What a crazy myth! - Burning Aluminum cans to clean your chimney???

Is there any truth to this old myth? Let’s find out!

[@perrycook711]

I am 60 years old, and my dad started burning cans when I was 15 years old and never had to clean again. I remember the mess we had cleaning chimneys, and when I climbed on the roof to clean the chimney, it looked like a new chimney

[@BuildALotAcres]

Very cool 👍

[@user-rd4xj2ei1l]

I've also heard potato peelings will do the same..🤔🤷

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

Never heard of that before Case. You are right about the creosote drying out and falling off the inside of flues, especially clay liner flues. I’ve seen it. Have a great Friday. 👍🏻

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you sir 🙏 You as well my friend!

[@MrTIGERH1752]

A hand full of rock salt, as used in water softeners, burns off creosote very quickly. Used it for the last 60 years and never had a problem with creosote build up. Very cheap compared to store bought chemistry. Tim

[@wildmanturner]

Will Epsom salt work? It’s pure magnesium sulfate

[@robertschmidt9296]

​@@wildmanturnermaybe it will pass a white glove test. Lol

[@mark76197]

The salt treatment can be very harmful to iron and steel parts in your system. It does treat creosote effectively... It also corrodes metal.

[@trinitydairy]

First heard about using aluminum cans when I was a little kid, in the early 90s, from a guy my parents bought their outdoor wood boiler from, have been doing it ever since, with very good results.

[@ChristopherLabonte-td1cx]

Great video. I heard about throwing aluminum cans into my wood stove almost 25 years ago. At my last house where I lived for 22 years I had an exterior chimney built along the side of my house. I hook up an older Fisher dragon to the chimney once I punched a hole through my foundation in my basement. I burned 8 cord a year every year that I lived there. I threw 6 to 8 cans a week…every week..during the burning season into my wood stove. Not in 22 years did I ever sweep/ run a brush down my chimney to clean it. In the fall before the start of the season I would open the trap at the base of my chimney and clean out a full bucket of creosote ash. I would then insert a mirror and look up through my chimney…..clean as a whistle every year. 22 year later and the terracotta clay tiles where just as clean as the first year I started burning. I’ve more to a new house 3 years ago. Had a new chimney and old Fisher installed. Doing the same cans in the fire….burning 8 cords a year and chimney is clean as a whistle. Sorry Chimney Sweep Professionals…..this is no MYTH.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Wow! Great testimony that it works 👍

[@dongkhamet1351]

I learned this from a friend in the Michigan UP. He said it's the aluminum oxide so it's interesting to hear about manganese and the metallurgy of aluminum cans

[@cowshottv5867]

It definitely works. Just as you described. It turns the creosote into a dry powder which comes out very easily with the brush. I've actually been doing it for years. It will not by any means replace cleaning your chimney but it really makes it easier

[@BuildALotAcres]

Very cool. I agree, nothing replaces real cleanings and maintenance. 👍

[@bigoldgrizzly]

My chimney has never been cleaner than the day after a 'bunsen burner' of a chimney fire. ... not that I'm recommending it to anyone - the house stank of creosote for days.

[@maintenancewithmike]

I had no idea. Was having flashbacks of grade 10 science as well. Lol. Really appreciate you sharing this info. Cheers, Mike.

[@BuildALotAcres]

You’re welcome 👍

[@OrangeismyNewGreen]

Wow like Noel said below "never heard of that before" Great info Case 👍🏻🙋🏼‍♂

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thanks Luc 👍

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good Morning Sir, TRULY OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE VIDEO AND I did not know about Manganese CHEERS 👍👍😇😇👌👌🍻🍻

[@BuildALotAcres]

👍

[@kennethparker2168]

I've used the store-bought spray cleaning products for years and it does make the creosote light and fluffy you barely hit it with the brush and it falls off

[@rocktech7144]

The fire has to be hot. I have tried this at end of season and have seen the dried creosote in my flue. It works to get that tar off the pipes with a light brushing.

[@Yeakerr]

I would like to see before and after of inside of pipe

[@truemisto]

also an internal thin plastic coating to prevent the acidic soda from eating thru the aluminum too quickly. even soup cans these days often have an internal plastic coat which is why its bad to cook cans of beans or soup over fire

[@nbarnard]

Thanks for the video! Do you have another video about your hot water heater in the stove? I have similar but don't find it produces as much hot water as I would like. Maybe too high flow rate (with circ pump) or not enough pipe in the water. What's your experience with this?

[@BuildALotAcres]

I do not have any videos on the water pipes. I had it setup for one season, but found I wasn’t home enough to get it dialed in. You definitely want a good dump zone for excess hot water and good circulating pumps

[@TwinCityFirewood]

Cool information. Thanks for the video!

[@BuildALotAcres]

You’re welcome 👍

[@thomasknox2325]

I have a old wood furnace that i took off all the duct work and the the blower so it pretty much is just a wood stove now so might give a try and see how this works thanks

[@BuildALotAcres]

👍

[@Zuzzt]

I have heard that zinc anodes for boats would be good but I have never heard about aluminium cans. :) Thanks.

