How To Clean Stove Pipe? In 2 Awesome Steps!

Do you wonder and question: how to clean stove pipe? There are two easy ways that you should follow- first is the preparation and second is the cleaning proper- as easy as these steps!

The thing is that the safe and efficient operation of your wood stove depends on the quality of your chimney pipe. Stovepipe extensions link a wood stove’s exhaust pipe to a wall or a chimney pipe below.

how to clean stove pipe

There should be no obstructions in front of the woodstove if it is located on the main floor of the house. Otherwise, you will heat the space directly. In contrast to electric stoves, wood stoves don’t need pipes or ducts to convey heat. Depending on the type of chimney, several lengths and thicknesses of wood burner chimney pipes are available. A large stove can produce slow, smoldering fires that get pretty hot, so make sure it is the right size for the area. A stove that isn’t large enough will have to be overfired to meet the heating needs of a smaller room.

For you to ensure the longevity of your stove pipe, you need to keep it clean. In this article, we’ll understand the best ways on how you can clean stove pipes. So, without further ado, let’s dig into the details.

 

Cleaning Your Stove Pipes

It’s critical to keep the pipe spotless at all times. Tar and deposits will accumulate in the fireplace and wood stove pipe whether you use softwood, hardwood, or compressed logs. Your cleaning routine will be dictated by how frequently and how your stove is used. A fire could ignite if this isn’t done regularly.

Cleaning a fireplace or woodstove’s metal chimney is critical to ensuring that it continues to perform correctly and that creosote or ash buildup does not result in fires. It’s not a job for the physically impaired or the elderly because it necessitates climbing a ladder. Rather than paying a chimney sweep, homeowners can save money by performing the work themselves with low-cost equipment. Now, it’s time for you to know the process of cleaning your stove pipe.

 

Steps To Clean Stove Pipe

Stop worrying, my friends. It’s time to learn the steps on how to clean stove pipes. Here are the following:

 

#1. Preparing of stove pipe

If there isn’t a fire in the grate, or when it’s cool enough to handle, start cleaning the metal chimney then. As a result, you won’t have to be concerned about the chimney being too hot and causing an accident when you start cleaning it. Before cleaning the chimney, place drop cloths around the perimeter to prevent dirt and debris from collecting on the floor. Let in as much fresh air as possible by opening windows and doors. Ash and dust buildup in the metal chimney will be a significant problem.

Before beginning work on the chimney, put on the safety goggles, face mask, and work gloves to protect yourself from inhaling dust or ash, as well as to shield your eyes from flying debris.

Removing the damper plate from the metal frame attached will prevent warm air from pouring out of the chimney’s top. In addition, you can remove a set of “cotter” pins holding this part in place within your shock absorber frame. Put the pins and plate away safely after making a mental note of them.

To inspect the chimney’s bottom for an animal nest or other impediment, you’ll need a powerful flashlight with a long beam. First, find out if any creosote has accumulated and, if so, how much. Set up a ladder on the chimney’s outside before trying to reach the top, and be sure to follow all safety precautions. Also, shine the flashlight down the chimney to check for any strange things.

You should place a sheet or tarp over the opening of a wood-burning stove’s stovepipe to keep pests out. Use a similar technique while cleaning your fireplace to keep creosote and ash from getting into your home. You may want to read where to buy wood for wood burning stove.

 

#2. Cleaning it

Once the chimney brush is in place to clean the entire length of the chimney, begin sweeping it upward and downward. Make sure the top of the chimney is free of creosote and another buildup before continuing.

Install an extended chimney brush rod in the chimney. Once you’ve cleaned the chimney carefully, add more rods if necessary to make sure you’ve gotten to every last crevice, including those that are entirely enclosed by the chimney’s outer wall, to the flue.

With care, remove the tarp or sheet from the chimney’s entrance and the home. Once the debris around the damper has been cleaned out using a shop vacuum, vacuum everything else accumulated around it, be careful to reach both within the chimney and up into it. Now, get a wire brush, remove any creosote from the bottom of the metal chimney. Next, clean the area with a vacuum cleaner.

Inspect the metal chimney for cracks or chips and seal them. Before you replace the damper plate and cotter pins, do any necessary repairs. After cleaning the stovepipe outside, reinstall it in the wood-burning stove. Know how to clean a chimney.

 

It’s A Wrap!

See? We’re done. In two easy ways, you can finish cleaning your stove pipe. First, remember, it is a must to keep it clean. As they say, “cleanliness is next to godliness!” Now, you know how to clean stove pipe. You may read how to seal wood stove chimney pipe and how to clean a glass top stove with baking soda and peroxide. Until here, my friends.

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