leaf blower trick... finally

[SmokeyTheBear]

I see it and will say it again...you people are nuts. Cleaning stoves with yard equipment up on yer roof is insane, dangerous, pollutious (I made up that word) and overall just plain silly.

Maybe but it works great.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I borrowed a leaf blower and was amazed how well my stove has been running since...now I am looking to buy one...any recommendations? I looked at a Husqvarna...470 cfm, 250$
Any opinions welcome

Cheap electric ones work quite well.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Yeah, they should be ashaimed.........

I believe that is ashiamed according to the grand exalted one.

But we ain't.

 

[DneprDave]

I have a real cheap electric leaf blower. They all suck and blow. You just put the suck side against the chimney and turn it on, this isn't rocket surgery!

Dave

 

[Monosperma]

Not a substitute for a real brushing-out, though, is it?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Not a substitute for a real brushing-out, though, is it?

You need to at least loosen up the crud, but after doing that if you hit it with the leaf blower around every ton you find very little to brush out anywhere.

There are a number of stoves that it are very hard to get all of the inner passages in the heat exchanger/exhaust system cleaned out and the added usage of the leaf blower goes a long way to getting those ones cleaned, some of these stoves you can even use a strong shop vac on with the same effect.

Everyone gets to decide what to use.

I have to go outside to get part of my vent really clean anyway so it is simpler to use the leaf blower and get all the way back to the upper portion of the heat exchanger. Then it is scrape, brush, and vacuum time.

I prefer to keep up with things than to have a plugged up stove giving me fits and this only takes a few minutes and that part of the mess is all outside.

 

[WoodPorn]

I cleaned my stove using the leaf blower trick just the other day!

I just handed the leaf blower to my wife and said, "Put this side of the leaf blower on top of the chimney and turn it on!" It was real easy, she didn't get any soot on her or anything!

Dave

When I nod my head......You hit it

 

[krooser]

Who's the moron who suggested this leaf blower deal anyway?

 

[Monosperma]

I dunno... it sounds like an urban myth/prank to me, sort of like cow-tipping.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I know who brought it here krooser ole buddy, that guy with the RumbleFest promotion in his sig, and we also know how he found out about it.

What you never went cow tipping? How about outhouse tipping?


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I'll let you find one on cow tipping.

 

[Monosperma]

Let me ask this: is the technique primarily for pellet stoves only, or is it applicable to wood burning ones as well?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Let me ask this: is the technique primarily for pellet stoves only, or is it applicable to wood burning ones as well?

I suspect just for pellet stoves although the newer wood burners have twists and turns in their exhaust paths these days.

If you ever clean a pellet stove you'll know how it can help matters quite a bit.

 

[DV]

Will the leaf blower suck the ash out of the clean out tee? Or do you still need to take that apart?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Will the leaf blower suck the ash out of the clean out tee? Or do you still need to take that apart?

If the ash is not stuck to the venting it will be removed from a clean out tee.

I can clean the ash out of my stove with a leaf blower from the outside horizontal run and as long as I haven't allowed a really bad burn to run for a long time it cleans piratically all of the ash from the end of the vent trough the tee, the combustion blower cavity, the passage ways to the ash traps, and the ash traps. It can get some of the stuff off of the heat exchanger tubes. What it will remove depends upon the leaf blower, the venting, the internals of the stove, weather the burns have deposited a sticky film that the ash can stick to, and not burning until everything gets plugged up.

The key to easy cleaning starts with a good burn and making it a regular thing to do

 

[Washed-Up]

Cheap electric ones work quite well.

Ok...electric...and any model suggestions?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Ok...electric...and any model suggestions?

Nope I had one that I use to shred leaves for compost pile making and just put it to work on the stove. It was a cheapo one form Lowes.

 

[Washed-Up]

Nope I had one that I use to shred leaves for compost pile making and just put it to work on the stove. It was a cheapo one form Lowes.

Do you know, offhand, what the CFM rating is on it?

 

[DV]

Aren't you running a brush thru the clean out first?

No. I have used the leaf blower once but was wondering if It removed the ash from the tee. After this ton I will use leaf blower and then remove my tee to see what results are?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Do you know, offhand, what the CFM rating is on it?

I'd say from the way it tosses the mess out somewhere north of 300CFM.

 

[P38X2]

Ok...electric...and any model suggestions?

Just bought a Homelite UT42120 for $39.99 at HD. 350CFM. I used the first section of the vac tube and taped a 4" to 3" PVC adapter to the end. Depending on what brand of pipe you have you may have to increase the ID of the adapter very slightly to fit your vent. Total cost, $44 + a couple feet of duct tape.

As countless have stated, it works extremely well, and is fun. Obviously, brush your vent first for best results.

 

[P38X2]

i got a 18hp billy goat walk behind, i gotta try this send the soot across town
ok maybe ill just use the 11 or 9 hp
Save Scott's service call fee

Neighbors and townspeople..."It's that guy with all the pellets again!"

 

[P38X2]

You're a lucky man! And I thought beer with steak was living large.

 

[P38X2]

Thanks Glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Leroy_B]

I like the method. My neighbor has asked me to clean his chimney and pellet stove, Seems pretty easy to do. Just point in the direction of the wind is blowing. The video looks cool as it's done. I want to see his reaction when all the ash flies out. The chimney will get the usual boring brush cleaning and dig out the creosote cake.

 

[Washed-Up]

LMAO...thanks guys...for the advice...and awesome pics...I ended up buying an electric with 530cfm...40$...couldn't be more happy...it hooks up with duct tape, and I use a compressor inside...KABBOOMM...AND POOF clean and hot!