the stove, and then my cat gets some exercise when the bird gets into the house. After I remove the bird from the cat's mouth, I release it back into the wild to tell its buddies about its exciting brush with death.
Stay Warm!
- Jon
Thank you for your vid. After having a flue fire the other night 20/07, (first time ever), really scared the piss out of me. Nothing like being woken by a panicking woman and then trying frantically putting it out while only wearing boxer shorts and it's 3 deg cel outside. Sounded like a freight train roaring through the loungeroom.
Thank you for the insight.
Hi Brent McClay, You're Welcome, Thank you for your comment! I'm glad you found my video useful!
Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other
videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them -
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Best Regards,
Jon
Another great way to clean the glass is to place a damp newspaper in the ashes and rub on the glass.
Rinse then dry with either dry newspaper, paper towel or rag.
Nice video.
@Alice Merchant - Thank you for your comment. Scouring the grunge off the glass using a damp newspaper dipped in wood ash, then rinsing and drying the glass is another way of cleaning the glass, but when carbon has been baked on, it does require some effort. I'm all about finding simpler and easier ways to get the job done, and using a razor blade is about the simplest/easiest way I've found to get the glass clean.
Enjoy your Holidays!
Jon
Thanks much, Jon
You're welcome, Carlos. Thank you for taking the time to let me know you found my video useful.
Subscribe to my channel if you want to know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and by all means have a look at my other videos. This link should take you to them -
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Best Regards,
Jon
Thanks for your video.
Hi Joanne Turner, You're Welcome, Thank you for your comment!.
Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other
videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them -
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Best Regards,
Jon
I should have put it in the video to check the cap with each cleaning. About 15 years ago, I used to get gunk on the screen around the cap, so I removed the screen. No more problem. Now, once in a while, a bird will come down the pipe and fly out into the house when I open the stove. Great fun for the cat!! After the cat catches the bird, I remove it from the cat's mouth, and release it back into the wild with a great story to tell its bird buddies!
40 or fifty bucks? I live in the North Ga mountains and guys won't budge on $175. I've just been squeamish doing it myself on getting the stove pipes back together as it has a 45 degree elbow in it...very fragile as well. Doing it today...finally.
Thanks Jon.
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your comment. $175?... Wow, how the value of the dollar has declined! Last time I checked prices on chimney cleaning was MANY years ago, so I guess I'm a bit out of date.
Work slowly and carefully. If you have any mechanical skill, you'll probably do fine. If you have chimney parts that are fragile, this would be an excellent time to replace them... Just make sure you have everything you need before you start. Fragile is definitely NOT a word that should come up when you describe your chimney, as it performs such an important task in channeling the poisonous exhaust gases out of your home!
Let me know how it turns out; I love hearing about people's successes!
Good Luck!
Jon
if you had the correct tools and vaccums you could sweep it from the top and clean the combustor out very easily. My statement is hands down accurate. Myself and every other sweep do this way everyday at 6 different houses. If homeowners are going to tackle this they need to not take the pipe down and do it from the top carefully.
If we do go from the bottom we use a spinning rotary system that can make 90 degree turns and go straight through the stove. We use a 3 motor hepa filtration vaccum to control the dust, not a garbage bag.
couple if tips
1 use a soft bristle brush the wire brush will remove the SS coating and thin the pipe.
2 Remove that pipe damper not needed.
3 clean the catalytic as well
as you do your self you don't need liability. Most sweeps in y area that are legit cost around 150 to 200 to sweep the flue.
Hi & Thanks for the video.
I have the Same Stove, and lately i has been pushing smoke into the room, a little, but any is unacceptable. While I have replaced the wire mesh on the chimney cap many times, Ive never cleaned the chimney. Now I'm thinking it's way overdue, although until this year the stove has worked beautifully. I describe it as my favorite appliance.
I assumed I would be pulling down the damper and refractory box and catalytic element and cleaning from the rooftop, cleaning the chimney from top down, sending all that blackness into the firebox and removing it from there., I assumed I'd have to disassemble the back of the firebox, and get to that area. I've Never done it, and can't find a tutorial on it, but I have faith I can muddle my way through it.
Hearing you suggest that any soot and creosote will burn off the catalytic element is surprising....
Do you Ever clean from the top down? It would save chimney disassembly effort and time, but add the complexity or having to remove all the soot from the stove...Any Pearls of Wisdom and Experience there?
