My first sweep: ovalized bush, conduit rods. safety line (pics)

[CarbonNeutral]

Thought I'd share my story of my first every sweeping - maybe it will help someone..

I was overdue for a sweep, at least where the cap is concerned - see this thread: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/54017/

I had put off sweeping until I had rigged a safety line across the ridge of the roof - I don't mind heights, but the unpredictability of a shingle suddenly giving way (especially the way my house was built..) made this a requirement in my mind. I drilled holes in the end roof trusses out through the fascia, put eye bolts in with a nut holding them on the inside. then ran 40' of stainless 3/16" cable just down from the ridge. I can clip into this with a harness and sling to walk the length of the roof (I can get onto the roof via a bedroom window and an odd roof setup that I have). Only the eye bolts had no rated loading, but they're big, and I won't be falling, more using the line to stop a slip/roll, so they should be fine.

I have an oval Simpson flue, so I cut down an 8" Rutland poly brush (see pic). That took a while as I wanted to make sure it was just right, especially when the bristles have to swap direction when you're pulling upwards. I used the electrical conduit method for rods (thanks Gooserider and others) - three 10' 3/4" conduits, one PVC 3/4" to 1/2" NPT (female), one brass 1/2" NPT to 1/4" adapter. Use pipe solvent and glue to glue the plastic adapter, insert the brass fitting, then threadlock to secure the brush to the first section of conduit.

I sanded the ends of the conduit so they came apart a little easier, then drilled a hole though the assembled joints. Instead of a bolt I used a pin with a clasp (see pic). Just a little quicker and less fiddly than a nut/bolt. Rope attached to the brush eyelet, then hitches at the top of the brush, and hitches on the conduit. I did the extra hitch on the top of the brush because I figured than if I did have to use the rope to pull the brush out, this would help keep the brush aligned.

To get the lengths up on the roof I dropped a rope down to my waiting assistant (SWMBO) who clipped a section on using a small loop of rope attached through the pin.

The sweeping went well - I didn't feel that I was using too much force, and the pipe certainly ended up clean. About $90 in costs, so I've already saved $60 for a sweep..

 

[Fake coal burner]

Good job now you don't have a excuse for letting you pipe and cap get plugged . Be a lot safer burning clean. ;-P

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Sounds good Carbon even if the cost was a bit high; it is only that cost one time!

I too have a safety rope for use when climbing on the roof. It was not always this way but because I tend to get muscle spasms and also one leg sometimes quits working....and age, I now do what I should have been doing all those previous years. It simply makes sense when you are up in the air; clamp yourself in. I have a unique system I use sometimes for climbing trees while deer hunting and it works really well. I can raise or lower myself very easily and it is safety designed so that if I let loose of the lever for lowering myself, it will not lower any more. It works like a charm.