Chimney cleaning

This photo shows the arduous and terrifying trip I made annually for about 40 years. The only thing that inspired me was the even more terrifying thought that if I neglected to do it the house might catch fire.

If someone didn’t go up there and knock down the soot and creosote, a hot fire in the wood burner could ignite the chimney. That, in itself, wouldn’t hurt. What hurts would be if there’s a crack in the chimney inside a wall or attic where escaping flames could ignite whatever is nearby. (In recent years, stainless chimney liners are often required, and even if they aren’t, it’s a good hedge toward safety.)

Wood-burner people should definitely attend to this chore at least once every year.

The tool I began with is pretty simple, but not so efficient - it was a burlap bag on a rope, filled with straw or rags and weighted with rocks. This eventually morphed into the 8-inch round brush on 20-foot, five-section fiber rod.

Other things that need an annual check are the items on the ground in the photo: the chimney cap and the interior stove pipe, both of which need to be cleaned or replaced if rusty.

I am not at peace with high places, which is why I made a couple tie-downs for the top ladder. One is a chain to the bottom rung so it will never (again) slip outward (and give me one of the scariest rides of my life), anchored to the house with a chain to an eye-hook. The other is a bungee strap from the top step anchoring it to the chimney.

If you have to hire someone to do this for you, here are some things to nail down before they get out of their truck. 1 - Are they local, bonded, and insured? 2 - Does their price include removal, cleaning, and reinstallation of the stove pipe? 3 - Do they go to the roof or do they push a brush up from the bottom? (This, in my opinion, is an ineffective method. It is one by which there can be no inspection of the chimney cap - and may even loosen or damage the cap.) 4 - Do they take with them all soot, creosote, dirt and residue? 5 - Will they install a new chimney cap if needed, and if so at what charge? 6) Might they make any additional charges for anything?

Final advice. There are some real slugs working the chimney-cleaning business. Until you really get to know them and their work, watch everything they do and ask all the questions you can think of.

Sponsorship for this essay is provided by wood-burning stove suppliers.