Well, it’s official. The HH can now sweep a chimney. It’s amazing all the new things he’s had to learn to do since moving to the Northeast. And I’m pretty sure he’s not done either. 😉
A few days ago I went to start a fire in the woodstove and I noticed there were a few bits of creosote in the ashes… and immediately freaked out.
Remember the red colonial house we had? Well I nearly burnt the place down because unbeknownst to us, there was a TON of creosote build up in one of the chimneys.
So when I saw the creosote bits sitting there in the ashes the other day, I told the HH he had to go out THAT DAY and get the tools so he could clean our chimney.
And so yesterday morning while I was in the kitchen prepping our Thanksgiving meal, he was up on the roof taking off the chimney cap and cleaning the woodstove pipe.
The above photo is what the stove pipe looked like before he cleaned it.
Not too bad really, we were both expecting to see much more build up than there was. But then again, our house has been mostly used as a summer home since it was built so I’m not too sure how many times the woodstove has been fire up since it was installed.
Here’s a picture of what it looked like afterwards. Much cleaner.
A chimney sweep would have charged about $200. The tools {a special brush and poles} to do it ourselves were around $40. Talk about a HUGE savings!
Now, if I could just get him to wear one of those tweed flat caps like Bert and sing a little tune while he worked… that would be AWESOME.
Oh, and another thing we knocked off our list yesterday, a batch of Christmas Jam. Have you tried this stuff yet? HOLY COW MAN, it’s the best jam ever.
If you are looking for something homemade and delicious to pass out this year to friends and neighbors, this jam is suburb.
I canned mine in a variety of Weck Tulip Jars to make them extra special.
It was a productive {and fun} Thanksgiving, that’s for sure.
So how was YOUR day? Are you still in a bit of a food coma?
All I know is this… today has been declared a pajama day and we’ll be eating leftovers. Lot’s and lots’ of leftovers {and Lucy is pretty excited about that!}.
Here’s to a wonderful {and hopefully relaxing} weekend,
~Mavis
Kim says
We have a rule at our house: husband only goes on top of roof if I am outside, holding the phone, with my finger poised above the number 9.
When will you decorate for Christmas?
Paula says
Kim,
I love that! We have a similar policy! Ever since the time he was cleaning out the gutters and got bit by a bee. He is allergic to bees.
Cindi says
Yes, that is exactly our policy, too. My husband cleaned our chimney for years, and then we moved to this house, which has a very steep metal roof and a bend in the stove pipe that requires a different chimney cleaning tool. So now we have it done every spring by someone else.
Annette says
What does creosote look like in ashes?
Mavis Butterfield says
The fifth picture down. 🙂
Jennifer says
Funny you should mention chimney sweepers. My nephew, who graduated high school last year, chose to join his step dad’s chimney sweeping business instead of going to college because it is such an in demand service in their rural SC area. Now, this is in the Low Country so not a place with super cold weather, but still plenty of people using it c
for heat. He has to apprentice for two years before he can work on his own, but he makes $25/HR for those two years while he learns the trade. Yes, he will make 50K as a teenager.
Diane says
Can you please state how many pints or half pints the Christmas jam makes? Thank you!
Teckla says
The recipe says it makes twelve 8 oz. jars. 8 oz. = 1 c. 2 c. = 1 pint. You can do the math from there.
Ellen in Clackamas says
Mavis, do you have to process those jars for different times?
Mavis Butterfield says
No, I still process them for 10 minutes. 🙂 They are so stinkin’ cute!
Mary says
We have cleaned our own woodstove for years – we take a section of pipe out inside and cover it with a garbage bag – which I hold tight while hubby on the rood “sweeps” I can tell him when he is close to me and I am catching all of the soot and dust in the garbage bag. We end by taking the removable pipe outside and sweeping it while I hold it vac out the stove bed, put everything back in place and save all of that money with $50 worth of tools.
A. Weiland says
I made the holiday jam and has been put into care packages with scratch holiday cookies (10 different varieties). Yum! I got to try it and have a small sampling in the refrigerator. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
Tonya says
Those jars are adorable Mavis. Good job. Thanks for the idea.
Neighbor gifts can be tricky.
Last year I gave homemade bread. Tonight we made hot cocoa spoons as gifts.
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, order some Cre-Away. It prevents creosote build up, and all you need is a light dusting of it. Our chimney sweep recommended it and he uses it at home as well as at work..
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Mrs. C. I will check it out.