aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

[tomatolord]

had the chimney sweep in to clean the stove pipe, he said to throw in an aluminum can 1 a day on a hot fire and that will act like a chimney sweep log.<br /><br />I have not found this advice anywhere else on the net<br /><br />anyone here of this?<br /><br />He said it was the same ingredients as a chimney sweep log.<br /><br />thnx!

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

Yup, that's the active ingredient. Powdered aluminum in with the sawdust and glue.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

If that is the case, is there anyone here that can explain WHY aluminum works to clean out the chimney?

 

[Bondo]

Re: aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

I Never Knew that Aluminum was the Active Ingredient.......<br /><br />But,...... I've Heard,.. Read,... Observed that the Gases given off somehow turn the cresote into a dry flaky carbon,... That falls off,+ either blows out or falls back into the stove.........

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

That's it. It prevents creosote from collecting by combining with it and doing exactly that. We used a lot of wood heat when I was young and we tossed a can in occasionally for that reason. Otherwise the creosote got runny and gooey. It's a lot like Liquid Smoke. That combines with ash and other carbon and if you get the chimney hot, it begins to burn. Not good!

 

[18rabbit]

Re: aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

Whether or not aluminum is doing as is suggested here, I can see heat lifting particles of powered aluminum that is mixed in with a combustible medium, but I can’t see aluminum particles being generated from an aluminum can that gets hot, even cherry red hot. Ash in your fireplace can create metallic particles (aluminum and/or iron) but the ash needs to be mixed with water. That’s why when you leave the ash in the bottom of your Webber BBQ kettle it rusts. The ash bonds with moisture, becomes acidic, and eats the paint and then metal under it.

 

[KRS]

Re: aluminum can as a fireplace chimney cleaner

ash is acidic, doesn't need water.