Just saved myself about $250.00

[TheRabbit]

By deep cleaning and sweeping the fireplace and chimney myself.

Getting a chimney sweep is only about $150.00, but the premium service is about $250.00 and includes scraping and cleaning the fireplace and glass.

I found a chimney sweeping brush in the shed and figured I would try something new. The fireplace (an Avalon Rainier wood burning insert) was filthy. The last people that lived here were not very clean people. I scooped half a garbage bag of ash and debris out of it. There was melted plastic, foil and a cardboard package from a dogs chew toy in there as well.

I cleaned everything out and then removed all of the fire bricks, carefully laying them in order outside of the fireplace. I scraped all of the bricks and vacuumed them. Then I scraped the inside of the insert. It was very dirty. I maybe shouldn't have taken a shower before I cleaned the fireplace, but that's what happens when you're stoned.

Then I got the ladder out and climbed up on the roof. I had to shovel snow out of my path. I used the brush to clean the pipe in the chimney. I bet I took off a solid 1/2" of creosote.

Went back in the house and vacuumed the rest of the shit out of the insert. I put all of the fire bricks back in and then cleaned the glass on the door. Before I cleaned it, you couldn't see through it. I hit it with windex and used a razor blade for the stubborn stuff. Cleaned it all up and now you can easily watch the fire burn.

Everything took about an hour and now I am enjoying a nice warm fire.

[Unclefred]

Yeah, I did mine finally, after 10 years or so. It improved the draft.

[TheRabbit]

Yeah, I did mine finally, after 10 years or so. It improved the draft.

As a side note, I should mention that you should sweep your chimney (or have it done) after every 4-5 face cord of wood.

[dudeman]

[Night]

Did you take a shower afterwards?

[TheRabbit]

Wouldn't you like to know.

[Night]

Wouldn't you like to know.

Your wife wanted me to ask that. She doesn't want any surprises when she gets home

[gamgee]

What pitch is the roof? True Christmas village houses have at least a twelve pitch.

[swampbilly]

As a side note, I should mention that you should sweep your chimney (or have it done) after every 4-5 face cord of wood.

all i here about any mo is face cords....

to me a cord is 4x4x8.....split and stacked....4-6 inchs off da ground on termite proof media

[TheRabbit]

Your wife wanted me to ask that. She doesn't want any surprises when she gets home

She likes it when I'm dirty. She married a man.

What pitch is the roof? True Christmas village houses have at least a twelve pitch.

We moved out of Colden as of the 1st of the year. Now we are further north in a nice ranch.

all i here about any mo is face cords....

to me a cord is 4x4x8.....split and stacked....4-6 inchs off da ground on termite proof media

That's a full cord. A face cord is basically half that. It's 4' High X 8' L X Width of log. We go by the full cord in the country. Face cords are more for suburbs and people who don't primarily heat with wood.

[Absolutely!]

By deep cleaning and sweeping the fireplace and chimney myself.

Getting a chimney sweep is only about $150.00, but the premium service is about $250.00 and includes scraping and cleaning the fireplace and glass.

I found a chimney sweeping brush in the shed and figured I would try something new. The fireplace (an Avalon Rainier wood burning insert) was filthy. The last people that lived here were not very clean people. I scooped half a garbage bag of ash and debris out of it. There was melted plastic, foil and a cardboard package from a dogs chew toy in there as well.

I cleaned everything out and then removed all of the fire bricks, carefully laying them in order outside of the fireplace. I scraped all of the bricks and vacuumed them. Then I scraped the inside of the insert. It was very dirty. I maybe shouldn't have taken a shower before I cleaned the fireplace, but that's what happens when you're stoned.

Then I got the ladder out and climbed up on the roof. I had to shovel snow out of my path. I used the brush to clean the pipe in the chimney. I bet I took off a solid 1/2" of creosote.

Went back in the house and vacuumed the rest of the shit out of the insert. I put all of the fire bricks back in and then cleaned the glass on the door. Before I cleaned it, you couldn't see through it. I hit it with windex and used a razor blade for the stubborn stuff. Cleaned it all up and now you can easily watch the fire burn.

Everything took about an hour and now I am enjoying a nice warm fire.

Or you could've just burned some hardwood on high for an hour....

[Admin]

I'm trying to figure out where to put one of those clay fire pots at the girlfriend's house. The only place is on the deck, but I'm a little afraid to do that. I've considered buying some CMU block and making a little pad, but even then I'm not so sure it's a good idea.

[TheRabbit]

Or you could've just burned some hardwood on high for an hour....

All we burn is hardwood, so no, that is not true.

I'm trying to figure out where to put one of those clay fire pots at the girlfriend's house. The only place is on the deck, but I'm a little afraid to do that. I've considered buying some CMU block and making a little pad, but even then I'm not so sure it's a good idea.

Any paver will work. The clay furnaces and fire pits are pretty good at containing the fire. I did quite a few fire pits when I was doing landscaping.

[duke nukem]

I saved about tree 'fiddy by declining a trip to Scotland.

[Admin]

All we burn is hardwood, so no, that is not true.


Any paver will work. The clay furnaces and fire pits are pretty good at containing the fire. I did quite a few fire pits when I was doing landscaping.

So like a 3" thick paver? That still seems too close. Just the radiant heat could bake the deck.