Last Updated: January 8, 2020 (Refresh Now)
Gardus RCH205 B SootEater Rotary Chimney Cleaning System Cleans Open Chimneys up to 18 with 6 Flexible 3 Rods Includes Trim to Fit Spinning Chimney Whip
Last Updated: January 8, 2020 (Refresh Now)
8.9
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
1000
Old Reviews
560
Unverified
23
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Review Analysis - 417 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Cleaning
172cleaned, stove, flue, fireplace, soot
+95%
-5%
" ... No part if this procedure is clean or easy. ... "
" ... The chimney cleaning tool did an excellent job cleaning my fireplace flue.my only critique is that the Allen wrench tool that they provide to depress the button to release the extensions from one another or the drill driver piece could be revised for easier one person use.they obviously took the cheap route and just used an allen wrench with one end filed down, but if the tool or slightly revised it would be much simpler to use. ... "
" ... I actually need about 2 more feet if length to reach the top so will order the 2 rod extra pack for next years clean. ... "
" ... Cleaned chimney from inside the house, no more climbing on the roof! ... "
" ... I still take my pipe off to clean it, but it is so much easier than a wire brush. ... "
" ... A chimney sweep quoted us $600 to clean our 18-foot chimney. ... I can’t speak to cleaning it because I let my hubby handle that. ... I helped him set it up and execute the cleaning. ... "
" ... This tool cleans great. ... Make sure you tighten the hex screw with the provided wrench on the black cleaning head. ... "
" ... Couldn't imagine cleaning the fireplace any other way now. ... "
Ease of Use
73easy, effective, works great, instructions, chimney
+99%
-1%
" ... So easy to use, and works in about 75% less time than my original system. ... "
" ... It's easy to use and does a way better job than the old fashioned push/pull method! ... "
" ... Easy set up and break down. ... "
" ... 5/12 pitch, easy to access the chimney flu. ... "
" ... easy to use. ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
" ... This whip was very easy to get in the flue. ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
Build Quality
73chimney, rod, stove, soot, pipe
+63%
-37%
" ... But they did create a nice snug latch between the sticks/rods. ... Would give it a 5/5 if the locking pins were a little easier to work with. ... "
" ... Worked great, only thing that would make it better would be if it was easier to release the pieces. ... "
" ... Just use a drill and the flexible pole segments allow easy stripping of soot/creosote buildup. ... "
" ... Thicker sturdy and flexible. ... "
" ... I thought having the flexible rods would do it. ... I was very happy that the brush and rod made the 90 degree bend with no problems. ... I then pulled the rods and brush out and that was it. ... Bottom line- this kit works well and can easily negotiate at least one 90 degree bend. ... "
" ... I used it to clean out the 6” pipe for out wood burning insert. ... It got a lot of material out and saved a ton on a pro. ... "
" ... We used a light to look in the chimney afterwards and were surprised how well the brush had worked--we could see shiny metal where before had been black! ... An added bonus is that you can replace the string when it gets worn. ... "
" ... Seems solid and well made ... "
Inlet Outlet Pipe
26stove, flue, chimney, rods, soot
+81%
-19%
" ... This worked really good for us, went up and came back down no problem and it brought all the soot out of the pipe with it. ... "
" ... The vent pipe was clean and the entire process took only a few minutes. ... "
" ... Its easy to use on my straight pipe chimney, taking all the soot off quickly. ... "
" ... good equipment for 3"and 4" stove pipe ... "
" ... Dose a very good job on my wood burner pipe ... "
" ... I used this on my wood stove pipe and it did a great job and saved me a lot of money. ... "
" ... Very easy to use/took only a few minutes to clean our 20, stove pipe. ... "
" ... Afterwards we used a leaf blower to blow out the pipe while the stove was apart. ... "
Price
25worth the money, works great, sweep, save, well worth
+96%
-4%
" ... So I searched utube to see how it would be done then got on Amazon to find the tool with the best ratings and price. ... "
" ... Save some money and do it yourself, this works great. ... "
" ... Worth the money ... "
" ... Not commercial quality by any means but the price reflects this. ... "
" ... Works great and great price point. ... "
" ... i would say that this was well worth the money . ... but for $50 bucks . ... "
" ... For the price and the easy of use it's not a bad deal. ... "
" ... Why would anyone pay 300.00 for someone else to come and use this, when you can do it yourself. ... "
Fit
22drill, chimney, rod, soot falling, soot
+64%
-36%
" ... The measure would be how much soot fell. ... "
" ... Just use a drill and the flexible pole segments allow easy stripping of soot/creosote buildup. ... "
" ... We used the rotary spinner from the inside wall vent connected to a screw gun to go to the outside vent. ... "
" ... It is well worth it for the piece of mind of having clean, unobstructed vents. ... "
