rockandroller
ArboristSite Lurker
Chimney is about 25 feet tall, runs from the basement straight up the middle of our two story log house.
We bought the house Oct 2011. Previous owners allegedly had the chimney swept June 2011.
They probably burnt a little wood from sept to mid-oct, though it was a VERY WARM September last year.
I can't say how much they burnt, or what... We spent the last year using ONLY the electric furnace, did not have time to mess with any wood!
Anyway, there is a wood-burning forced air furnace (Scotty SS) and we want to burn 3 or 4 cords of dry maple and birch in it this season.
There is also a small ENVIRO 1000 wood stove in the living room, but we do not plan to use it unless the power goes out.
I got up on the roof and checked out the chimney yesterday, bricks & flashing look OK.
The end cap on the wood furnace stack wasn't removable without re-sealing, so I didn't take it off (just stuck a camera down).
Was a bit disappointed it didn't have any spark arrestor mesh, and was open to birds, etc - but happily it looks clear of debris.
The end cap on the woodstove stack was nicker, and came off with a screw.
I was somewhat disappointed to see it had what looked like "EL-CHEAPO" corrugated flex liner riveted inside.
I understand that "smooth interior" flex liner is a superior product, in terms of maintenance.
I'm not sure that this is even steel, looks a bit like aluminum ( and I neglected to bring a magnet when I went up to inspect)
My question... given that it was supposedly cleaned the previous June, and likely didn't see even a month of burning since, would it most likely be OK to postpone cleaning before this season, and just start burning wood?
I've never cleaned one of these, and all the local sweeps are booked solid the next few weeks.
I want to be prudent, but not too paranoid if there is no reason! What do you say?
View attachment 256121
the chimney
View attachment 256122
looking down furnace flue, daylight
View attachment 256123
looking down furnace flue, flash foto
View attachment 256124
looking down furnace flue, flash foto zoomed to see further down
View attachment 256125
The liner in the woodstove flue
We bought the house Oct 2011. Previous owners allegedly had the chimney swept June 2011.
They probably burnt a little wood from sept to mid-oct, though it was a VERY WARM September last year.
I can't say how much they burnt, or what... We spent the last year using ONLY the electric furnace, did not have time to mess with any wood!
Anyway, there is a wood-burning forced air furnace (Scotty SS) and we want to burn 3 or 4 cords of dry maple and birch in it this season.
There is also a small ENVIRO 1000 wood stove in the living room, but we do not plan to use it unless the power goes out.
I got up on the roof and checked out the chimney yesterday, bricks & flashing look OK.
The end cap on the wood furnace stack wasn't removable without re-sealing, so I didn't take it off (just stuck a camera down).
Was a bit disappointed it didn't have any spark arrestor mesh, and was open to birds, etc - but happily it looks clear of debris.
The end cap on the woodstove stack was nicker, and came off with a screw.
I was somewhat disappointed to see it had what looked like "EL-CHEAPO" corrugated flex liner riveted inside.
I understand that "smooth interior" flex liner is a superior product, in terms of maintenance.
I'm not sure that this is even steel, looks a bit like aluminum ( and I neglected to bring a magnet when I went up to inspect)
My question... given that it was supposedly cleaned the previous June, and likely didn't see even a month of burning since, would it most likely be OK to postpone cleaning before this season, and just start burning wood?
I've never cleaned one of these, and all the local sweeps are booked solid the next few weeks.
I want to be prudent, but not too paranoid if there is no reason! What do you say?
View attachment 256121
the chimney
View attachment 256122
looking down furnace flue, daylight
View attachment 256123
looking down furnace flue, flash foto
View attachment 256124
looking down furnace flue, flash foto zoomed to see further down
View attachment 256125
The liner in the woodstove flue
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