I'm also thinking maybe it's time to replace the catalytic element and am expecting to need repairs to the refractory bits. I hear, and have read, both of those parts wear out, and my stove is going on 35 years old, I've had it for 20, and I expect its never been done. They are expensive parts, and money is tight, but a new stove is out of reach.
Thanks again,
Hi @freebuilder007, If you're pushing smoke into the room with the catalytic element not in use, and the stove doors open, or when you add wood at the top, it could be an indication that your chimney needs cleaning, or that a bird has built a nest at the top of the chimney. I clean the chimney from the bottom because I find it easier, and safer (I like that!). The top of my chimney is about six feet above the roof, which makes it more difficult to get to, plus there is the extra time and effort of hauling out the extension ladder and carrying a bunch of tools to the roof! I find that disassembling the bottom of the chimney and having the chimney grunge fall into a garbage bag saves time and effort and is a pretty clean process.
The catalytic element should be cleaned from time-to-time because ash does accumulate. To get at the catalytic element on my stove, you must first remove the fireback. First, remove the hood on the fireback by rotating it up, and sliding it to the side. Then remove the two wedges (one on each side of the fireback) and pull the top of the fireback toward you. Then jockey the fireback around and remove it from the stove.
Now you will be able to see the fiber housing that contains the catalytic element. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS PART!! It is VERY fragile, and easily damaged. Likewise, be careful handling the catalytic element as it is also very fragile. You can blow any ash off the catalytic element, and scoop or vacuum the ash from the catalytic housing and its exhaust ports. Yes, if the catalytic element and/or its housing are worn out or damaged, you will have to replace them if you want the stove to operate as originally designed.
Take your time and be patient removing and replacing the fireback. It can be a bit of a chore, especially if things have warped a bit from the heat.
Good Luck!
Please feel free to come back and share your experience and insights, so others may benefit.
Jon
Great video tutorial thanks so much. I will need to use your cool pay phone to call home at some point hehehe.. Thanks for the great video!
+Jonathan Reid Thank you for the compliments, I'm glad you enjoyed my video and found it useful!!
That old phone is kinda cool; I brought it home many years ago with visions of mounting it on the wall as a functioning conversation piece. Unfortunately, it has resisted all attempts to open it, so it just sits there and looks good. Every year, I think of putting it on eBay, but never get around to it. One of these days....
My wife and I have other useful videos here on RUclips for cooking, art, auto repair, and removing water marks from furniture ruclips.net/user/ykostudiovideos . Check them out, and if you feel so inclined, subscribe to my channel so you'll be notified when we put new videos online.
Stay Warm and Be Well,
Jon
Good video
I installed my stove/chimney, and did the job to conform to local codes, so the chimney has to be that high. I clean my chimney once or twice a year, as needed, and am careful not to create much dust, so very little is inhaled.
Thank you....
Thanks ...
You're welcome
thanks for the infos
9:40 the sound produced from the brush scraping the inside of the chimney cut through my entire existence rendering me identical to a cat eating ice cream. Nice job though..I never seen it done from inside but makes sense to avoid the roof of ladders outside in god knows what weather conditions
@Stover Boyz - Thank you for your comment. So, the sound of the brush scraping the inside of the chimney cuts through your existence? Never bothered me, but then neither does the sound of fingernails on a black board! BTW, my cat loved eating ice cream! Yes, cleaning the chimney from the inside is by far simpler/easier/safer than climbing up on the roof and trying to feed the brush down a pipe that is as tall as I am! No fun trying to do that on a sloped roof during cold weather, and if there is snow on the roof... FORGET ABOUT IT!!
Enjoy your Holidays!
Jon
Good info. You should also be removing the baffle under the port to let the creosote fall through into the unit for safe removal. It will build up over time and clog the port, reducing air flow and causing smoke spillage. Have you made a video for that yet?
Thank you for your comment, @Scott Tadema. I haven't made any other wood stove videos, though I have given some thought to making one for removing the fire back and cleaning the catalytic chamber. Maybe in the future. The rest of my videos are related to cooking, cars, and art. You can find them by typing YKOSTUDIO in the Search box at the top of the page.
Jon
Yes, I scooped out most that fell down from the bottom pipe. Didn't get it all, but I'm not too worried about that as long as it doesn't block the airflow.
i know I am kinda off topic but does anybody know a good place to watch new series online?
@Damari Damien lately I have been using Flixzone. You can find it on google :)
I'm curious about the cap too. Is it something you never bother to clean Yko?