" ... meaning i used my hand as brake on chuck to tighten . ... "
" ... Easy to screw together attach to my drill and go. ... "
" ... But they did create a nice snug latch between the sticks/rods. ... "
" ... My stove chimney wasn't bad after a winter of burning continuously, but still got about a cup or so of creosote to fall into the bag. ... "
Ease of Cleaning
21cleaning, cleans, cleaned, rods, flue
+95%
-5%
" ... Cleaned from bottom up with no problems. ... "
" ... With this I was done and looking clean in no time. ... "
" ... It does a good job cleaning and is very quick. ... "
" ... I'm still cleaning up. ... "
" ... It cleans great but the rods snap so often I'm not going to be able to use it again ... "
" ... We cleaned with it, really good ... "
" ... With that said, it did a great job cleaning the flue. ... "
" ... Good cleaning tool. ... "
Setup
18easy, followed, easy to use, directions, chimney
+94%
-6%
" ... The instructions are easy and should be followed. ... "
" ... 5/12 pitch, easy to access the chimney flu. ... "
" ... Simple enough to use every year, clear instructions. ... "
" ... I did a bottom up cleaning and was setup and done in under 45 minutes. ... "
" ... Works very well, clear instructions and great results. ... "
" ... Very straightforward instructions for different types of chimneys. ... "
" ... I was able to clean mine in about 30 minutes including setup. ... "
" ... Followed directions was easy. ... "
Product Reliability
18years, year, first time, every year, creosote
+67%
-33%
" ... Worked just like I needed it to. ... Cleared out quite a few years of soot from prior owners very quickly. ... "
" ... This product worked excellently. ... "
" ... This product worked great. ... "
" ... No issues whatsoever. ... "
" ... Have used it year after year with great results and durability! ... "
" ... It appears that Gardus has gone out of business! ... "
" ... And seems like it will last for years. ... "
" ... We'll use it every year for sure! ... "
Overall performance
17speed, drill, slow, roof, done
+94%
-6%
" ... Works as advertised does a quick thorough job. ... "
" ... Got the job done ... "
" ... It did a great job. ... "
" ... Does the job well ... "
" ... When the drill was at full speed, going straight up and down from the roof, no issues. ... "
" ... You will need two people to do this job. ... "
" ... Does the job ... "
" ... Very useful and did the job. ... "
Capacity
16chimney, flue, two story house, soot, living room
+94%
-6%
" ... I live in an old guest house next to my mom. ... "
" ... Remember to buy the extra 2 three foot long rods for a 2 story house chances are you will need them like I did. ... "
" ... I recently bought a house with two wood stoves -- having never had so much as a fireplace, I did a ton of research -- planning a new hearth build now as well as reviewing my current setup's code-compliance. ... "
" ... This kit is outstanding, I also used it on bathroom vents in a two-story house no need to trim the whip lines keep them long and don't be quick to trim them down shorter keep them long. ... "
" ... Now my wife and I are enjoying our cozy and warm living room during the winter evenings. ... "
" ... If you have a two story house or chimney you will need extensions. ... "
" ... I never left the living room to clean the entire chimney. ... "
" ... i inherited this house in 2000 from parents . ... "
Comfort
13chimney, soot falling, rods, rod, drill
+62%
-38%
" ... The measure would be how much soot fell. ... "
" ... It feels very sturdy and did a great job, without risking a fall. ... "
" ... An added bonus is that you can replace the string when it gets worn. ... "
" ... Second time it worked great once the strings were tightened to the brush head. ... "
" ... I do suggest wearing leather work gloves. ... "
" ... I read the reviews, made sure I had the 'whips' adjusted to the proper dimensions for my flue, then began to feed the head and rods into the flue. ... "
" ... meaning i used my hand as brake on chuck to tighten . ... "
" ... I realized that it is flexible enough to use holding your hand as a guide with the shaft making a big loop above your head, and it still spins as you plunge it into the chimney. ... "
Hair
12whip, cutting, whips, weed, string
+92%
-8%
" ... Cutting the string length was a concern at first but follow the directions and it will work. ... "
" ... First impression, not many parts which equates to simplicity, lightweight which is nice, and it appears to be a head with string trimmer line. ... "
" ... Used .105" weed trimmer line cut to 14 inches and replaced the original line. ... "
" ... They even include a template that will help you trim the "spider" to the correct length for your flue size and shape. ... "
" ... I also bought a roll of 1.05 weed trimmer line at Lowe’s for whip replacement in future. ... "
" ... It's very high quality and uses replaceable trimmer string if they wear out or you have different size chimneys. ... "
" ... It is well made and cut through the creosote very easily. ... "
" ... I was impressed by how long the plastic strands were, not to mention it makes yard weed eater string look like dental floss. ... "
Marketplace
