The ground was frozen hard again yesterday and this morning, March 3, 2025. Storms are predicted for Tuesday. We usually scratch down the chimneys in January to keep them safe, but this year the roof was snow and ice covered, and the weather hasn't been fit to work outdoors. Saturday I got up on the roof and cleaned the flues. The basement flue had just one spot where I knocked out some creosote chunks, but the upstairs flue was nasty. I filled an ash bucket half full with creosote! It was far enough up the chimney that it wasn't likely to catch fire, but I am glad it is safe now to finish winter.
Boron: Here you go! Johnson Chimney Sweep info, plus a quick vid.
3 comments:
This is the first time I've ever seen the expression "scratch down".
I understand what's meant, but is this a local (what locality?) expression or is it area-wide (what area?)
I'm not a philologist, just curious.
That's just what I call it. I will post a picture of my chimney cleaner on this post for you to see. It is made of heavy wire, and expands outward when you jerk on the top end. I lower it closed up and knock out the easy creosote, then pop it open and bring it back up. A few repeats and then I clean out the stove. Close the draft on the stove when you do this so you don't get a face full of creosote!
"...spring is slouching in..." is an exquisite turn-of-phrase.
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