DIY Sweeping your Wood Burning Stove or Chimney

It's that time of year to get sweeping and I thought I would get myself a kit so we can do the dirty work and save some money in the process.
DISCLAIMER: This is not encouraging you to not use a HETAS or certified sweep as that may be required for your home insurance. More to show how I went about using this kit for the first time and how straight forward it is to diy should you want to.
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00:00 Introduction
00:58 Prep work explanation
03:00 Sealing up the fire
03:53 Sweeping rod
05:48 Taping up the plastic
07:13 Attaching sweeping rods together
07:34 Using drill to sweep chimney
08:57 Sweeping chimney DIY using drill
11:12 Removing sweeping rods from chimney

[@gman5116]

Hi TRC, I install these woodburners, just wanted to give you a little tip to save the agro of taping your stove opening up. If you get yourself a thick square piece of foam slightly larger than the opening with a cut from top to centre, you can squash it down into the door opening and then let it expand out and it will fill any gaps and allow you to sweep through the cut but keep it dust proof, then you can just gently pull it out when you're done, give it a shake outside and re use it next time. Hope you understand what I mean there and it helps you in the future! Also as a heads up, I know you mentioned your disclaimer about the home insurance, just to let you know for sure, it MUST be swept by a registered sweep minimum once a year and you MUST receive a certificate with every sweep they do after from the date of instillation to fall in line with your home insurance but also any warranty for your flue and or stove. As long as you get that one every year you can sweep it yourself as much as you like after that! Massive fan of your channel, its a pleasure to watch your videos and you regularly inspire me to get on with bits that need doing in my own home! All the best for the future. Toby

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Thanks for teh tips and confirming the requirement for a HETAS sweep PA. Will try the foam trick next time, thanks!

[@jonnyjones5201]

The Restoration Couple question is did you try the foam trick & will you be doing a video?

[@antonywalker9730]

Old video I know...but...why not make yourself a door with an entry that latches on and seals like the real door? Good vids!

[@isyt1]

That’s not true, it’s dependent on your insurance policy whether or not they require it to be swept by a HETA person

[@johnbower]

@@isyt1 So if someone breaks into your home and steals your television the insurance company will blame it on you for not having the flue swept by HETA person :(

[@AreaCode865]

Great video, thanks for posting - I’m shopping for a power sweeping set and it helps with understanding the features of how the rods connect to the drill. I also have a biomass stove in the garage and a Clearview Vision 500, plus an Aga in our kitchen. Our chimney sweep last charged £180, for 45m work 😬…. almost a days labour rate, I’ve always thought I might train up for it myself

[@melmbautista]

So helpful thank you for this video. We've had a wood fire stove in our home (rental) but it hasn't been used/cleaned for years it seems. This COVID-19 has definitely made our bills higher so I'm grateful to have found this video to finally clean the chimney ourselves and get the Valiant fan to heat up the house and in turn lower some bills lol wishing you and your family good health!

[@felixreali7101]

this is one of my fav videos that you've put up. so quick and simple method to give your flu an extra clean. definitely getting myself some of those :-))) thanks for sharing this

[@mytubeek]

Nice video. Love your channel. As a diy trier a tip for you. Try using a piece of pipe around 5 inches or so long and a little bit bigger in diameter than the rod attachments. insert the rods thru this. Then you hold the pipe instead of the spinning rod. Holding the rod whilst spinning your glove could get caught up in the spinning. Hope this makes sense.

[@MultiBikerboy1]

Perfect sense 👍🏻

[@bosse641]

Such a mighty fine wood stove. ....very nice. ....would love to own one of these one day.

[@AgentBrit]

Really well presented. Clear - great job and thanks

[@marg4229]

I have 2 of these wood burning stoves and after my Dad passed, I had to clean them for my Mom and myself on my own for the last 11 years. Unfortunately Dad never showed me how to do it. My Mom never had a clue what he did, so I had to figure it out myself. We also didn't have help through KZbin since only had 'dial-up' then. We don't have anyone to do that job in my remote location either. I only knew that he got on the roof and pushed a thick chimney pipe brush down with a long wooden stick and pulled it back up by a rope tied around a top loop. I could keep the door closed after removing the baffle plate (that took awhile to figure out how to unhook and get it out). The only real problem was that I had an extreme fear of heights (4th rung of ladder and my knees knocked and got a ripple feeling at back of thighs) plus I was already a senior not in the best shape. Fortunately the roof did not have a steep incline and only single level was involved. I had one of those Moms who was not sympathetic so I had to just get on with it. Average time it took me per flue was 1 hour 15 minutes. 15 minutes of heavy ladder setup and removal, 30 minutes of sweeping, and one hour of pep talk to myself to get the heck up the roof and into position and just do it. I had metal roofs put up a few years later (roofers in town that summer and we all booked for new roofs) and had to then figure out how I could clean pipes from inside. Good idea with attaching to drill but I'm going to stick with the thicker stiff bristle brush for now since I was able to buy slightly flexible but firm rods to screw into the brush to still be able to manually push up the pipes. It is a bit fussier now, but no heights involved. I leave the door on and use magnets around clear plastic (vapor barrier for houses) and tuck my hands under bottom of sheet where bottom of plastic tucks in to inside of stove around my arms. Thanks for helping us out in showing one way to tackle the soot.

