Cleaning the Stovepipe

As far as maintenance, we clean the whole chimney before burning season, which is easy if you have a low pitched roof to walk on and a good chimney brush or install a chimney tee at the base of the chimney for a clean out.

After brushing the chimney, disconnect the pipe, which is between the wood furnace and the chimney in the wall and check for rust and soot. Then, through the season, tap on the pipe twice a week or so, and you can tell if it needs cleaning. If it feels empty and tinny it is okay. If it feels solid and full of soot, it definitely needs to be cleaned. You can also tell that the pipe or chimney is getting full of soot because you’ll notice that when you open the stove door, smoke seems to blow out easily and abnormally. This is because the chimney is becoming restricted and smoke, like water, flows on the easiest path. If it is full, you need to let the fire burn out, brush the chimney, disconnect the pipe and take it outside to clean it.  We average taking out the ashes once a day. This cleaning routine is extended when the wood is driest. Good, dry firewood burns so well the pipe and ashes don’t need to be cleaned for almost 2-1/2 months.