Chimney sweeping.

[zoothorn]

Hi chaps,

 

my 8kw stove installed by my experienced builder out here in midwales, after he rebuilt my chimney stack ( dilapitated, damp damage to house end )..1st big job to get done when I moved here 5 yrs ago (gas stove before > out to orange bottles etc). Expecting an extra steel flue job, he said no need bc he saw my (old miners) cottage has a pummice lined chimney, checked condition, happy. Knows these cottages very well out here.

 

Stove has seems happy like so, good draw. But sweeping it.. hmm. Now as it's approx 10" min (my best guess) dia, versus a steel flue at 5", will innevitably cause the brush to have less resistance. I now wonder about the best sweep method for a larger width chinmey.

 

Up until now Ive been using a drill-driver, spinning orange nylon brush (I do feel some resistance, does remove say 1/2 bucket soot collecting in my stove). What I don't know, is if what I remove is adequate, or far too little & perhaps this way isn't sufficient/ not enough chtutzpa ( due to the 10" double-usual-stove-chimney width ) & therefore, perhaps it hasn't been cleaned so well by me over 5 years.

 

I wonder too if I would be better with an additional 5" steel flue liner, any reason to? i'm thinking perhpas from A) a sweeping/ servicing point of view ( ie possibly alot easier to clean these to a good standard each time?)... & B) from a safety point of view: worry that my pummice lined chimney, might have a concerning build up of soot despite my spinning brush efforts to dislodge what I do.

 

Any thoughts appreciated, thanks for reading. Zooter.

 

 

[joe90]

A pumice liner is what I have in my new build, superior to stainless (IMO). The brush you use should be the right size for the flue! My flue is 150mm (6 inches in old money). If you burn your stove hot rather than shut down your soot/creosote level will be minimal.

Edited October 18, 2021 by joe90

[zoothorn]

3 hours ago, joe90 said:

A pumice liner is what I have in my new build, superior to stainless (IMO). The brush you use should be the right size for the flue! My flue is 150mm (6 inches in old money). If you burn your stove hot rather than shut down your soot/creosote level will be minimal.

Hi there John. That's encouraging/ my builder eluded to it being 'good type, no need at all to change to steel' tho Id never heard of pummice used in building anything before tbh. Ah ok yes makes obvious sense to get the 'right size'.. but for a 10" flue this might be what tho?

 

So do you use my method, the drill spinny business ? Or shove it up by hand method maybe? Thanks zh

[zoothorn]

I generally get mine stuffed pretty full of kindling plus smaller split hardwood, lit & roaring  away all vents open, to get it up to 320*F  or so in as fast as poss: then close vents, put on my 1st few logs.. repeat as of when/ no vents ever opened.

Running I have it 320*F to 350*F as a rule (350*F seems happy & hot (& my 12 o'clock position on  my magnetic flue dial suggesting a good temp). Occasionally 375*F, rarely 400*F (which seems very hot/ belting heat a bit ott even for my largish room).

 

Now whether that ( say 325*F running temp) is hot in your book though I don't know. Zh

[joe90]

Just a 6” brush on rods. That sounds hot, should not produce too much soot etc (as long as your logs are dry, at least 20%)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handheld-Wood-Moisture-Test-Meter-Digital-LCD-Log-Timber-Damp-Tester-Detector-/393529178043?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=EAIaIQobChMIh_HxvpHU8wIVB-7tCh084w__EAQYAiABEgKSOfD_BwE in case you want one!!

[zoothorn]

11 minutes ago, joe90 said:

Just a 6” brush on rods. That sounds hot, should not produce too much soot etc (as long as your logs are dry, at least 20%)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handheld-Wood-Moisture-Test-Meter-Digital-LCD-Log-Timber-Damp-Tester-Detector-/393529178043?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=EAIaIQobChMIh_HxvpHU8wIVB-7tCh084w__EAQYAiABEgKSOfD_BwE in case you want one!!

So you go for the same dia brush as your flue.. ok, then I think mine might be ok after all. But can you just tell me how you do it, & what type of brush you use? IE what I mean is are you a Drill spinner, or shoving up & waggle by hand sort of fellow?

 

If we are seen with those moisture do-da's out here, we're shamed. It's like whistling on a tuesday in 1341. tarred & feathered, then widdled upon.

 

Zoot.

Edited October 18, 2021 by zoothorn

[joe90]

3 hours ago, zoothorn said:

shoving up & waggle by hand sort

Just so. 

[zoothorn]

3 hours ago, joe90 said:

Just so. 

Ok John cheers, I think I'd better get a manual better brush type then.

 

Thanks over & out.