Swept chimney today

[LazyJ]

Found a little more soot than normal during semi-annual cleaning. Likely because it hasn't been very cold and the stove has spent a lot of time choked way down. This is from an insert with a triple-wall 20' pipe burning mostly white oak so far this season.

I'd guess there's about 3 quarts of creosote in this 2-gallon bucket. Is this still within what might be considered a safe accumulation or should I consider increasing frequency.

 

[City Slicker]

My two cents?

You may want to clean out more often just to be on the safe side. My roof pitch is 4/12, easy to walk on and I clean out every 3-4 weeks.

 

[gary A.]

I probably get a little more than that when I clean mine 2 times a season. But my chimney is about 38 foot masonary in the center of the house.
For my house chimney I would consider it ok but for the stainless steel double wall in the garage that would be a lot. It only creates about an inch or so in a 5 quart plastic bucket, and I probably burn just as much wood in it as I do in the house... gary

 

[LazyJ]

Thanks for the comparisons. I think I will step it up to about every 6 weeks. Only takes maybe an hour so its probably time well spent.

 

[gary A.]

Yea it never hurts anything to keep it fairly clean.. I've been burning about 25 years and never had any problems, but don't want any either.. gary