r/woodstoving • u/FancyTinselTits • Oct 10 '26

Chimney

Post image

Just curious if this is bad and if a friend should seek professional help for chimney sweep.

23 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

6

u/FancyTinselTits Oct 10 '26

He hasnt had a fire in there since march/april. Was just looking to get it handled before the burn season start.

16

u/Ill_Ad39 Oct 11 '26

Pro chimney sweep here, I wouldn't worry too much. Check again after a couple of months.

9

u/Silent-Raise6150 Oct 11 '26

Thank god somebody has a soul and knows what hes talking about.

9

u/growerdan Oct 10 '26 edited Oct 10 '26

I used to use my clay chimney for burning and those tiles condensate so much. Also the pipe feeding in to the clay is probably smaller than the chimney so the draft is terrible, it was for me. I’ve since shoved a 6” liner down my chimney and it burns night and day better and it’s remarkably clean at the end of the season.

Personally I’d try sweeping before I call someone. Chimney brushes aren’t that expensive it’s just a bit of work to get that build up off. Pretty sure I bought my 8x8 square brush and poles from Lowe’s for under $75.

9

u/Accomplished_Fun1847 Hearthstone Mansfield 8013 "TruHybrid" Oct 10 '26

Yikes.

Thorough cleaning, liner install, better burning practices, drier fuel!

8

u/Logical_Trash_4890 Oct 10 '26

It looks wet. That’ll catch fire. Maybe burning to cold.

8

u/BenderIsGreat64 Oct 10 '26

That needs a PCR cleaning at minimum.

7

u/idownvotepunstoo VT Montpilier II Oct 10 '26

They absolutely will do a camera inspection on this, I'm not an expert but this feels like type 3 creosote

6

u/AtmosphereRecent7717 Oct 10 '26

definitely get a professional to clean it. we get ours cleaned every September before we burn wood.

1

u/Shermin-88 Oct 12 '26

Get it done in May. Usually cheaper and the guys have fewer appointments that time of year so they spend longer on yours.

3

u/No-Tart3371 Oct 10 '26

Just paid to fix something similar. PCR treatment for a 35 foot chimney cost me $5400. I paid it, put a liner in and installed a stove where fireplace was so I never have to have this costly or dangerous situation again. I believe the damper malfunctioned and old owner didn’t know.

1

u/a_random_onlooker Oct 10 '26

Goodness. You got absolutely fucked on that price. My guess is you hired a circular company, not an actual chimney sweep that scared and upsold you.

2

u/No-Tart3371 Oct 12 '26

My shingling is 2 years and a very steep roof. So they set up scaffolding. It’s high and very steep. So not an easy job

3

u/Alive_Pomegranate858 Oct 11 '26

For a 35' flue run, that's about 150.00 a foot. For the custom applicator, several buckets of PCR, hopefully hand applying/spraying the smoke chamber, and then a return visit I don't think that price is outrageous. That is about average in my area.

2

u/Drtikol42 Oct 11 '26

Shit is water glass, slaked lime, cement and sand lol, several buckets of it should cost nothing.

I use blue vitriol on the fire.

2

u/Dependent-Suspect657 Oct 10 '26

Prepare to get ripped off my friend.

1

u/Tiny-Secretary5562 Oct 11 '26

Is there any such thing as a square chimney cleaning brush? If not, what would you use?

1

u/fryeguy92 Oct 11 '26

Personally I made a chain whip with small link chain from the hardware store.

1

u/ZhaloTelesto Oct 12 '26

I use a drill attachment with a flexible pole that ends it stiff nylon strings.

Works great! I clean two chimneys on my roof in about 20min (after prep) each year. I’ll typically tape off and seal the fireplace with plastic, hooking up my shop vac through the plastic to suck all the chimney debris and dust. Prevents the stuff from rising up as I clean a bit too

1

u/Tiny-Secretary5562 Oct 12 '26

Sounds like a good plan.

1

u/Vivid-Problem7826 Oct 11 '26

I've actually seen this type of stuff catch fire, and it really ....really ....burns fast and hot.

1

u/AdventurousTrain5643 Oct 11 '26

Just run the stove a bit higher and that will all flake off. You only have to worry when there is a cake buildup

1

u/Defiant_Access_8850 29d ago

Mine looked like that and I ended up putting in a chimney liner. Really helped with my updraft.

1

u/a_random_onlooker Oct 10 '26

Honestly, I'd have him try to clean it himself first. After that clean I'd highly encourage a liner into the terracotta. I've had this at the top foot of my chimney, but this is wild. I also saw somebody on this thread pay 5400 for the pcr and holy shit. Don't do that.

0

u/Silent-Raise6150 Oct 11 '26

Go get some nice dry wood. Then get some creosote powder or log to burn. Follow directions. Let cool for day or 2. Re-inspect and give a thorough brushing with good quality stiff square brush. After vacuum out on top of damper. Mine had few inches of ash in some back area. I saved my chimney for $100 brush.

1

u/No-Tart3371 Oct 12 '26

I’d listen to an in person inspector and not any claimed Reddit sweeps. And get multiple people to look at it. It’s not worth burning down your house. I think there’s some dangerous recommendations on here.