[@laurier3348]

I like to burn the stove pipe clean once a year. It works great and is kind of spectacular, it gives great sounds. Fire the stove up big time , and open the window where the wind comes in and let it go. Outside its also a spectacular view. Best to do it when its wet outside.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Definitely one way to get it clean 😁

[@johndimech8945]

The trick is to start with a hot fire. I also end the season with several hot fires. I like to use scrap kiln dried wood like 2x4s. Then I brush clean my chimney in the fall. As mentioned most of the creosote is hard and flacks and over the summer months has fallen away from the chimney liner and is resting at the bottom. A much easier cleaning if left to the end of the summer and you also ensure there are no bird nests or critters in the chimney. Leaving you all set for another safe heating season. Seasoned wood is key to a safe heating season.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

Probably surface tension is broken due to coefficient of expansion diffetential between wet and dry creosote. I too notice the creosote releases and flakes off with time. As far as soda cans go, there's plastic coatings on them I'd rather not go up my chimney bit these are pretty minimal...

[@GardenTractorBoy]

I have never heard of using cans before. We have one commercial product which seems to work for for our chimney and we have been using it for years but it is not cheap

[@BuildALotAcres]

Do you happen to know the active ingredient?

[@GardenTractorBoy]

@@BuildALotAcres None of the products over here list the ingredients. We wil look to see if it is mentioned on the company web site

[@daffyduck5171]

I notice when I burn a very hot fire I have less creosote that is powdery as compared to a cold fire that leaves me a sticky stodgy goopy mess

[@BuildALotAcres]

Burning hot definitely helps a lot 👍

[@DRACOS1313]

doesn't burning aluminum release toxic gasses ? i learned that in welding class

[@StudCity718]

Greetings from Cape Cod. Recently had a Jotul wood stove installed in the summer. Using it 1st time this winter. Was wondering how you have all those hot coals and ash piled up in your stove? Our stove has a grate and alot falls through to the ash pan. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@BuildALotAcres]

My stove does not have grates or an ash pan. To build up nice coals with your stove I’d recommend burning good hardwoods. Certain species coal up better than others. The first few fires won’t allow much to build up, but over time they will. The best coal bed depth is debatable. I like at least 1-2” of coals for better burn times and longevity

[@StudCity718]

@@BuildALotAcres thanks brother. I've only been burning Oak and a little bit of Mulberry. Trying to burn through some older Oak I had for 2-3 years

[@stirlingandmax6922]

Is your Jotul a model 507?

[@StudCity718]

@@stirlingandmax6922 if you're asking me, we have a a Jotul F400

[@robertschmidt9296]

I don't have a grate but I lay big wood on the bottom first then fire on top. I think that will keep the coals from falling through for awhile.

[@seeveiw]

I’ve done this most of my life and I agree it does keep the chimney in safe condition but you still have to keep on the maintenance you can never get away from that

[@BuildALotAcres]

💯

[@Gideon_Judges6]

Interesting! What happens with the cans at the end? Are they completely incinerated or do you get a blob of aluminum in the ashes? I have a catalytic stove so I assume I should keep the cat bypassed when burning these.

[@BuildALotAcres]

If you burn them hot enough they disappear completely. I’d definitely be careful with a catalytic stove.

[@Gideon_Judges6]

@@BuildALotAcres Yeah I just threw them in on a whim with a hot fire going and they disappeared in about 10 minutes. I'm going to keep the bypass open for several hours like you should do when using CSL, Rutland Creosote Remover, etc... so it doesn't go up into the cat.

[@d.j.robinson9424]

We always used Epson salt when burning...cleans well.🔥👍👍

[@BuildALotAcres]

Very cool 👍

[@paulnandico2370]

Trying this tonight. Both of our woodstoves are smoking inside and out. Not too long since last cleaned... 2 months max. Cannot get up there and even check due to the amount of ice on our metal roof. Hope this helps. (Soapstone is smoking more than steel. It also is no longer air tight. 40 years old... given to us. Punky wood could be the culprit. Pine we are burning should be seasoned enough. We shall see.)

[@BuildALotAcres]

I try to clean once a month. It sounds from your description like you have a lot of buildup. May want to think about opening windows to air out the house if you choose to try it

[@paulnandico2370]

​@@BuildALotAcresyep. Hoping we get a thaw late this week. I think the real culprit is inadequately seasoned pine. Going to switch wood to well seasoned birch and see if that works. Smoke pours from chimney... and fires weren't hot enough to burn the cans... even the Avalon.😮

[@paulnandico2370]

​@@BuildALotAcreswhen sitting in front of our Avalon this morning, it dawned on me that I designed the system to be cleaned from within. So, I just cleaned it out. I think the can may have removed the buildup on the flue cap, or God just had mercy on us. The soapstone is still messed up as the cap there has spark arrestors and is caked up pretty bad. No way to clean that until the weather warms and someone can get up there.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

What if your chimney has not been cleaned in years - would you recommend this before cleaning the chimney?