[@PuffingTheHerbs]

Excellent video, very well explained and to the point. After putting in new stove, we had to use two 45 degree adaptors to reach the chimney (due to position of new stove) so this will be ideal for the job. P.S I know they say these won't damage your flu liner but is this true? Only had mine lined last year and last thing I wanna do is damage it.

[@proudlands]

Thank you and love the t shirt!! See you at The Gathering. 🙂

[@dennisphoenix1]

I have the same stove and sweep my own flue with the same kit . I use a piece of thin plywood with a hole in the centre for the rod and a hole low down for the hoover . With the hoover use a hose on the outlet of it to go outside so any soot that gets through goes outside.

[@runningpanda6570]

Great Vid! I put a piece of newspaper between the door and the seal I then shut the door and try and pull the paper out if it pulls out easily I renew the seal ...if it tears the paper when I pull it the seal integrity should be okay.

[@TheBro_UK-yw2gu]

Thanks for the video. Followed your process and did our wood burner today. Dead easy and done within 30 mins (be quicker next time :)

[@stevecraft00]

i wonder if pressurising the room using a big fan would help. seal up the door and windows apart from the opening where the fan is. A 12 inch high speed fan.

[@JamesMiddletonDesign]

Just notice...CVM on the T-shirt! We may have bumped into each other, one sunny weekend in Swindon. I designed that logo ;) - Thanks for the video, brother.

[@zedman442]

Seems like a nifty tool however I'd be slightly concerned about damaging the flue liner with a spinning flail like that but I suppose it should be ok.

[@hovlandbound]

Thanks so much for the video! Great job.

[@voodoomotion5855]

Thanks for another great tutorial! .. What brand name is it. I'd like to buy one but worried about the joint quality in case the rods separate. Appreciate your help. Thanks again 😊

[@paula.the.wannabe.hauler]

Great video, thanks for sharing. 👍

[@davidshepherd3920]

Hi I saw a video of a sweep using magnets instead of tape to hold the plastic sheet. Seemed to keep the dust in.

[@mohansamtani7875]

Thank you for your useful information

[@DavidB773]

Good job! Have you considered applying black grate Polish to your Stove?

[@Ian-gw2vx]

Great demo. I may try this . I have just had a Clock stove installed but I have to say that every day the glass has to be cleaned and we don't burn anything wet etc to cause this. I am intrigued as to how your stove never needs the glass cleaning.

[@gdfggggg]

It will have a special vent which keeps the smoke away from the glass.

[@carle5538]

Nice video. Thank you. I wanted to ask you. Why do they put small openings behind a woodstove in the wall when they are installing it?

[@relocatetoItaly]

I had a woodburner installed in 2005. I use it to burn wood not pellets. I live in Italy. The law in italy requires a stainless steel liner the actual chimney is a stainless steel tube which is positioned in a metre thick brick wall. I use chemical chimney cleaners that you burn in the woodburner twice a year. I have never had a chimney sweep in 18 years. Its still going strong. And draws well. Can you advise if the chimney needs to be swept?

[@effieinglish]

Nice wood stove. I now have wood stove envy. My American "Modern" stove looks fancy, with useless brass trim, these weird air-flow gills that smoke, a feature that prevents one from totally closing off all air (so you couldn't smother the fire out if you needed to), and all, but it doesn't have that ash tray or an amazing useful grate (stuff falls out of it while lighting fires). I'm dubious about whether something comes off easily for access to the chimney, and the glass is always black within minutes of cleaning. I don't believe the chimney has been cleaned in 20 + years and I wonder if I can even find a sweep here in California. I have changed the gasket braid thing, but I had no idea I needed to do more. We just don't have much of a culture around the care of our fireplaces and stoves. Once in my life I met a real chimney sweep when I lived in Washington State and my next door neighbors hired one. The event was so remarkable I asked him if I could touch his sleeve before I went off to the store for groceries and a lottery ticket. He was very friendly and good about it, gave me a hearty hand shake and wished me luck. Reminded me of Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke and his well meaning accent. I think I won a couple of bucks that day. I love your stove. I'm sure I couldn't find one like it here.

[@trishpoppins5148]

Great video thank you for sharing

[@amoryblaine1102]

which drill do you use? will a 12 v cordless work? thanks

[@richardhayes5517]

Great video. Thanks.

