Flue System

You will need to inspect your flue system on a regular basis and clean it as often as necessary.  The frequency of cleaning will depend on how you use the stove—how often you use it, what type of fuel you use, and what temperatures it runs.  It’s a good idea to inspect a new installation weekly for the first month, then on a monthly basis during the heating season (cleaning as needed).  If you experience deteriorating performance or puffs of smoke entering the room when opening the door, inspect the flue.  If there is ⅛” or more of build-up on the wall of the flue, clean it before using the stove again.

Sweeping the Flue System

To clean the flue, use a chimney brush that will fit the diameter of your pipe.  This brushes of this rotary chimney cleaning kit attaches to your cordless drill, and can be trimmed to fit 3", 4", and 5" flue sizes.

Brush the interior of the pipe until buildup is removed.  If there is excessive sticky creosote buildup, using a commercially available creosote remover prior to sweeping the flue can help to loosen the deposits, but is not a substitute for mechanical sweeping.

Avoid breathing creosote dust, and wear a NIOSH approved respirator if your sweeping method releases dust into the air.

If possible, sweeping from the top of the chimney can significantly reduce the dust and mess created by sweeping.  Remove the baffle from your stove, shut the door, and close the air controls.  Remove your chimney cap and sweep your chimney from the top.  Clean the debris out of your stove (or rear exit tee) once the dust has settled.