Seattle, WA
Chimneys that are left neglected for years can bring about household fire. For this reason, the importance of checking and cleaning your chimney at least once a year cannot be emphasized enough. To ensure your home’s safety and the efficiency of your chimney, it is a must the interiors of your chimney are properly cleaned up from soot and creosote. The internet provides some instructions on how to clean a chimney.
Here are some tips on how to clean a chimney
First of all, wear protective clothing before attempting to clean your chimney. An eye guard, a dust mask, gloves and comfortable clothes are essentials to protect you from dusts, soot, and unwanted debris. Before attempting to clean your chimney, make sure that it has already cooled down especially its interiors. Use a sturdy ladder and always make sure that the ladder is properly in place before stepping or climbing on it.
Use your chimney brush with care and watch out for the springs which may accidentally hit your eyes or bruise your skin. Also, choose a brush that is just the right size for your chimney. You can either clean your chimney from the bottom up which is rather a messy way of cleaning since dusts and soot will naturally fall and mess up your fireplace, floor and furniture.
Or you can clean from the top down and seal the opening of your fireplace to keep the soot and dusts within the fireplace. This is much easier method because you can easily sweep off the fireplace floor after the chimney has been completely cleaned up. An important tip on how to clean a chimney, extra care is very important especially when cleaning your fireplace from the roof.
Lastly, vacuum the floors and make sure that there are no residues left especially around hard to reach areas before using your fireplace again. Make sure that the damper is not broken or clogged by creosote or soot. If the damper is damaged, replace it right away. Also, check for cracks and in case there are, have a professional inspect your chimney immediately.
The Most Important Chimney Cleaning Tool
The chimney cleaning brush is considered the most significant chimney sweep tool. That is because the cleaning task will not be complete without the function and aid if the brush.
The brush is the specific tool that wipes off and brushes away accumulation of dark-colored soot and creosote in the surface and lining of the chimney. You know how important the chimney is for your fireplace and woodstove. The chimney is the fixture that facilitates the removal of annoying and discomforting smoke and soot from the air around during the wood burning process.
The brush is an important chimney sweep tool because it has bristles that are very much effective in sweeping away dirt, soot residues and creosote in the chimney. Those bristles are usually made spiky and strong so that they could carry out the designated function they are made for.
When cleaning the chimney, all you have to do is to use the brush and sweep the residues accumulated in the chimney interior surface. The cleaning motion would surely facilitate removal of soot and creosote. You need to clean the chimney using the chimney sweep brush regularly or as often as possible.
As an important chimney sweep tool, there are several types of chimney sweep brush that are available in the market. However, there are just two types that are outstanding and are identified as specifically useful and beneficial when cleaning the chimney. The poly chimney brush is the particular type of sweeping brush that is meant to be used in metal chimneys. Because the bristles are purely made of plastic and poly materials, you can be sure that no abrasion or damage can be done to the surface of the chimney.
Even the screeching sound of usual sweeping would be eliminated. The wire bristle chimney sweeping brush is the particular type of chimney sweep tool generally for a wider array or kind of chimneys. Masonry and wood chimneys would be thoroughly cleaned if you would be using the wire bristle brush. That is because the bristles of this type of brush is made harder and firmer so that dust residues and creosote would be better wiped off.
Take Care of Chimney Cleaning Tool
To take care of a chimney cleaning tool in general, you should designate a tool box to house the tools when not in use. Keep such a toolbox in the garage or anywhere where you could easily access them whenever there is a need. Make sure the tools are not reachable by children. Kids are playful in nature. If they are able to handle or touch a tool, chances are that they would too curious and hard-headed resulting to damages of the demise of each of the cleaning tool you would have.
Metal chimney cleaning tools should regularly be applied with machine oil to provide grease and avoid the onset of rust. Tools are also like gadgets that need to rest whenever not in use. Like any other type of simple machines, chimney cleaning tools should also be not overused and should be handled with care. As for tools made up of all other materials like wood, it would be helpful if you would keep the tools in safe and secured condition.
Conclusion
These are just some reminders on how to clean a chimney that you can follow to keep your chimney free from clogs and safe from possible fire. Remember, if you’re not experienced with this job, it would be better to have a professional do the work for you.
