How A Chimney Expert Inspects And Cleans A Chimney

[@benclark-x7t]

This video is super helpful! I had a damaged chimney and was honestly overwhelmed with what to do. I ended up calling Top Hat Chimney & Roofing in Texas, and they did an amazing job. They cleaned and repaired everything quickly and professionally and explain everything in detail to me so I can get a clear picture of what was actually wrong with my chimney.

[@ggggg4030]

The wood stove old school guys swear that if you burn at 500+ degrees once a day for 30 minutes and throw in an aluminum beer can every few days, you will have zero creosote buildup. I’ve seen this claim countless times in forums from folks that say the run their stoves 24/7 through the entire winter. Supposedly it’s the magnesium in the can that reacts with the creosote and reduces it to ash. Of course they are using seasoned firewood too.

[@handle_1969]

Very informative. So you’re saying I’ll have to be on my toes like when I bring my car to mr lube?

[@susana5052]

I’m here to learn how not to get ripped off. I’m a single elderly woman and I have been working in new construction for almost 20 years but I have little experience with older homes. I have not used my fireplace (wood and gas burning) in over two years. The gas was capped off because I could smell a small gas leak. I don’t wish to have a wall fire due to those little cracks in the mortar firebox which may or may not be a problem. Also, the earthquakes that we’ve been having for the last several years doesn’t help the cracks. I see that some people fix firebox cracks themselves which I have no problem doing myself but I don’t know how big the cracks can be to fix myself. Plus I don’t know what other real problems with my fireplace would look like. Example: exterior and interior brick cracks, missing mortar, caps, water issues, proper covers/screens etc. Any additional advice would be greatly appreciate and I thank you in advance! *My house was built in 1951 and has been through several major earthquakes. Fireplace is the original as far as I can tell. It doesn’t look to have any issues but I’m not trained for this in old homes. **My mother is Japanese and one of the Japanese biggest fear is fire. I guess I inherited that gene.🤔 I’m looking for someone in the Northridge area that is certified and licensed etc. to inspect and repair anything that may needs to be done, if anything. Also, I am looking for any tips on how NOT to get ripped off. It took me over 2 yrs to get a 10 x 16 kitchen remodeled with no appliance location changes. It was a complete nightmare, and I wish not to repeat that nightmare again.

[@spencerrmoeller]

Pcr on a flue liner?

[@testing7802]

Waterproof the brick? Sounds like it would prevent it from breathing and cause it to crumble

[@spencerrmoeller]

Prevents water from penetrating brick doesn’t need to breathe?

[@nixxonnor]

This video is only scratching the surface of all the issues whith this chimney

[@fboada6696]

Good job with the bungee on the ladder

[@lauratempestini5719]

Is there such a thing as a chimney fire without any sign of it? What would a terracotta dame look like?

[@rozchristopherson648]

This sounds like very expensive repairs and upgrading into the thousands of dollars will be needed to operate the fireplace 🔥 safely.

[@mattieice2988]

hey folks just want a simple chimney sweep lmao 4 thousand dollars latter you you need that and would mot recommend making a fire well that was 4 years ago dont call 4 seasons in Rochester ny love and hugs the pryors ps beautiful fire going now

[@maddierosemusic]

Same down in the DC area - if they don't get $5k per job, they move on to another sucker. Many companies here have questionable business practices. "Your house is going to burn down - let me put a stainless liner in for $10k." Costs them a grand, max.

[@mrh0wler353]

@@maddierosemusic Similar to the plugged sewer pipe that leads to the street sewer. Fairfax county did a sewer upgrade in the street and the next couple months had four houses pay Hispanic scammers to rip out and replace sewer line from house to street. I feel screwed paying $50 for 100' snake rental.

[@susana5052]

Yep, not getting ripped off as my goal. Sadly, if you’re a single female, anything that has to do with construction, makes me a target. In addition and waste my time. So very frustrating.

[@huseinbeginovic3704]

How are you if you can tell me where he has to buy equipment for the job. I mean the sticks that go on top of each other. I have a great desire to do this job but I don't have the equipment if you can please tell me. thanks in advance

[@akaredcrossbow]

First go get a job with a chimney sweep company. Read the Successful Chimney Sweeping book, then study the NFP211 code book and then study the IRC code book. Then go and get your certification. These are the first steps.

