Found ice in chimney!

[EatenByLimestone]

I did a quick cleanout of my pipe and chimney today. My pipe wasn't as clean as I'd like it, but my chimney was clean as it has always been. I have a pretty good run of pipe so I wonder if all the creosote condenses out before the chimney? Anyway, I opened my cleanout door on the bottom, I clean from the bottom up, and there was a big pile of ice looking at me! We've had a good deal of snow and freezing rain this year, I guess this confirms my feeling that it really doesn't get warm at the bottom of the chimney. I wonder if I should chip it out?

Matt

 

[Mike Wilson]

It probably drips down and freezes on contact. I'd carefully remove some of it out just to have a clear path for any more water that comes down. If it freezes up, who knows where the new water could wind up.

-- Mike

 

[Highbeam]

Get a really hot rock and jsut set it in there to melt out the ice. I wouldn't do much chipping, that sounds like work.

 

[JimWalshin845]

Nope... get some Propane gas from your neighbor ;-)

 

[Henz]

use a portable drill with a spade bit or large bit and put some holes in it

 

[jtb51b]

Reading this made me wonder, does the chimney get hotter at the top than the bottom???? I wouldn't think so but I've been wrong before..

Jason

 

[JimWalshin845]

Reading this made me wonder, does the chimney get hotter at the top than the bottom???? I wouldn't think so but I've been wrong before..

Jason

No, the gases are cooler at the top of the chimney, that is where you will usually start to see creosote first. You will also see many posts here that it is important to insulate the top of the chimney liners to keep the flue gases as warm as possible.