Chimney Sweeping Log.

[stm4710]

I have seen these "Chimney Sweeping Logs" on tv and at the hardware store. Does anyone know if they work? And how effective are they?

TIA

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

My grandfather told me once..."You can't buy a mechanic in a can".

[firefiftyfive]

I was wondering how long it was going to be before someone sued the company that makes those logs because they did not clean their chimmeny for a couple of years and just used that log.

[historyjunkie]

The Amish will clean it better for about the same cost...

They're also the best people to have around if the chimney actually does catch fire.

[lmrchief2]

They would probably work better if you threw them in from the top of the chimney then light them when they get to the bottom .

I agree there is nothing like sending a brush down the chimney to clean it. I do not trust them and advise against them.

I will even put the disclaimer on this about being my view .

[tripperff]

I've been asked about these things too. Before I did any checking at all about them I thought they were a bad idea. Here's how I explain it to folks. "How does a chimney get dirty/plugged? By burning stuff in the fireplace/wood stove. Does it make sense that burning something else would clean it? Of course not. Then I give them the number of a reputable chimney cleaning service.

[cozmosis]

Originally posted by historyjunkie
They're also the best people to have around if the chimney actually does catch fire.

I guess I'm not up on my Amish culture.
Are they particularly good at extinguishing chimney fires?

[Explorer129]

I found a small article online about these logs...

http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/hocslog.htm

The use of chimney sweeping logs (and similar products) alone is not an adequate substitute for mechanical chimney cleaning and inspection because it does not provide for the same level of protection to the chimney system.

Says enough right there.