10picture, works as advertised, today, time, taken
+70%
-30%
" ... Works as advertised ... "
" ... I’ve only used it once so far but it works as advertised. ... "
" ... Just received the Sooteater yesterday, and we used it today (27OCT2019). ... "
" ... Worked exactly, and I mean exactly as advertised! ... "
" ... Please see picture. ... "
" ... The pictures are before and after. ... "
" ... Received product on time. ... "
Food Items
9wood, wood burning stove, burns, sliced, pellet
+100%
" ... Literally we got it done in the morning, and then lost power in the evening so we were able to cook and stay warm because our fireplace was working again and our chimney was no longer smoking. ... "
" ... This is one of the best inventions since sliced bread! ... "
" ... All the creosote in my case just dumped right into the stove. ... "
" ... I use this on my wood stove and works great. ... "
" ... I decided to go top down because I could close the stove up and catch all the soot there rather than have to deal with a mess as I'm going bottom-up. ... "
" ... Stove works like new. ... "
" ... We used this for our wood burning stove. ... "
" ... If you have a wood burning stove you need this!! ... "
Product As Described
5picture, works as advertised, taken, worked, square
+100%
" ... Works as advertised ... "
" ... I’ve only used it once so far but it works as advertised. ... "
" ... Worked exactly, and I mean exactly as advertised! ... "
" ... Please see picture. ... "
" ... The pictures are before and after. ... "
Delivery
5received, arrived, today, time, yesterday
+100%
" ... The product arrived on time. ... "
" ... Just received the Sooteater yesterday, and we used it today (27OCT2019). ... "
" ... 15 minutes after I received the product, my job was complete!! ... "
" ... It arrived today while I was at work. ... "
" ... Received product on time. ... "
User Manual
4number, even, customer service, called
+75%
-25%
" ... So much better than the old school manual brushes. ... "
" ... Well built with good instruction manual. ... "
" ... they did get scared up from the bends in my flue, but did a awesome job and I removed more creosote then for the manual brush. ... "
Cables
4chimney, connectors, brushes, roof, push
+75%
-25%
" ... I had a paid chimney sweep guy destroy that part of my pipe years ago trying to shove his wire cleaner through it. ... "
" ... Granted, the chimney has been used for a cord in two years, but it now look pretty clean. ... "
" ... Works great and isn't as abrasive as those wire brushes. ... "
Returns
4today, time, send, replacement, back
-100%
" ... Tried to return today on Amazon and wa told I can’t. ... "
" ... If not, I’m not sure where I can get a replacement? ... "
" ... Broke first time I used it and I can’t return it ... "
" ... Too late now to return. ... "
Speed
415, took, 10
+100%
" ... It only took about 15-20 mins. ... "
" ... Seriously finished in under 10 minutes. ... "
" ... Had my chimney done in less then 15 minutes. ... "
" ... The sweeping took 10-15 minutes. ... "
Network
4chimney, two story house, mom, used, story
+100%
" ... I used it on the chimney of a 2 story house. ... "
" ... I have a simple chimney on a one story house. ... "
" ... I live in an old guest house next to my mom. ... "
" ... If you have a two story house or chimney you will need extensions. ... "
Door
3roof, stove, rods, rod, fireplace
+100%
" ... One up top simply closing the fireplace doors was enough to eliminate any further issues. ... "
" ... Rods bend well enough to go through my free standing woodstove door and they hang nicely as you add each rod. ... "
" ... A trap door in the basement allows us to use this from the bottom up. ... "
Clarity
3directions
+100%
" ... Directions were clear. ... "
" ... This allows us to keep the flue clear. ... "
Lens
3filter
+100%
" ... The before, after and debris shots tell the story ... "
" ... best to user a vacuum with a self contained filter bag inside then a standard air filter. ... "
Call quality
3get, calls, call, tried, number
+33%
-67%
" ... We couldn't get a sweep to answer our calls during their busy season so we invested in this. ... The sweep won't be getting calls from us again. ... "
" ... 888-985-0208 The automated answering service came up with what sounded like a scam to get you to pay $1.95 for a $100 gift card. ... "
Storage
3gallon, taped, stove, rods, milk jug
+100%
" ... I was able to hold on to the Pex like a handle as the rods had room to spin easily as they were fed up the chimney. ... "
" ... For my stove, the 18’ that comes with it was perfect for me to reach the cap. ... "
" ... Next time I think I'll try it bottom-up with a milk jug to steady the pole and catch the soot like you see on some of the videos. ... "
Size
3size, carry, need, chimneys
+100%
" ... i clean chimneys and no need to carry several diff. ... "
" ... Very simple to trim the line to the correct size . ... "
" ... You trim the nylon brush to size. ... "
Design
3like
+100%
" ... I was impressed with the design of this. ... "
" ... Y'all hit the ball out of the park with this design. ... "
" ... It was what you might not like to see, hard , jet black ,glassy. ... "
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