I don't mean to sound rude but I've done chimney sweeping now for about 5 years now and I can say you don't want to use a chimney brush that has metal brisels on it you want to use a brush that has plastic brisels so it doesn't scratch the protective coating that is lined down the pipe allowing more creosote to build up.
You're not being rude, at all, Dillan! It sounds like good advice, and others have also mentioned it. At the time I made this video (and when I bought my gear) I was not aware of plastic bristle brushes.
thank you
Hi WolekZ, You're Welcome, Thank you for leaving a comment!
Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and in the meantime I have some other
videos you may also enjoy. This link should take you to them -
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Best Regards,
Jon
Thank ya sir!
You're welcome, glad you liked it!
Chimney sweeps here will tell you that $160 is a GREAT DEAL.. Thanks for the lesson.
(Windex and light steel wool will remove any gunk from the glass)
+Craig Bodeker Thank you for your comment. Glad you like the video.
$160 is a great deal?? Yikes!! No wonder the Sweeps who have commented here don't like my video.
I wouldn't recommend steel wool for cleaning the glass. Too much chance of scratching the glass, though the use of Windex or some other mild solvent makes sense for softening the carbon build-up. I still think using a new razor blade, as shown (or with Windex), has the best chance of cleaning quickly without scratching.
Best Regards,
Jon
Dip newspaper in warm water and scrub.
No chemicals.
poke a hole in the bag near the top and slide the handle down through it. slightly more annoying to get down at the end but even less fiddling about while you are working at the ceiling.
@clayton leal - I've heard this suggestion before, but the way I do it works well for me. My method isn't written in stone. It's merely a suggestion on how to do it and save the expense of hiring a sweep to come in and do it for you. Do what works best for you.
Jon
To James Bryce -
For some reason RUclips isn't allowing me to reply directly to your comment... Anyway, Thank you for the comment. I'll try to answer your three points -
1) Why don't I just drop out the baffle in the stove?
Apparently, you don't know this stove (Vermont Castings Defiant Encore). Are you referring to the "inner door" that gets closed when you want to direct exhaust through the catalytic chamber? That opening is too small to fit the brush, and even if it would fit, pushing the rods up that way would be very difficult. Much simpler to remove the section of chimney and go from there. Much safer to do it from in the house than from up on the sloped roof.
2 and 3) Never hiring anyone/Insurance concerns/Hire a pro.
If I needed to hire someone, I would. This isn't rocket science! It's a simple process that the average handy homeowner can perform. Why should I pay someone to do what I can easily do, myself? Nobody is going to burn their house down by cleaning the woodstove chimney. In fact, cleaning the chimney pretty much eliminates the possibility of a chimney fire. You sound like a "Nervous-Nellie", but I'm guessing (based on your profile photo) that you're a fear-mongering chimney sweep. Don't worry, I don't think you'll lose too much business. There are plenty of folks out there who just don't want to bother and would rather pay to have it done for them. My video is for those who want to do it themselves and could use some good advice on how. It's also for those who want to keep their chimney clean and safe, but can't afford to have it done for them. Better that they do it themselves, rather than putting it off and risking a chimney fire.
Best Regards,
Jon Olson
TRGTC
Did you use a steel brush in a steel chimney pipe?
Burning wood stove for about 40 years . Get a stove with a removable baffle,don’t need to remove the pipe . What a mess . I clean my chimney the first of each month ,same time remove the door and clean the glass( cheap oven cleaner) .l burn low and slow or it will run out house .Clean the chimney and glass in about 30 minutes.You don’t want a build up in your chimney. A chimney fire can burn your house down.l keep a clean wood burning stove in a clean house no smoke or dust ,you do need to work at it to keep the area clean . I have a ash scoop with a lid,clean out hot or cold no smoke or dust ! Stay safe, stay warm!
@Pat Cornwell - Sorry for the delayed reply. Those are good suggestions. My Vermont Castings Defiant Encore stove has a lid with a handle for the ash pan which makes getting rid of the ash a pretty clean affair, but the only way to clean the pipe without climbing up on the roof is to remove the bottom section of pipe as shown in my video.
Jon
This is a very helpful video. Thank you. I'm doing this tomorrow and would like to know if I should be concerned about the creosote that will collect on the plate which separates the interior of the stove and the flue. I'm guessing this will naturally safely burn away?
Hi Troens Spring, Thank you for your compliment and question. I'm sure the Professional "Sweeps" will tell you that none should be left to burn, and that is certainly best.
