In my current house built in 1979, I have a fireplace in my den. The house has been in my family about 20 years. I don't think the chimney has ever been swept.

Last week, I had a guy come over while I was at work to sweep it (my wife stays home with our kids) and he told her that he couldn't do it because of the fire place insert we have. He said whoever put the insert in did it wrong (my Dad and Uncle) and it was actually a size bigger than what should have gone in there. They couldn't get it out to sweep the chimney and neither could I.

I did burn a few fires in there last winter without any issues, but would like to be cautious. The wife is worried about a chimeny fire. If this can't be swept, then do you guys recommend any type of "Chimney Cleaning" log in particular? How many should I burn also?

 

It went in it should come out. Why does it have to come out to sweep the chimney anyway. Here they go up on the roof and knock all the crap down where it is cleaned up in the fire place. It sounds like the guy you hired was too lazy to put any effort in. I would call someone else.

 

I hear ya. I wasn't home when he tried it. He tried it with another guy. It took 4 of us to put it in, it is very heavy. That's what I thought, that he could go up on the roof and sweep it down. Oh well. Maybe I'll give someone else a call then.

 

Yes, definitely call another company. I get mine swept every 2 seasons and I burn a creosote log once or twice a season. The company I use has always went on the roof to sweep it\clean it out. :santa:

 

I just talked to the wife again, and she said that the guys who came out last time claimed that all the debris would fall on top of the insert and they wouldn't be able to get it off the top. I just poked my head in there and I kind of see what they mean. Guess I'll have to call a couple of guys and He-Man it out.

 

I can't offer any help but I remember we had a chimney fire once when I was younger. Some neighbors came over and asked if we were shooting fireworks out of our chimney. Sure enough, we walk outside and there is a fireball coming out of the top.

 

Do you have to do this for gas burning?

 

In Ohio, if you put an insert in the fireplace, I believe that they normally run a new flue up through the chimney. We were looking at a fireplace insert, (but went with a woodburning stove), and they explained to me that it would be necessary to put a new fireplace flue alll the way to the top.

I get on the roof and clean out my chimney twice a season; once in the middle of it, and once at the end of it...I use the brushes and clean everything out---I guess that I am overly cautious.

Tim C.

 

That may have been due to the size of the flue. The insert probably did not need as large a flue, and if yours was too large, it could cause creosote build up due to the gases condensing before it reached the top.

 

If you can put a chimney liner in, you can get the brushes for it and just do it yourself. (You should have the chimney cleaned first.)

http://www.chimneylinerdepot.com/

Tim C.