[@singleshot1331]

Lowe's home improvement

[@johnsellers9623]

You can buy the chimney flue cleaning kit. Just comes with 3 or 4 , 4’ long lengths and just know the size of flue so you get the right size brush. Had my 8” brush and four lengths of extension pieces over 30 years and still work fine. Probably get kit at homo depo. Get it clean as you go down , screw on the next length until you get to the fire box. Then vacuum all the crap out. Similar to cleaning your oil fired water boiler.

[@TURBOINTEGRATYPER]

@@akaredcrossbow Or just get up there and do it lol

[@akaredcrossbow]

@@TURBOINTEGRATYPER yes you definitely can! Even if you don’t take the test it’s still good to at least study the books to get some knowledge of what you’re looking at so if needs to be fixed it can be done properly.

[@KevinKinder-ey9gv]

Liner should connect directly to stove

[@426superbee4]

I really dislike a screen on top of my flue. Summer time is the only time i use a screen around the top out let. During winter there no screen REASON. All the screen dose is trap ash coming up out of the chimney, And make for a fire HAZARD

[@mikeoxlong8272]

The screen I supposed to be 3x the cross sectional area of the flue.

[@426superbee4]

@@mikeoxlong8272 if its to big hole, animals can get in, plus to small holes will make for a fire hazard

[@426superbee4]

so during the summer i just cap it off. Winter i will open it up

[@johnbutler5208]

I agree. I just put a cap on mine and I don't like it. That dam thing is coming off today. I thought it might help with downdraft it doesnt.

[@426superbee4]

@@johnbutler5208 Yes depends if your trying to get some more fresh cooler air into the house as well. It does help with the down draft during the summer months. Nice way of doing it. 👍👍 Just Cap it

[@nixxonnor]

Why does the flashing go underneath the shingles on all sides?

[@chrishall2594]

It goes under one course of singles but over the next. Without flashing water would get all the way under the shingles and rot out the wood.

[@-attemptingtherandom-2777]

Here to learn. . . . .

[@ncooty]

Waterproofing the outside of brick sounds like a very bad idea. The first rule of moisture management is to allow moisture a way out. Exclude it if you can, preferably by shedding it, but definitely don't trap it. Allow materials a way to breathe and dry out.

[@blackvelvetchimney]

ChimneySaver is vapor permeable allowing moisture to escape from the structure. Waterproofing prevents freeze thaw.

[@ncooty]

@@blackvelvetchimney: Ah, glad to hear it. Thanks for the reply and the info.

[@trevordanowski7576]

So all I hear is after cleaning my chimney I have a bunch of really flammable shit to play with 😬

[@SthiffGamerz]

not just flammable but also cancerous!

[@trevordanowski7576]

@@SthiffGamerz it did absolutely nothing with a torch to it for a couple minutes... Highly disapointing

[@SthiffGamerz]

@@trevordanowski7576 I can imagine. Usually when creosote catches fire it will usually just be an incandescent fire. It will be at a high temperature if it gets a lot of air. but rarely any flames or anything that goes poof.

[@trevordanowski7576]

@@SthiffGamerz well my weekend was spoiled 9 months ago. I just want everyone to know its not "excitingly flammable"... Its just "burn your house down flammable" 👻

[@SthiffGamerz]

@@trevordanowski7576 hahaha that's a nice way to put it!

[@426superbee4]

Not what a home own wants to see. 👀

[@warrenwalker8170]

FALSE the cap or crown should be concrete not Mortar as morter will crack and deteriorate at a higher rate than concrete. mortar is for between the bricks

[@uomoman8775]

Concrete that thin will crack because aggregate in concrete is too big, even with pea gravel. Need to use thin set repair mortar in the appropriate lifts

[@mikeoxlong8272]

And a minimum of 3" thick.

[@tonycash8544]

Liner is oversized for a woodstove.

[@pfluckzeug9427]

Why are you pushing the rod down from the crown? Just get a pulley sweep, good god

[@warrenwalker8170]

SOFT brick - and osb instead of plywood lousy house