When I clean my stove, I do my best to leave as little as possible behind, but there is always some that escapes me, and it hasn't caused me any problems. If there is only a very small amount you should be OK, but I would try to get as much out as possible just to be on the safe-side.
Subscribe to my channel if you want to know when I've posted new videos (I
will be making some soon), and by all means have a look at my other videos. This link should take you to them -
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Best Regards,
Jon
I've got a small wood stove running a 4" pipe. All I see out there for 4" brushes are for pellet stoves.
What can I use to clean it?
great vid
Hi Brian,
Thank you for the compliment.
Compare the pellet stove brushes to the larger wood stove brushes. If the only real difference is the size, and what they call it, you should be good to go.
At worst, you may have to buy the wood stove chimney brush closest to the size you need, and then cut it down to size. If you do this, the brush should fit snugly (slightly over-size) into the chimney. You don't want a "perfect", or loose fit because it won't clean as well.
Please leave a follow-up message to let everyone who reads this know how it turns out.
Best Regards,
Jon
When cleaning the pipe right above the stove, and your pushing the dust down into the stove, did you have to take off the baffle inside so the dust can travel down?
Hi @Richie Sun, For cleaning the 3 feet of pipe right above the stove I remove the damper so I can run the brush down the pipe. These days, I have a piece of cardboard inserted at the bottom to catch the crud that comes loose. From time-to-time I open up the back of the stove to clean out the ash that accumulates there. It's not something that needs to be done every time, but it does need to be done occasionally to get rid of ash that might block the exits from the catalytic element box.
Jon
I have 2 90's in my section of pipe. One 90 bends into the wall, the other comes out of the stove. How do I clean the section of the pipe and reattach to the ceramic collar on the wall to get an airtight fit?
Hi Josh,
Unfortunately, I have no experience with pipe connections like yours. If anyone else who reads this has info they can share, I hope they will do so. If you look through the previous messages, I know there was one from a nice fellow named Travis Nelson who is learning to be a sweep. He might be able to give you some pointers.
Since I have not seen your setup, I can't even guess what you might need to do, and I certainly don't want to give you bad advice. You may have to get a professional sweep in there once, to see how he does it. Once you know how it's supposed to be done, you may be able to do it yourself. If you decide to do it without seeing it done first, just remember to work slowly, carefully, and patiently... and search for more info online. If frustration sets in while you're working on it, take a break to cool down and think about it.
I wish I could be more helpful, but that's about it.
Please leave a message to let everyone know how things turned out, and any insights you may have learned.
Good Luck!
Best Regards,
Jon
Thanks.
You're Welcome
Good video! I just
wanted to share a better way to clean the glass. Just take a wet paper towel and dip it into
the ash and then rub the ash on the glass.
It will turn all black, but all you have to do is wipe it off. It’s super easy. No scrubbing needed.
I don't recall if I ever mentioned this... If you have a wood stove that can be used with the doors open with a screen (like a fireplace) and you want a romantic fire that pops and crackles, I've found that Cedar works really well. Just make sure you don't leave the stove unattended like this, as embers can still get through the screen and cause problems like burn marks on the floor or, at worst, a burned house.
Be safe, and stay warm.
Jon
okayif you ar burning cedar in a wood stove you are very stupid.
hunter smith Hi Hunter, Why is it "very stupid" to occasionally burn a little Cedar in a wood stove? I usually burn hardwoods like Oak, Ash, etc, but for special evenings when a noisy fire adds to the mood, Cedar works well.Best Regards, Jon
hunter smith Cedar unless it has been treated with paint or oils or anything does not produce toxic fumes,the reason one should try not to burn cedar is because it is very inefficient and also burns explosively/Very hot and can over fire, cedar does have some natural oils but I do not think it has been proven to be toxic, it is great as kindling but I would not burn cedar as my main species
Hi, is it possible to measure for a poly brush when taking the stacks off from the inside. Everything I've read says to measure from the roof top. I live in a two story house and the roof top is not a friendly place to be.
Hi Z Modo,
Thank you for your question. Measuring the diameter of the chimney (to determine the brush size you need) should be no problem from the bottom, if you're using a steel pipe chimney as the diameter will probably be the same at the top, as the bottom.
