Chimney Blockage - clearing tools ?

I remember the house being built when I was much younger, not sure what happened with this flue, but it's crooked, it has a bend in it, towards the bottom, before it turns 90 degrees inwards towards the sleeve in the foundation, so you can't see to the bottom from the top, like the fireplaces which are so nice with over sized flues.

From the inside at the cellar, it also has a bend in it, so it's hard to see to the 90 degree turn to the top, but I did get a work light in there and could see the 90 degree turn up.

I'm not sure what could be in there, and I think it's not that far from the 90 degree turn at the bottom, (figures it's the hardest place to reach from both directions !) and aside from trying to understand why they installed 1/2 of the flue at an angle so you can't see anything below the bend, it would have been fine if they just came up straight, it's like they did it in spite, were drunk or there was a major problem that I just don't see.

I'm wondering what kind of tool might be good to break up the blockage. No idea what it could be, probably spalled pieces of flue tile, creosote, and I hope nothing else in there like bricks or anything, there were some decorative pieces on top of the chimney that are now loose, earthquake in '02 rattled a piece off one corner, so it's hard to say for sure, but it can't be like someone poured mortar or concrete in there.

Dropped a light as far as it would go, and could not see light from the other side, pushed a light in and up at the 90 upward in the cellar, no light seen from the top, and does not seem to have any draft when you put smoke in the foundation sleeve a the bottom, sealed up nicely it seems.

At the time I'm writing this, I remember having some 1" galvanized well pipe in my material yard, and I think I may have enough room and bend in the pipe to get it down there, the heavy chain with a large hook did nothing even with a few feet of free fall,(that is a work out !) I might have to clean some galvanized coating off and weld 2 sections together, any suggestions for the end, leave it open as is or I could weld something on it. Looking for ideas, figured I'd have been done already with a nice fire going LOL !

-Yukon Husky Wood furnace, 8X8 Flue....20 Yrs.

Gary from Massachusetts

Funny, we've never had a chimney fire call on a warm day.

At least he's not in the gene pool anymore.

Before you can figure out the best tool and method to get the flue unblocked, you're really going to have to find out what's blocking it. I'd put some creative effort into solving that problem.

You lowered a light as far down as you were able and couldn't see light from the bottom, and vice versa. Did you also look down the chimney when you lowered the light? Putting some kind of shroud over the bulb so it wouldn't shine in your eyes might help---even aluminum foil or cardboard would be enough. If you have some low powered optics that will focus that close, like opera glasses (yeah, right) or a rifle scope, or a camera, you might be able to get a better look at whatever the light reveals.

From the basement side you might have some luck with a hand mirror secured to something rigid so that you can get it up close to the bottom of the blockage. A light on the far side of the mirror might help, too.

Let us know what you find. It's definitely got my curiosity aroused.

All the best, Stan

P.S. You know that if you'd done this in the summer the flue would have been clear, don't you?

Winter = Blocked

Summer = Clear

I've got a few mirrors to try, will be fun trying to read them though. Pictures would help here, I'd take a photo if I could just press the darned button, cameras are also a good way to get a view at hard to reach places.

Both lights were shop type automotive with shields and guards, I orientated them so the light was effective, was hoping for a glimmer of something after hammering away with the chain, definitely a no go on that.

I'll be back on it tomorrow, ought to be interesting, have no idea what it is, sure ain't budging !

Power wash might work, I could catch the water, there's a floor drain nearby, but I'm thinking something more mechanical is needed, I'd have to somehow get the tip down in there close to the blockage, this is one of those things, different tool, little more elbow grease and hearing from others who had a similar experience.