[@palframan5]

Which brand of rods/head did you use? Have you got a link

[@alanpilling3471]

Good video cheers

[@iantincangleed4702]

great film cheers

[@user-uc9bh1pf3n]

New Years day. Cheers got my door off, but cannot get the top plate out. I live on a canal boat, top plate moves but won't slide out. Any way Happy New Year.

[@catherinejordan393]

Yea know dat bottom knob u pulled open well I’ve one of dem on my stove and one for top for closing and opening and I’ve a wheel I know yea open da wheel wen I light the fire but what’s the very bottom knob for and wen do u close and open it the bottom is called back draft

[@RType2966]

Hi there just done mine and worked great. but when i was taking my soot away i noticed the flu gasket had dropped into the fire place. should this have happend. Thanks in response.

[@cubleycat]

Nice video thanks

[@MARHEFF]

Hi mate, I've got what seems the same kind of brush and rods, but I don't get how the rod connects to my drill. All rod ends are the same - circular. Is there a special piece I'm missing ?

[@Janetgreen64]

Great video ... Thank you . Im not sure if I missed you saying but where did you get this particular kit from please .

[@Janetgreen64]

It’s ok I’ve found one on eBay . Can’t wait to get one and try it. After watching your instructions I’m sure it will be a breeze.

[@jakemcfarlane3377]

Thanks man

[@BrotherRobb]

my sweep just leaves it open but tapes a vacumn in the open door space

[@brianwalp9091]

You use a rotary to sweep out your stove Pipes and use a vacuum that had a filter Then you rotary the pipe very slow and vacuum the dust as you go little by little. Until you get to the top of the chimney. Not neef go all the trouble taping the stove up . That why you have a vacuum with a filter in the vacuum for . Put the vacuum hose in the fire box as you sweep little by little.

[@timmyandersson1710]

Hi! Where did u buy the sweep kit?

[@pleatedskirt18]

My only comment would be to say that bar magnets are better than tape for holding the baffle on the front.

[@JohnMitch]

Where dide you buy the Rods and sweep head from? where did you get them?

[@DeruginizCLS]

Amazon has em

[@alistairlambert3275]

Thanks for posting this excellent video. I've bought the same sweeping system this morning so I will give it a go. As you have done a decent job, do you think you could manage without the professional sweep once a year or is it because it is a home insurance thing?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

I would say that this possibly left it cleaner than when we have had it pro swept so I would be more than happy to do it myself. I just wanted to stress in the video that I wasn't trying to encourage people to stop using a registered sweep as like you say home insurances may want to see proof and it's something worth doing properly. The kit is great though and a quick enough job to make it worth doing a couple of times a year.

[@alistairlambert3275]

Thanks, so if you do it yourself you are much less likely to have a chimney fire as you have done at least 2 sweeps a year. My chimney sweep only gave me a certificate for 6 months so I won't be using him again.

[@steveindorset]

Did you do a review on the stove fan??

[@TheRestorationCouple]

No sorry.... still need to do it. It is very good though so if you are not sure then I would recommend. Hopefully sort a video soon.

[@patrickdaly2121]

so despite the fact that you can sweep the chimney yourself, the advice is to still pay someone a high hourly rate every year to clean your chimney? I was wondering how many years you have to spend at uni to become a qualified chimney sweep or is it a day course?

[@fablan3308]

How strong is the chimney liner

[@shilks6597]

You must ALWAYS have your drill turning clockwise ALL the time. Sending the rods up the chimney AND bringing the rods DOWN the chimney. If you don't and accidentally turn your drill in the ANTI-CLOCKWISE direction then your rods will screw loose in the chimney and come undone, meaning a lot of money to get them out.

[@pleatedskirt18]

That was my thought too. However, I believe some rods have a locking device to allow them to go both ways - I would just stick to the one direction option.

[@andrewheale4738]

What about a certificate for your house insurance that its been swept by a certified sweep?

[@lennyrossa834]

I got a set today, 90euro it cost. 12metre kit. To get a pro out to do mine costs 30 a time,but I got 4 neighbours wanting me to do theres at 20euro,so its already paid itself back.

[@jasondownes1453]

how much did you pay for the sweep kit Joe and were from. I been looking for price and 12 metre 85 to 125 pounds on eBay.also can you do video on your fan there's so many to choose from.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes will do a fan video soon. The sweep kit was from here www.chimneyrodsdirect.co.uk/Semi-Pro-Power-Sweep-Flu-Flex-Kit-for-Liners-Free-Brush-Head-Power-Sweep-Standard.htm;jsessionid=A9405B9E6B8A3126F7E9B5E2CF269EE8.p3plqscsfapp005

[@loadzofhobbies4219]

Will this sort of brush set get around a 45 degree bend?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Yes it’s very flexible and I’ve used it on 45 and 90 bends on drainage pipe too.

