<![CDATA[Chimneys usually have accumulated soot and creosote which is a flammable substance that can cause a fire if ignored. You may consider cleaning the chimney yourself other than hiring a professional. If you do it once a year, then clean it before the burning season comes in the fall or else you risk starting a chimney fire in the winter when you light up the fireplace. This article offers tips on ways of cleaning a chimney and safety measures to apply too.
Ascertain Whether the Chimney Needs Cleaning A chimney requires cleaning at least once a year and more often if the fireplace is used frequently. Use a flashlight to peer inside the flute of the chimney then use either a plastic knife or pencil to scrape off some creosote. If it is 1/8-inch thick or worse, it needs cleaning.
Check for animals Check for critters, birds, raccoons, squirrels that build their nests there in the clod season. Have the animals removed if any.
Measure chimney flue Determine the chimney length so as to make sure your chimney brush reaches the entire chimney.
Buy or assemble the cleaning materials You will need a chimney brush – can be plastic or wire, brush extension pipes or a weighted rope usually used with the brush for chimneys, a smaller brush with stiff wire, a drop cloth or plastic tarp, a ladder, broom and dustpan, goggles and dust mask.
Dress up Appropriately Use old clothes or what you don’t mind being messed up by soot. Cover your hair, hand gloves dust mask and goggles.
Prepare the floor Use the tarp or drop cloth around the fireplace and extend it a bit further. Cover the furniture too.
Remove damper from the flue Look for the damper handle and clean it using the small wire brush. Remove it from the chimney to avoid obstructing the chimney brush.
Set the ladder Put the ladder next to the house, take the chimney brush and other extensions filled in satchel slung on your shoulder and climb the ladder. In case you fear climbing the ladder, clean from the bottom instead.
Assemble brush and pipes Fix the first pipe piece to the brush, insert into chimney and use up and down movements to scrub and clean the chimney flue. Fix another segment of pipe to allow you to go further down as you clean the full length of the flue. For the rope and weight materials, fix the rope to the brush, hold the weighted rope at the end, then lower the brush into the flue. Move it up and down while scrubbing the whole flue.
Dissemble all extensions from brush Place all the material in the satchel and climb down.
With the small wire brush, clean where the brush may have missed at the bottom of the chimney. Then look for a small door going under the flue usually at the basement. Use a spade to scoop out the soot and creosote that has piled up there. Attach back the damper handle, clean the debris and dispose of the soot.
Summary Chimney in your fireplace or kitchen needs regular cleaning. Make it a point to clean the chimney at least once a year. Cleaning is required at a greater frequency if the chimney is used often.]]>