If instead you're trying to figure out how many brush rods you need, in order to run the brush all the way up the chimney, that shouldn't be too hard. If you have a steel tape-measure that is long enough, you could run it up the chimney until it hits the top cap. It really shouldn't matter where you measure from, as long as you can get a good measurement.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Jon
Just a thought... Next time make a small hole in the bottom of the bag and feed the rod through then attach the brush to the rod inside the bag. Feed the brush up and pinch the bag where the rod feeds through the bag and brush up and down.
Hi @Cole Galbraith, Thank you for the suggestion. I think someone else suggested the same thing a while back. The only problem that I see with it is that, when you're done, you have a hole in the bottom of the bag that now contains much carbon and creosote dust. Good chance of leakage, and an unhappy wife!! If you do it that way, and it works for you, then keep doing it that way. Again, Thanks for the input!
Jon
You can also punch a small hole in the plastic bag near the top and then run the cleaning brush down through the hole. Less chance for leakage.
Hi Raven, If you prefer to do it that way, go right ahead. I've never had a problem with leakage, and it feels to me that your way involves more work, and more potential for dropping a bag full of soot while removing the brush from the rod to get the rod out of the bag.
Great video. What you just did would probably take me 4 hours. Id gladly pay someone $50 to do it for me.
We all have our strengths, chimney sweeping is not mine, for sure :)
Thank you for your comment, @jac city. Nothing wrong about hiring a professional sweep to clean your chimney, if your budget allows it! The important thing is that you keep your chimney clean, so your stove works at its best, and to greatly reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Stay Warm!
Jon
Broccoli is out of season where I live so any ideas where else I can get an elastic band??
+lockodonis Thank you for your question. A good resource for this type of thing is www.rubberband.com
According to their website, you can find supersize rubberbands (which should work for this purpose) at Walmart and Target, though you will probably have to order them.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Best Regards,
Jon
ykostudio thanks for the quick reply, to be honest I was trying to be funny with the elastic band thing/broccoli thing....but alas I've failed on that count, 😔..... but regardless of that, great video and I got some great tips...... cheers from the uk .. 👍
Ahhh, very dry British humor... I guess I should have known, but I
didn't recognize your accent. I'm glad you liked the video, and that it
provided some useful info for you. Feel free to check out (and comment on, if you llike) my other videos. You can find them at
ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio
Be well, and come back anytime,
Jon
underwear works too..for a band..
How the hell did he miss your accent? I caught it straight away.
I put a woodstove in my house a year ago. I used it part of last year and all of 2018. It started smoking in 18, so I figured the chimney was getting clogged. I ordered a drill driven spinner brush, and prepared to get dirty. When I took the stove apart, I was shocked a how heavy the interior pieces of pipe were. They weighted a ton. I found out why. They were packed full of black stuff. And the chimney was packed clear through the roof! Its not far, but it was packed. And my stove was packed too. Its very small, one of those 1 or 2 loggers. Just wondering why its this way. Green wood? Previous owner never cleaned the chimney? I know it was the worst I d ever seen. The crap that came out of it filled 9 plastic grocery bags and I dumped some of it outside. The 9 bags was in the stove and brick flue through the attic. Any ideas as to why?
Hi Buford, Probably the chimney hadn't been cleaned in a long time. If you're burning green wood, or pine, that could be part of it as well.
on stainless or steel chimneys use poly brushes not steel. You can get a bag of file rubber bands for about 2.50 at Walmart that work great. Does the pay phone work?
Thanks for the suggestion of poly brushes. Sounds like a good idea. Thanks, also, for the source of rubber bands. The pay phone doesn't work as-is. I haven't been able to get it open without fear of destroying the case.
I have the exact stove. Can you tell me what brand and size of rods and brush you use ? Is your brush poly or steel bristles ? Thanks
Hi Lemony, I use two 6 foot rods and an 8 inch diameter steel brush. I got them back in the 1990s from a local hardware store and don't remember the brand. I have heard that the poly brushes are less likely to damage the surface of the inside of the chimney (I haven't tried one yet), so you might want to try a poly brush first and if it doesn't do a good enough job, get a steel brush.
The Defiant Encore is a nice stove. I'm glad I bought it. Once in a while you should remove the fire-back and check/clean the catalytic chamber. I haven't opened mine in years, because everything seems to be working fine. To remove the fire-back on mine, I remove the hood at the inside back of the stove, then remove the two wedges (one on either side of the fire-back). The fireback can then be tilted forward and removed, exposing the catalytic chamber. The material of the chamber and catalytic honeycomb element inside it are easily damaged, so Be Careful!
