It was surprisingly hot here yesterday with a high of 97 degrees F. Still, the cold rainy weather of fall will arrive soon. I heat primarily with wood, so the chimney needs to be swept at least yearly to avoid the possibility of a creosote fire. Today I got out the ladder and chimney brushes and climbed up on the roof to get the job done.
My chimney is a 6 inch pipe leading from the wood stove insert in my fireplace to the top of the brick chimney I would guess it is about 14 to 16 feet long.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300713-f37bf7316e7dadf9b3831d545f762a71.jpg?hash=eKtYo7xH0S)
The chimney and flashing is beginning to show its age and I should likely replace it next summer. I have no idea how old this chimney is since it was installed before I moved here 10 years ago.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300715-e8988b051af831b87352d799629aad92.jpg?hash=meX7fBYsAQ)
I use a 6 inch poly brush with a series of 4 foot fiberglass rods. It is important to twist the rod as you push it back and forth down the chimney pipe. I make sure to twist in the same direction as the threads on the rods so they don't unscrew while I am cleaning.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300716-1fb4db7f4a805a7d2beb225ef7b5af5d.jpg?hash=ZvLVcZVCP1)
There was much more creosote than I have seen in previous years. I don't know if that has anything to do with burning some cedar last winter. In the past I had only burned douglas fir. I think this year it will be a good idea to brush the chimney again early in the spring after burning a couple cords of wood.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300717-bfb51b1c6ad808d0ca140579f925c9fb.jpg?hash=aOMASKdRfG)
One of the firebricks was cracked so I replaced it.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300718-4b5c5251f04c17686318457285b79d94.jpg?hash=7sDTUy8Bm8)
There is always some residue buildup on the glass. This is easily removed with a few damp sheets of newspaper. Newspaper is somewhat abrasive by itself, but there is also likely some ash on the inside of the glass that helps to scrub off the junk.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300719-51f0442927e1f3c53f9a52ee3e6a9f27.jpg?hash=rNByETvWzQ)
Once the glass was clean I finished it off with a spritz of windex and some paper towels. Now I am ready for the first fire of the season. This should be in about a week. The weather will be cooling substantially and the rain will begin again.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300720-348e7928cbffa013a9757f693a3899cf.jpg?hash=qjWivvRylK)
While I was up on the roof, I got a great shot of my firewood supply for the 2026 and 2027 hearting season.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300721-6889d3ae8b8c9d719dd760c0cfd4fa22.jpg?hash=uGqqK8ITbX)
My chimney is a 6 inch pipe leading from the wood stove insert in my fireplace to the top of the brick chimney I would guess it is about 14 to 16 feet long.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300713-f37bf7316e7dadf9b3831d545f762a71.jpg?hash=eKtYo7xH0S)
The chimney and flashing is beginning to show its age and I should likely replace it next summer. I have no idea how old this chimney is since it was installed before I moved here 10 years ago.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300714-2e55a79384d153f2aec907f975d02098.jpg?hash=H3ZhOYFe6C)
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300715-e8988b051af831b87352d799629aad92.jpg?hash=meX7fBYsAQ)
I use a 6 inch poly brush with a series of 4 foot fiberglass rods. It is important to twist the rod as you push it back and forth down the chimney pipe. I make sure to twist in the same direction as the threads on the rods so they don't unscrew while I am cleaning.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300716-1fb4db7f4a805a7d2beb225ef7b5af5d.jpg?hash=ZvLVcZVCP1)
There was much more creosote than I have seen in previous years. I don't know if that has anything to do with burning some cedar last winter. In the past I had only burned douglas fir. I think this year it will be a good idea to brush the chimney again early in the spring after burning a couple cords of wood.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300717-bfb51b1c6ad808d0ca140579f925c9fb.jpg?hash=aOMASKdRfG)
One of the firebricks was cracked so I replaced it.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300718-4b5c5251f04c17686318457285b79d94.jpg?hash=7sDTUy8Bm8)
There is always some residue buildup on the glass. This is easily removed with a few damp sheets of newspaper. Newspaper is somewhat abrasive by itself, but there is also likely some ash on the inside of the glass that helps to scrub off the junk.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300719-51f0442927e1f3c53f9a52ee3e6a9f27.jpg?hash=rNByETvWzQ)
Once the glass was clean I finished it off with a spritz of windex and some paper towels. Now I am ready for the first fire of the season. This should be in about a week. The weather will be cooling substantially and the rain will begin again.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300720-348e7928cbffa013a9757f693a3899cf.jpg?hash=qjWivvRylK)
While I was up on the roof, I got a great shot of my firewood supply for the 2026 and 2027 hearting season.
![[Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022 [Hearth.com] Chimney sweeping 2022](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/300/300721-6889d3ae8b8c9d719dd760c0cfd4fa22.jpg?hash=uGqqK8ITbX)