Need Help. Dropped Chimney sweep down chimney

[bobr1]

Hello All,

I finally got around to working on our old jimmy rigged fireplace insert from the previous owner. I was able to get about 5 trash bags of ash and burned trash from previous owner and was cleaning it up to use as emergency heat here in Montana. As of now we only have electric for heat source. So anyways, I decided to clean up as much as I could and had bought a chimney sweep kit with the click on extensions. It was working pretty well and I had the 3rd extension on and I guess I did not have it clicked all the way on and it fell down the chimney.

Now... I am trying to figure out how to retrieve it. This was a semi-slammed insert, as it has a rectangular exhaust and they used sheet metal to go from rectangular to round, and they used stove pipe all the way up the chimney. Part of the issue is the damper is in the stove, and I cannot get to it from the stove because in the closed position I cant get my hands in. In the open position it blocks behind where it is. I have been attempting to take off the sheet metal but there are screws in the back that I cannot get to, and honestly I have not been able to figure out how they were even able to do it. I was able to see part of the orange brush between the top of the insert and sheet metal so I know its just above the fireplace insert.

Any ideas on how to get it out? I was thinking maybe a rare earth magnet on a string but the stove pipe is also steel, and the throat and exhaust is like 45 degree angle.


Any help or feedback is appreciated,

Thank you

 

[stoveliker]

I think you have to take the insert out anyway; you need a proper chimney liner and connection to that.
So I'd demolish the sheet metal (if you can't slide the insert out any other way), and then slide out the insert, and retrieve the brush.

 

[EbS-P]

I think you have to take the insert out anyway; you need a proper chimney liner and connection to that.
So I'd demolish the sheet metal (if you can't slide the insert out any other way), and then slide out the insert, and retrieve the brush.

I agree do it right. Pull it all out. Get a correct liner. Or just scrap it all. It’s not worth the risk. It’s a fire inside your house.

 

[bobr1]

I think you have to take the insert out anyway; you need a proper chimney liner and connection to that.
So I'd demolish the sheet metal (if you can't slide the insert out any other way), and then slide out the insert, and retrieve the brush.

I agree do it right. Pull it all out. Get a correct liner. Or just scrap it all. It’s not worth the risk. It’s a fire inside your house.

I agree with both of you. I think it was a blessing in disguise because I wasn't sure how bad the setup was until digging into and looking at what they had done to the insert and chimney. I am not planning on using it now, I really just want the brush out of it. My only concern at the moment is if I remove all of it I don't have a damper to seal off the chimney and have the house air getting pulled out. I also don't have the budget at the moment for a new insert and liner. Quote I got for a pacific super LE with liner, install, and removal of the current stove is $8,000. I might need to wait until later this year.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Woody Stover]

You could go up there and cap it off at the top...

 

[stoveliker]

Or stuff a plastic bag with (or only) foam in there?

 

[Woody Stover]

super LE with liner, install, and removal of the current stove is $8,000. I might need to wait until later this year.

Read up here in "Resourses," then ask questions. It's not that hard to install it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. You could probably knock 3K off that price.

 

[EbS-P]

I’m happy with my Drolet 1800i. They sell inflatable chimney balloons. The PE is a really good unit.

 

[Woody Stover]

The PE is a really good unit.

Agreed, got a T5 for my SIL. Quality rig. Very simple, with few parts.

 

[MRD1985]

Another vote for Drolet 1800i

 

[bobr1]

Read up here in "Resourses," then ask questions. It's not that hard to install it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. You could probably knock 3K off that price.

Yeah I tend to do everything myself if I can. I was planning on getting it done recently but had an unexpected $4000+ vet bill last month for emergency surgery on our dog.

I’m happy with my Drolet 1800i. They sell inflatable chimney balloons. The PE is a really good unit.

I haven't heard of them before but that is way cheaper for the whole kit, it looks like $2000 for the insert and tubing. I am limited to two distributors in my area and they don't offer that brand. They are wanting $3,500 for just the PE stove and that was a quote from 2 years ago.

 

[stoveliker]

The Drolet you buy online and gets shipped to you. No middleman needed.

When you line the chimney (later), do get the insulated liner. It'll perform better, it's safer, and in almost all cases mandated by code.

 

[bobr1]

The Drolet you buy online and gets shipped to you. No middleman needed.

When you line the chimney (later), do get the insulated liner. It'll perform better, it's safer, and in almost all cases mandated

Would you suggest just getting the stove and buying an insulated liner separately?

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, that is perfectly fine to do if you install it yourself.

Installers don't like to install what they didn't provide (mark up for warranty etc). So do be sure that you'll be able to do it.

Also ask here about all the parts you need for the complete system, so you don't buy stuff you end up not needing.

 

[EbS-P]

Would you suggest just getting the stove and buying an insulated liner separately?

I bought the Drolet kit. It’s a light weight liner. For emergency occasional uses it’s fine. If you wanted to heat 24/7 expect about 10 years of service . I would suggest the mid or heavy weight liner if you will heating a lot with it.

I ordered an insulation kit off Amazon sold by Rockford chimney.

 

[MRD1985]

Would you suggest just getting the stove and buying an insulated liner separately?

That’s how I did it. I bought a light wall liner (.006”) insulated with an outer shell to protect the insulation, and a chimney cap and topper. I would suggest buying the stove adapter through Drolet to attach the liner to the stove securely. The adapter that came with my liner kit did not fit well.

Fireside chimney supply offers a true lifetime warranty on their 0.006” liners. The only catch is you cannot burn coal with it and keep the life time warranty. Before I purchased the liner the gentleman I spoke to on the phone had kits out there for 20+ years and have not had to warranty one

 

[bobr1]

Yes, that is perfectly fine to do if you install it yourself.

Installers don't like to install what they didn't provide (mark up for warranty etc). So do be sure that you'll be able to do it.

Also ask here about all the parts you need for the complete system, so you don't buy stuff you end up not needing.

I bought the Drolet kit. It’s a light weight liner. For emergency occasional uses it’s fine. If you wanted to heat 24/7 expect about 10 years of service . I would suggest the mid or heavy weight liner if you will heating a lot with it.

I ordered an insulation kit off Amazon sold by Rockford chimney.

Do you think the Drolet insert is worth it over a PE, Lopi , or Jotul insert? I am of the mind set buy once cry once. But I am less experienced than most of the members here.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[stoveliker]

Drolet is a value brand - but a solid one. Osburn is the brand from the same mfg above that.
PE is I think a top brand.

Lopi and Jotul are solid.too.

If you're buy once cry once, buy what you like to see - you'll be looking at it for decades if it's one of those brands above.