Odd Ways to Cleaning Your Chimney

mann · Post by **mann** » Mon. Dec. 08, 2008 5:56 pm

Has anyone ever heard of using aluminum cans or potato peelings for cleaning soot out of a chimney?

I spoke with the owner of a local coal yard (he is very old. at least compared to me im only 24), and he stated this to me. He seemed very knowledgeable, and said he has done it for years.

I am an engineering student, and am tring to think of what is going to be affected by this. I would hate to ruin a stove. Anyone ever done this? has it been successful?

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Mon. Dec. 08, 2008 5:59 pm

Nope, never heard of that one. I would even want to try it. It would probably gum up your stove or ruin it.

Maybe burning BIT coal....?

With Hard (anthracite) coal, there is usually not much soot, just some fly ash, that is NOT burnable, a nylon chimney brush / vacuum usually does it.

mann · Post by **mann** » Mon. Dec. 08, 2008 6:04 pm

yes. I burn bit coal. I live in TN.

samhill · Post by **samhill** » Mon. Dec. 08, 2008 7:42 pm

I`ve heard of burning a aluminum can in a wood burner or fireplace, did it for years myself & never had much cresote build-up at all. I worked for U.S.S. and a metalrolagist told me to try it, had to do with the burnt can breaking down & the gases drying up the cresote. Seemed to work at the time but I doubt if it would do anything for coal.