[@BuildALotAcres]

No I would not

[@Clawson_customs]

Does burning coal only make your chimney get build up with that creosote? Because i always just burn lump coal and i have not cleaned uot my chimney for about 5 years now

[@BuildALotAcres]

I only burn wood 🪵 🔥 👍

[@Clawson_customs]

@BuildALotAcres you should try burning lump coal lasts a long time and way warm. But I'm a coal miner so I love coal

[@bioniclife]

Hummm....I wonder if this would work with my Hardy. It has a fair amount of tar'ish creosote and it's rated for coal, so temp shouldn't an issue. Hummmm....🤔🤔🤔

[@BuildALotAcres]

Worth a try 😁

[@phillmckrakin2518]

What about the toxic fumes created from melting cans? (Cans dont actually burn) Aluminum oxide funes? The dust left behind can damage your lungs.

[@BuildALotAcres]

As I said, at your own risk ⚠️ 👍

[@firewoodathome]

I have never tried it. I have heard potato peels, too. I also clean chimney about once a month. We do too much slow burning, but with work schedules, that's what it is.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I hear you. When you both work and aren’t around to reload often it leaves little choice.

[@cowshottv5867]

My grand mother used potato peels to stop a chimney fire. I assume the heat causes the moisture in the potato to turn into steam, but it works. I've never heard they will clean a chimney...

[@philkillen5016]

I get a leprechaun every Saint paddy's day to go inside my wood stove. I keep feeding him alcohol every time he makes a turn. It's a lot more fun when I hear him bouncing off the flue. He's gotta stay happy because it's a tough job. The louder he gets the more alcohol he gets. The dirt comes out really fast when he's drinking hard.

[@raymondutter2616]

Save your egg shells in a small paper bag , put them in the stove when lighting. Burns very hot, natural.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Good tip 🙏

[@raymondutter2616]

@@BuildALotAcres not a good tip, OLD homestead remedy. Once a month using egg shell waste to keep your chimney clean and safe. Egg shells burn a lot hotter than aluminum cans.

[@grom7826]

I used to weld manganese in the crushers at the rock quarry I worked at for twenty years. Interesting stuff you need to shock peen it with your chipping hammer as you weld it or it will crack.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@bigoldgrizzly]

The resistance to abrasion of manganese steel is outstanding

[@jamesoncross7494]

Those fancy gadgets in the stove save a ton of money. They are cheaper to use than just sending the heat up the chimney. You probably burn 3 times the amount of wood in your stove than those "Fancy" ones.

[@BuildALotAcres]

Probably

[@haroldanderson2781]

I’ve never heard of using aluminum cans but an old timer told me to use potato skins. If you keep potato skins keep them away from dogs. Their digestive systems do not break them down when raw.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I’ve heard of potato peels as well, and rock salt. Good tip about dogs 🙏

[@earljohnson7675]

Burning hedge and you won’t have creosote it gets to hot for it to stick and get gummy

[@BuildALotAcres]

Nice. No hedge/Osage round here 👍

[@MegaTapdog]

I try not be lazy, I do a good hot fire with dry wood and clean with brushes and use my own eyes. I know my pipes are clean.

[@BuildALotAcres]

I agree. As I said in the video, nothing replaces frequent cleanings and proper maintenance

[@michaelhoffman6354]

Rock salt

[@BuildALotAcres]

I've heard that one too. That and potato peels 👍

[@mark76197]

Sodium chloride is extremely hard on metal parts. I would never put it in a stove. It is effective at drying out creosote though.

[@thepope4970]

Try burning potato peels. Non toxic

[@robertschmidt9296]

Fresh peels or dry?

[@thepope4970]

@@robertschmidt9296 fresh Even whole ones that are getting old and wrinkled

[@renterp]

My dad would toss our old shoes (ones too worn or too small) in the stove to clean out the creosote. Just a shoe or two would do the trick. Them bitches burn hot. Haha

[@BuildALotAcres]

🤣

[@bigoldgrizzly]

that will be the mankycheese in them ... they are not 100% leather you know ;>)

[@renterp]

@@bigoldgrizzly i think rubber content played a HUGE role seen as the the smoke was jet black and good for the environment. Hahaha

[@davidmcclellan9495]

Burn coal and wood

[@jarredsegal6842]

One thing you all should be made aware of is that burning aluminum fumes can cause dementia

[@BuildALotAcres]

Thank you for letting us know 👍

[@grom7826]

Great perhaps my neighbor will forget that he loaned me his chainsaw !

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

​@@grom7826As long as you didn't roast the saw in your stove. I bet he remembers.

[@coltonthiesfeld2320]

If you burn enough cans it will turn your chimney into a blow torch it was interesting I seen it done before it was kinda cool we did our chimney once back when I was growing up.

[@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259]

@@coltonthiesfeld2320 That sounds like a chimney fire.