How to Disassemble & Clean Wood Stove Flues & Chimneys

Chimney

• 1

  Pull out the pins from the damper plate connected to the fireplace chimney with a pair of pliers.

• 2

  Shine a flashlight into the chimney so you can see whether there are any obstructions, such as a bird nest. Creosote buildup will be on the upper one-third of the chimney.

• 3

  Cover the opening of the stove with a wet sheet to keep soot from escaping the fireplace.

• 4

  Insert a wire chimney brush into the chimney and scrape up and down to remove soot from the sides of the chimney. You may need to do this from the roof if there are obstructions near the top of the chimney. Remove the chimney cover if necessary.

• 5

  Remove the sheet from the front of the fireplace, and clean out the soot with a pan and broom.

Flue

• 6

  Remove the screws from the flue clamps, and pull each individual piece of the flue apart.

• 7

  Cover the top of the wood stove opening with a damp cloth to keep ashes from escaping.

• 8

  Take the flue pieces outside. Scrape the insides of each flue piece with a flue brush to remove the soot and creosote buildup. Collect the soot in a garbage bag and dispose of it.