I always cleaned out the ashes first, removed the baffle and closed the door. Then went on the roof, removed the head and used a round chimney sweep, re-installed the head. Went back inside and cleaned all the black crustys' out putting the baffle back in, done. Using it 24/7 during the winter I always had to clean it out at least once mid-season, you know it needed it when you open the door to add more wood and some smoke comes out into the room.
@@thechimneyman-uk In mine after removing the baffle, there still remains multiple air introduction pipes in the way of accessing the chimney from the bottom. So you must go from the roof into the chimney with extensions to get all the way down to those pipes from the top side thus causing all the black soot to fall into the wood burning area between those pipes. Do this with the door shut so all the dust stays inside and has settled by the time you get back down to clean out the soot.
@@DrHarryT yes there are a few stoves here that are designed with little or no access to sweep through the stove. Usually other access has been provided. We don't typically go on roofs here but sometimes there's no other way. 👍