Merry Christmas,
Jon
Do you think the brush would get hung up on the screw's that hold the chimney sections together? Mine is 12' long from the top of the stove to the ceiling. multi section 8" chimney with 4 screw's per section.
Hi Trophy 205,
4 screws per connection?? That' seems like overkill. My stove has only 1 screw per connection on the single wall pipe (not sure about the double wall). Anyway, I don't think the brush will get hung up... The bristles should bend and go around the screws.
Best Regards,
Jon
I never understood why you needed any screws at all (except for that sliding piece). Not like anything is going to be pulling it up and apart.
Just bought a house with a wood stove....it smokes my house up.... probably needs cleaning....thanks for the tips!
@Laurie Borbon - Thank you for your coomment. I'm glad my video has helped you. Also, please make certain that the top of your chimney is clear of bird nests or other obstuctions. A clean chimney is a good thing, but a clog at the top will still cause problems! Enjoy your wood stove...It's a wonderful thing!
Jon
Do you not take the chimney cap off and clean the like the wire mesh or do you not use the wire mesh on you chimney cap
@Skinny 717 - I used to use a wire mesh around the cap, but it would collect gunk, and I don't enjoy taking it off to clean it, so I did away with the mesh. Unfortunately, that means that occasionally a bird will build a nest at the top of the chimney that needs to be removed to keep things safe, but that doesn't happen often. From time-to-time a bird will come down the chimney and get trapped in the stove, which can be a bit of a hassle now that I no longer have cats. In the past, I would let the bird out into the room and one of my cats would hunt it, and catch it. Then I would just have to remove the bird from the cat's mouth and send it out the front door to fly off and tell its buddies about its brush with death!
Jon
How long of a time span do you think this went between cleanings?
Hi Hector, If I remember correctly, it was probably about 4 months or so. Generally speaking, you should clean your chimney at the beginning of the season, and during the season if you feel the stove isn't burning as well as it should (or if smoke comes into the room when you open the door of the stove to add wood).
Did you empty creosote out of the stove?
I use a large 26 or 30 pound empty dog food bag. Poke a hole in the bottom of it with your pole place the end of pole through the hole and open mouth end around the pipe with brush up through pipe and walla no mess.
Hi +Ellen Robinson, Thank you for your comment, and for sharing your method of using an empty dog food bag to catch the soot. Do you attach the bag to the pipe? How? To my mind, I think that size bag might be a bit larger than needed for the job, and though strong and durable, might be a bit stiff to work with. Also, when removing the rod, do you find that you need to use extra care to prevent leakage from the hole in the bag, or from soot attaching itself to the rod?
When I first started cleaning my own chimney, about 20 years ago, I considered putting the rod through the bag as you do, but decided instead to use the method shown in the video, because it eliminated the need to seal up that hole when done... I'm big on eliminating extra steps, whenever it's practical to do so.
In the end, if you're satisfied with how well your method works for you, that's really all that matters.
Again, thank you for sharing. Please feel free to check out my other videos at ruclips.net/user/results?search_query=ykostudio and Subscribe to my channel so you'll know when I've posted new videos.
Best Regards,
Jon
No need to attach it to anything. Just insert your rod through the bottom of the bag and push the top opening of the bag to the ceiling and clean out your metal stove pipe. All the soot and dust falls into the bag and when you get ready to pull your brush out it goes into the bag too and you walk it all outside. The stiffness of the bag helps to keep the mess all inside the bag.
Hi Ellen, Thanks for the follow-up. It sounds like your method works well for you, and in the end that's really what matters; finding a method that works well, and that you're comfortable with.
Be Well,
Jon
In NY Long Island the job costs $180 bucks. I am doing it myself tomorrow thanks to your video. I see your bristles are metal I was recommended to use polymer plastic bristles. Will I destroy my flue with metal? Mean this opens it up for rust on the inside, right??
@RWHEEL FUN - I'm glad to hear that my video is helping you save money on the upkeep of your stove! Take some of that $180 and go out to a nice dinner, or better yet, watch some of my cooking videos, then take some of that $180 to the supermarket, buy what you need, and make a delicious meal at home!
As far as the brush material is concerned - When I bought mine, metal was what was available. I'm told (and it makes sense) that a plastic brush is a more gentle way of cleaning your chimney and presents less chance of damaging the inside of the chimney. I think a metal brush will probably clean off the stuck-on creosote better than a plastic brush, but the plastic brush may work well for you; I've never tried using one.
