How many people sweep their own chimney?
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I do it most of the time. I have a guy who does a sweep special a couple times a year for $60. I hang with him and ask him a bunch of questions. I've had him do it twice. He's very nice, does a good job, and doesn't seem to mind my questions. I've done it myself a bunch of times as well, so sometimes vote for me.
I do it myself for the same reason I do my own tire rotations, oil changes, and most all repairs (other than warranty work)........ It takes less time to do it myself than to let the shop do it.
If I hired a sweep, I'd have to take an entire morning and set aside waiting for him to come and do the job, or an afternoon for when he could show up etc. But, for me, it's easier load the stove light the night before a sweep, then not do a load in the morning, get up and spend 30 mins start to finish right after breakfast on a day off, then have things rolling again and still off to do something else before 9am.
I do the same thing with getting new tires, wife's car was due so I stopped by a buddy's shop and ordered a set. Rather than push my friendship on a day I had to get stuff done (the same time everyone else around wants switched to snow tires) I took 15 minutes and pulled the rims myself at home, dropped them at the shop in the morning, then came back after getting the wood done to pick up the rims with new tires.
Now, I am able yet, so I do such. Point is, one does what one can. If cleanings aren't out of your realm then do them as it's easy. If you have a tough to clean chimney due to height / construction, a life so busy that even the time a cleaning takes is too much to spare, etc, no shame in hiring it out. Main thing is that it is done regularly (and regularly is based upon inspections and burning experience for what is needed,,,,, the first few years, err on the side of too much)
pen
If I hired a sweep, I'd have to take an entire morning and set aside waiting for him to come and do the job, or an afternoon for when he could show up etc. But, for me, it's easier load the stove light the night before a sweep, then not do a load in the morning, get up and spend 30 mins start to finish right after breakfast on a day off, then have things rolling again and still off to do something else before 9am.
I do the same thing with getting new tires, wife's car was due so I stopped by a buddy's shop and ordered a set. Rather than push my friendship on a day I had to get stuff done (the same time everyone else around wants switched to snow tires) I took 15 minutes and pulled the rims myself at home, dropped them at the shop in the morning, then came back after getting the wood done to pick up the rims with new tires.
Now, I am able yet, so I do such. Point is, one does what one can. If cleanings aren't out of your realm then do them as it's easy. If you have a tough to clean chimney due to height / construction, a life so busy that even the time a cleaning takes is too much to spare, etc, no shame in hiring it out. Main thing is that it is done regularly (and regularly is based upon inspections and burning experience for what is needed,,,,, the first few years, err on the side of too much)
pen
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All the time ( since the sweep I used in the fall charged $100 to sweep, and the next year on a cool, clear, no snow, no ice, day charged me $250 for less than the same job). Pecker head, lost a lot of business.Word of mouth is a witch.
The Dixette works the roof, and I work the stoves. Easy Peasy.
The Dixette works the roof, and I work the stoves. Easy Peasy.
Quentin2
Burning Hunk
Just did mine for the first time on a new install, I was curious to see what was in the pipes. It never crossed my mind to pay someone to do it.
We had a few bad ice storms and the weekend I had chosen to do it I checked out the roof and it was a skating rink so I waited for the next weekend, this time we were in a wind storm gusting 40 mph +. I was leaving town for work and the wife was gonna keep the stove going while I was gone. I felt it necessary to check it. I brought a couple bungee cords up with me and strapped the cap to another vent on the roof, worked pretty sweet.
We had a few bad ice storms and the weekend I had chosen to do it I checked out the roof and it was a skating rink so I waited for the next weekend, this time we were in a wind storm gusting 40 mph +. I was leaving town for work and the wife was gonna keep the stove going while I was gone. I felt it necessary to check it. I brought a couple bungee cords up with me and strapped the cap to another vent on the roof, worked pretty sweet.
Never cleaned a clay lined but it doesn't take much skill to run a brush down a pipe, the hardest part is getting up to do it, some are harder than others, I'm lucky, mine's easy so I do it myself.
I grew up with a family member that for 25 years has lived by the saying (literally he says this if you ask how he's doing) "I have one foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel." Point is, he's 94 and still going, but had one hell of a scare back then and has always tried to keep up as if he's not there tomorrow to make sure that the people around him are not going to feel a burden due to his absence.
Well done on looking ahead as well.
Back in 1985 I hired sweeps to come out and clean the tile lined chimney of my slammer insert. They came in wearing the stupid hat and one went to the roof while the other one set up the insert puller and pulled the 650 lb. beast out and did a lot of drama in the fireplace. Three nights later I had my first chimney fire.
Been doing it myself every since. Hell, I can burn my house down cheaper than that.
Been doing it myself every since. Hell, I can burn my house down cheaper than that.
scroungerjeff
Burning Hunk
Since the new FP in 2011, i have done all the sweeping myself. Just followed the manual and good to go. The chimney is almost 30' high so i need to put a ladder on the slightly sloped porch roof to reach the top of the chimney. I installed a hook in a stud of the chimney so I can tie the ladder down and not have it kick out while I'm up there. I works pretty well. I even clean my dad's since it's the same diameter.
I always clean myself once a year. Previously it has always been from the roof with a garbage bag duct taped to my open cleanout tie. This year the weather was very windy and icy so I cleaned inside. While quite a bit more messy, it was still a lot easier than climbing the roof. Cap doesn't get real dirty but I think I will try to do it from the roof every other year.
Seanm
Minister of Fire
Ive always done it myself, top down, takes about 3/4 of an hour. I have an 8 inch and a 6 inch poly with poles. Always offer it to my friends when ever they need to borrow my gear.
Soundchasm
Minister of Fire
I've found a guy who really has a sincere soul for his work. He comes out once a year and does both stacks. Cleans and inspects the crap out of everything. Cleans up after himself. I think sometimes he has a dirty, dangerous job. And he stands on top of the stack to work. He came this autumn at the height of fall color. I looked up at him standing up there and thought, "boy, what a view that must be".
If I ever could get a training run, I might get the sooteater for a mid-winter sweep, but I'll keep hiring this guy because he deserves my business.
If I ever could get a training run, I might get the sooteater for a mid-winter sweep, but I'll keep hiring this guy because he deserves my business.
Soundchasm
Minister of Fire
Yup....It's helpful to see what comes out as that gives you an idea of how your stove is performing, if your wood is properly seasoned etc. The brush and rods were available at a local Lowes and weren't expensive; I would hazard a guess that they were equivalent to or less than the cost of having one cleaning done by a chimney sweep. After that, it's pure gravy. There is peace of mind when it's done, and because I have the tools, it will get done more frequently than having to pay someone to do it.
HDRock
Minister of Fire
Have always done it myself, 6 12 pitch roof, easy
I am the operator the inspector and sweep
I am the operator the inspector and sweep
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etiger2007
Minister of Fire
HDRock
Minister of Fire
Nope. I've been using the sooteater for the last 4-5 years and have a sewer cam to inspect the liner - it does a GREAT job cleaning.
UncleJoe
Burning Hunk
Did a 30' clay lined chimney at the old farm house. When we first converted to wood we had a fellow come out to clean and inspect it. After that it was all me. Other places to put that $100. Our 10' of SS at this place is a breeze in comparison.
I was thinking that's what it was, but it seems to be sucking rather than blowing. Whatever it is, I can't imagine the neighbors are all that impressed with it.
If I didn't sweep the chimney I'd just be the creepy guy singing Mary Poppins songs in my back yard.
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