[@QMDesign]

What that fire surround you got there? Been looking for one and cant find a decent one.

[@RobertJones278]

Qashif Masud It's made by BabyDan.

[@freebuilder007]

I built mine out of left over pieces of granite kitchen counter. adhered to the wall with glue and z-ba,r clamped in place, cut pieces to make the walls, and floor surround. worked great, looks good, and there are always left over drops from kitchen projects around for almost free....Cut with a wet tile saw, freehand......

[@shedlife1783]

How come you carpeted your lovely stained floor?

[@TheRestorationCouple]

Different room. This one was always carpet as it's the family/kids room.

[@g2macs]

In the days of cooking ranges the sweep would use a brush with a heavy ball and a chain. He would get on to the roof and drop the thing down towards the hearth. His mate was on the other end and cleaned the dropped soot as you did through the dust pan. Not a job for the faint hearted particularly on the Glasgow tenement blocks.....

[@TheRestorationCouple]

That's great! Not sure Jo would be keen on that method, and not sure i want to drag a ball and chain up on our roof either. :-)

[@djdanfetish1]

Iv a chilli penguin 8kw I run mine a lot ! I burn euro pallets from work haha I found a local lad who's a fireman he sweeps em for £30 ! I'm a cheap man lol

[@bp4682]

Be carefull alot of pallet wood is carsogenic.

[@djdanfetish1]

@@bp4682 its had nowt but that for 5 years mate 🤣

[@holgerhaupt]

Not so easy for me. Had to buy last year a new Stanley range (old one was more than 60 years old.) With a back boiler. So, the flue goes horizontal into the wall and then up. Have to feed the rod with my arm into the flue and bend it up. Is a horrible and painful job, because of my arm catches inside the flue some metal bits. Have to go for the roof now and clean the chimney from the roof.

[@Stuart36]

Great tutorial. Where did you get your fire guard from? Much better than ours

[@RobertJones278]

Stuart Sidebotham It's made by BabyDan

[@Stuart36]

Robert Jones brilliant thanks. Do you think it's a BabyDan stair gate?

[@RobertJones278]

Stuart Sidebotham probably from the configure range www.babydan.com/page1073.aspx

[@RobertJones278]

What fire is that you have?

[@stanleymoore8084]

Robert Jones great work will look out for one of those chimney brushes any thing to save money ,

[@raymondrodriguez5068]

Creepy doll in the background 5:19. I was waiting for the head to turn, nice if he would have some of the soot on it.eck!😱

[@rayjones8081]

You always want the hole tight around your rod 👍🏻

[@gdfggggg]

If it was easy to get on the roof, wouldn’t it be easier to rod from the top and keep the stove door shut?

[@gdfggggg]

Yes slashly, that would be a great idea.

[@gdfggggg]

Thanks for the reply 👍🏻

[@jezlucas3878]

Wouldn't use that kit on flexi liners

[@peggyt1243]

15 pounds is about $25 Canadian dollars. It seems like a lot of work to save not a lot of money. If it were me, I would let the pros deal with the mess.

[@TheRestorationCouple]

£50. So if both of ours are done twice a year that's £200! If it was £15 then yes I would leave it to someone else! 😀

[@osmancnoli4513]

i'm from maceonia very good this tool who wants to help me with this tool please. facebok facebook

[@Guide504]

Great gaget Tim we have 8 multifuel burners between us and my parents in law, this will save us a fortune!!! All the best

[@sniflingcomic]

if you damaged the flue liner or got the rods stuck would it really be worth it, also are the rods approved to use on flue liners, i think you should leave it to the professionals and you need a certificate for house insurance purposes.

[@ardaz1987]

Your obviously a chimney sweep!

[@Andy-gk8bb]

Good to clean yourself but without a registered certificate once a year you are uninsured regardless of how many times you clean it . Insurance companies will find any excuse not to pay out. should the fire brigade file a report that a house fire started at your fireplace then that's when questions get asked.

[@mazman4318]

If you clean it twice a year like you have just don you'll be ok no need to pay a sweep.

[@brandongill3378]

american caddy vac truck? make less work for you

[@endajohn]

Where’s your mask

[@paultaylor4678]

''Wear a mask if you think you need one'' That is singularly most ill informed statement I've heard. YES, wear a mask with P3 filtration. Oh and one for the child that goes into that room. Still, you've saved £60. SMH

[@richlander5874]

This is how to overcomplicate something as simple as sweeping a flue liner. I wonder how this guy would complicate something complicated.

[@gp4103]

He's married. He's protecting his ears for the rest of the year by taping all that up.

[@richlander5874]

@@gp4103 😂