HIGH STAKE SWEEPS

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HOW OFTEN?

The frequency of such cleanings, of course, depends on the type of stove, the wood being burned, and the habits of those who use the stove. It is generally recommended that the chimney and stovepipes be checked after two weeks of using a new stove. If no serious deposits are found, the stove can be used for another two to four weeks, and checked again . . . until the owner has a feeling for how often a sweeping is necessary. The standard guideline states that any deposit of creosote more than a quarterinch thick should be cleaned.

The prime place to check is the point where the stovepipe enters the chimney flue. If the deposits are sticky and tarlike, the chimney cannot be cleaned without fouling one's brush. A hot fire should be built to pyrolize the creosote, turning it into dry flakes which are easily swept. If a hard, slaglike deposit is found, it is usually best left alone. It can be chiseled or hammered out, but only at the risk of damaging the chimney.

In the wake of a chimney fire, the flue should be swept and the entire system checked for the presence of leaks or cracks. This can be done visually and with a smoke test, in which a wet blanket or burlap sack is used to seal the top of the chimney once a small but smoky fire has been built (burning hay, green leaves, grass clippings, or wet leaves). One person should be on the roof ready to apply and remove the wet cloth, and another below to watch the fire and check for smoke leaking out the chimney. While the flue is well filled with smoke, someone should inspect its entire length, looking for telltale wisps of escaping smoke.

If all of this boggles the mind, calling a professional sweep may be the answer (ignoring the chimney is not). A good sweep will do more than clean the chimney. He should be able to tell you whether a stove and chimney are safely installed and should report on the condition of the chimney. He should be willing to explain what he's doing and may provide the would-be chimney sweep with the confidence needed to do the job himself.

To hire a sweep, ask for estimates from several professionals in the area . . . if they exist. Ask how much experience the sweep has had, whether he carries insurance (a good sweep does) and whether he guarantees that the job will be done without mess. A trail of soot across a rug is the footprint of a careless and/or incompetent sweep.

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