I’m looking to buy some type of chimney cleaning device. It is for my fireplace and I only burn about 3 to 4 face cord per year. I have very easy access to the chimney from the roof top. Anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably priced unit?

I use the wire brushes that are fit to your flu size whether round or square and the 4 foot long fiberglass handles that thread into themselves. Been doing it that way for 30 or 40 years.

Similar to this:

Or drop this down and pull it back up.

But they can get stuck.

Mine is like lugnut except it has a solid rod instead of threaded together, if you need to get rid bad of creosote a log chain or a brick on a rope works well.

Flue type matters here. Factory built or masonry clay flue tile?

Do not use metal brushes in a metal, factory built system. Use poly/plastic brushes.

If masonry flue tile get a the proper size metal flat wire brush and rods.

Mine is the masonry clay tile type.

wire for masonry is customary

nylon for stainless steel


nylon could probably work for both


what size is your flue measure that and you get the right size brush for that

like a brass brush for a rifle you have to push it through and it is fairly tight so that it scraps the creosote off

I use the nylon with 4 foot section rods , in my 6 inch stainless steel chimney

just make sure you keep turning the threads tight as you push and pull

I use a brush like shown above in my stainless flue liner. With a rope tied to the brush and big washers on the other end for weight, I drop the weighted end of the rope down the flue, then pull the brush thru from the bottom. It does get a bit messy but 2 passes does the job.

Thanks guys....anyone burn those blocks that are supposed to reduce creosote buildup? Do they work?

I don't know if it is the same thing but I use a granulated product that is supposed to make the cresote less gummy and easier to remove. It's hard to make a comparison due to other factors involved and just annual cleanings but I'm going to keep using it.

They are not the "miracle cure" they are sometimes advertised as but they do generally help to dry out sticky/tarry creosote buildup (if present).

they may help , I believe they act as a drying agent , I don't use them

burn a hot fire with dry wood and the damper wide open heats the chimney and keeps the creoste dry and flakes off

keeping flue temp up is the number one way to reduce creosote.

it may be worth having a moisture meter

lots of good kindling split small creosote is unburn fuel , if you get it burning and hot right away there isn't much to stick to the cool flue , getting the flue warmed up also reduces buildup


you need to get it clean first , then keep burning hot fires with dry wood

you said it is an easy access , check it regular at no point should it be sticky

my air tight stove with 6 inch stainless chimney gets very little build up and it is always dry and powders off as I run the brush

It uses a little more wood , but my chimney is not easy access so I burn till noon with the air wide open , this time of year almost always have air wide open , the over night is about the only time I damper down

doing this I inspect every year and seldom really need a cleaning often cleaning every other year

I had a freind who was out of work and sleeping on the couch next to the stove to keep it fed , his wood was split that year and not dry enough he had a chimney fire with a modern stove and new stainless chimney it is possible

dry wood , they say anything 16% or less , if you can 12-13% is better your would shouldn't ever hiss and should be easy to get lit.

Been watching for flexible rods so I can sweep from below.

I have used stuff for many years called "Creosote Beater" I get from Menards. A scoop of it once a week keeps everything in the chimney dry and flaky rather than gummy. It makes it very easy to clean when necessary.

I also keep my fires hot and have double insulated pipe in a straight run from the stove up through the roof. My theory I that the hotter you can keep the smoke the less chance of creosote buildup in the chimney. Has worked with no problems for about 15 years

Moosetrot

with a 1 1/2 story house and a first floor stove also a 12/12 pitch on the roof and the chimney is 6 feet out the roof deck

I clean form inside

I have an telescoping section inside 3 screws removed pull it down a couple inches and take it outside to get swept

then I use a garbage bag with some tape on it on the side cut a little x in the tape this way the bag doesn't rip out the first section of 4 foot fiberglass rod attached to the brush, push the brush up into the chimney then get the hole in the bag over the rod and tape or rubber band the bag to the part that hangs down a few inches from the ceiling box

then I work that section up and down then up and add the next section I need 4 sections I work all the way up scrubbing up and down then repeat on the way down as I remove sections of rod when I am all the way back down having scrubbed everything I pull the brush out of the chimney and into the bag remove tape or rubber bands and take that mess outside 99% contained

I have taped my cell phone to the rod and run it up for an inspection just a video then I can review the video when I bring it back down it worked well I could tell my screen at the cap was clean .

vacuum a little and put the telescoping section back in place get the holes lined up and put the 3 screws back in

That's what I used to use to clean my chimney.

the view from the top of my chimney inspection video

Pretty slick. My rods are same as yours.

27' to top of stack, only access us 2' from floor, or 8/12 slate roof.
To get it from below rods need to flex near 90 degrees.
And my big ladder got red tagged by the family lol.

Heard about a brush that connects to a drill. Not seen one.