Good luck with cleaning your chimney! Work slowly and carefully.
Jon
What's your thoughts on using a drill to spin the brush?
Hi Rob, I never had a problem using the rod/brush combo as they are. I think it would be a bit of a PITA trying to connect a drill to the rod.
Does the creosote log work on these? I have one ima try it out
@OhNo Trejo - I have never used those creosote cleaning logs they sell in the stores. I have been curious about them, but never did any research on them, since I can clean my chimney easily enough with a brush. You said that you have one, and are going to try it. Please post again to let me know the result.
Jon
Dirty glass because wood is not dry completely, I use my wood stove for 10 years with out problem. I use Englander NC-30
@Night hawk - Thank you for your comment and advice.
Jon
+leapingfeather For some reason, your comment doesn't have a Reply option, so I must reply here, in a separate comment...
I'm so glad my video was useful to you, and helped you to learn a new skill. Your comment has brightened my day!!
Best Regards,
Jon
Good Sweep job sir !
Vermont castings Defiant Encore is an older model V/C.
Now they just make the Defiant or the Encore and others but they do not call it the Defiant Encore.
This stove does not have a baffle, it has a combustion box and if he was to sweep the chimney from the top without removing the pipe he would have plugged the combustion box and removing that Box which is made of light weight ceramic is not easy, you got to pull the whole damper assembly and the walls of the stove.
You do need to access the front of the box which is not too hard to get to the Cat, some of these Defiant Encore's have two wedges on the floor on the left and right side you can knock upward and then pull the fireback out, some of these stoves have a steel flapper just above the fireback that has to come out first and then just pull out the cat and Vacuum inside the combustion box very gently, you do not want to damage that box and it can be very easy to damage it . . . .also I have seen sweeps damage this box by sweeping this stove from the top down without removing the pipe.
Anthony Saponaro
Hi Anthony, Thank you for the compliment, and for sharing your knowledge of this stove.
Yes, mine has the very fragile secondary combustion box with catalytic behind the fireback, the flapper above the fireback, and the two wedges that secure the fireback in place. It's always a chore to clean back there because the fireback is such a snug fit on my stove, and the box has become even more fragile with age. I do mention in the video to be very careful not to damage the box when sweeping the lower pipe.
Early on, I did have to take apart the inside of the stove to repair a defect....No fun at all!
Best Regards,
Jon
Any ideas for 30ft ceilings?😳
Honestly, I don't know, sorry. This may be a case where a professional Sweep is called for.
My dad taught me an easy way to clean the glass on wood stoves. Take newspapers, paper towels or such, dampen them, dip them into the soot and rub on glass. Lye is made from ash/soot and so the ash is very effective at cleaning the glass. Even the stubborn stuff comes off. Finish up by polishing with a clean cloth. No dangerous razors blades, no expensive wood stove glass cleaners.
Hi Linda, Thank you for sharing! Years ago, I used dry newspaper to clean the glass, but never tried your method. I prefer the blade because it creates the least mess and is FAST, but certainly, do what works best for you. I seem to recall a recipe for curing olives that involved putting them in wood ash. Happy Thanksgiving!
You should never have to wash the glass. Your fires are too cool.
Not supposed to use metal brush on metal liner makes scratches and easier for creosote to start bonding to the liner and harder to get it off plastic rotary brush is better
Thank you for your comment, @ryan keane. Not using a metal brush has been mentioned a couple of times in the comments, below. Too bad I didn't know that all those years ago when I bought the chimney cleaning equipment. Switching to a plastic brush at this point would probably be like closing the gate on the corral after the horse ran off, but it's good to have it mentioned here in the comments for others to learn from!
Jon
I've noticed that if you want the glass clean, just burn the stove hot for a bit and the glass clears up. And, do you know anyone that uses those chemical logs that are made to clean out the chimney by just burning it in the fire with success?
@Rusty Baxter - Yes, running the stove hot can help to keep the glass clear. I have never tried the chemical chimney cleaning logs, and don't know of anyone who has, so I can't offer an opinion on how well they work.
Jon
How can i can do this for my 7 meter long steel flue?
@Hi-Level - I guess you would use additional extension rods on the brush. I use two rods, each about six feet long, when I clean my chimney. For a seven meter (about twenty-three feet) chimney you would need four of these rods.
Jon
@@ykostudio thanks!
i thought you are supposed to clean from the top down not the bottom up ?
wouldn't it be easier to not disassemble and run the brush down the full length from up on top?
