If you own a house with a chimney, it’s vital to examine and clean it occasionally. This will keep it functioning efficiently and lessen the risk of a chimney fire. Creosote, which is highly flammable, and soot accumulate on the chimney walls, tumbling the draft and allowing smoke into your home.
To clean your chimney yourself, you will need a properly-sized chimney brush, brush rods or ropes, pull rings, a fireplace cover, coverings for furniture and rugs, tape, a metal bucket, a small shovel, a vacuum, and a powerful flashlight. It’s important to wear eye guards, gloves, and a dust mask when you clean a chimney. Always be aware of electrical and fire hazards. When handling brushes, be vigilant. A spring-like brush wire can cause eye injury and puncture skin. Keep these away from children.
Start by wrapping the interior of the fireplace with plastic so soot and dirt can fall on it while cleaning. Once the bottom portion is done, it’s time to go to the roof and begin cleaning the top. Attach a 20-pound weight to one end of the brush with a pull ring then fasten a rope long enough to reach the bottom of the chimney. Lower the brush down and back up again to clean the sides. If you are using rods, attach them to the brush and use the same action. Vacuum up any debris or soot once you’ve finished.
You can also use the “dual line method” which requires two people working together, one on the roof and one at the opening. Your daughter will be the right helper for holding the ladder and handing you necessary tools for cleaning the top and inner side of the chimney. Each person alternately pulls on the ropes to move the brush up and down the flue.
A chimney located above a stove should be cleaned about every two weeks to keep it running properly. Wipe the exterior part of the chimney with a cloth dipped in cleaning liquid. Also, keep the nearby walls, woodwork, and tiles clean, as grease can stick to them and potentially cause a fire. Replace any charcoal filters every 6 months or whenever an odor sets in or grease builds up. Wash mesh filters in warm water with detergent every 8 to 10 days. Baffle filters should be cleaned the same way every 2 or 3 weeks.
If it is the weekend and your family members have extended you a helping hand, make sure they have some dividend once you are through. What about a gala dinner that evening with exclusive delicacies that your hubby and daughter love? That would be exciting! This is the right opportunity to show your cleaned kitchen chimney’s performance.
Cleaning your chimney is not as hard as you might think, but it can be dodgy and exhausting. If it sounds like more than you’re willing to undertake, consider hiring a chimney sweep. If you have had a fire in your chimney, you should have a professional examine it before using it again.