@Ripp Snortin' - Thank you for your comment. NOT easier, more difficult! Cleaning the chimney from the top involves putting up the extension ladder and climbing up on the sloped roof, then removing the chimney cap and dealing with feeding the brush down the chimney (the top of the chimney is about 6 feet up from where it comes through the roof). MUCH easier and more comfortable to work in the warm house, and no worries about the possibility of falling off the roof! Of course, it IS necessary, from time to time, to get up on the roof and clean out the chimney cap if a bird has decided to build a nest in it, but that doesn't happen all that often!
Enjoy your Holidays!
Jon
I cleaned my chimney 2 days ago but I still have a layer of "glazed creosote" that I can't remove it go's up the chimney about
4 feet, the rest of the chimney is very clean. Is it ok to use the chimney as it is ? It is a block and tile 12"x 8" chimney
and I use it for my wood stove. I tried my best to remove this stuff but it's like solid rock.
Hi Joseph Maximus,
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with your "glazed creosote" problem. If you have been using your wood stove without any problems so far, I would guess that it's probably OK if you don't run the stove too hot, but you should search Google for more info, just to be sure (better safe than sorry). This also may be a situation where speaking with a professional is a good thing. Is it possible that the glaze is just a discoloration of the tile caused by heat?
If you find a definitive answer to your question, please take a moment to post it here so others can benefit from your new knowledge.
Sorry I couldn't give a better answer.
Jon
I am learning the trade from a 35 year chimney sweep expert at the moment and we came across this issue yesterday. The first 5 feet coming out of the stove were a baked on glaze. After asking my trainer the expert, he said that it wasn't really an issue unless it was so thick that it obstructed the airflow considerably (which he had never seen anything that bad in his 35 years) The glaze really isn't a fire hazard, its the foamy creosote that will create a chimney fire(kind of reminds me of a brittle black sponge). If you use a hair dryer/propane torch/ burn some uncrumpled newspaper initially to get the cold air that's in there flowing up and out of the chimney before starting a nice brisk fire this will stop a lot of buildup and possibly reduce the buildup that is in there already.
Also, be sure to clean the chimney cap as well.
Travis Nelson
Hi Travis, Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it is very much appreciated!
Jon
Travis Nelson Thank you Travis for this information it is a big help.
+Joseph M Glazed creosote is very dangerous and difficult if not impossible without calling in some 'professional help". That stuff can get pretty thick and needs to be removed before there's a fire. Seems to be that someone has been trying to make long-lasting slower fires and not using well-seasoned wood. I don't know what kind of stoe you have, but this problem should be taken care of before heating season comes. Be safe.
where is your industrial hoover. it is a vital and serious piece of kit.
I think the damper on the stove pipe is redundant.
@Ryo Johnson - Thank you for your comment. Yes, the damper in the chimney pipe is unnecessary. I installed it early on as an experiment to further control the airflow and see if I could extend the burn time after I got a good fire going.
Enjoy your Holidays!
Jon
where's the hoover
Why do you need a temperature sensor in the stack?
Hi Tiger,
Thanks for your question. Back when I bought the stove, in the late 1990s, I didn't know much about these things and figured it wouldn't hurt to have something that told me how hot the inside of the chimney was. The price was right (it was on clearance sale), so I bought it. Over time I came to realize that I really didn't need it after all, but left it attached to plug the hole. I haven't used it in over 12 years.
Best Regards,
Jon
You are supposed to burn a fire at a certain temperature. Too cold you get creosote. Too hot you wear the stove out and cause it to warp.
How To Clean Your Woodstove Chimney
I prefer to do it from the roof if at all possible. Don't have to disassemble the dirty pipes. Don't have to breath the creosote dust, etc. I notice you were sniffing a lot. Hope you don't have sinus problems. Breathing that gunk will cause it. I understand your chimmney is too tall to reach well, personally I'd have it lowered if my draw was adequate.
Cant help thinking much easier cleaning from the to and hoovering out the stove, There would be a fair old mess if there was a carpet close by.
@Johnathan Ross - Cleaning from the top isn't an option for me; the top of my chimney is about 6 feet above my sloped roof. MUCH more difficult getting out the ladder, climbing onto the roof, and trying to send the brush down the pipe while trying not to fall off the roof! Cleaning from the bottom is safer, easier, and there is very little chance of mess if done carefully!
Jon