To prevent chimney fires and keep your chimney in a perfect working condition you need to regularly undertake chimney cleaning.
Chimney cleaning tools
You need the necessary tools to properly clean your fireplace. The tools that you need include:
Wire brush: This is a flat, round brush that you use to get into the chimney thus scraping soot and creosote from the inside walls of your chimney. Since they are made from wire, they are able to loosen even hard creosote. Masonry contractors recommend that you use them on masonry chimneys with clay flues.
Polypropylene brush: The brush is an alternative to the wire brush and chimney experts recommend that you use it on chimneys that have stainless steel liners. The brush effectively removes the soot and creosote without damaging the chimney liner.
Hand brush: A hand brush is characterized by a short handle and often works like a broom. It’s recommended that you use it in tighter spaces where it would be hard to maneuver a large brush.
Chemicals: While most of the cleaning tools are hardware, sometimes they are unable to get rid of the creosote that has thickly caked on. Creosote will cake on if you have stayed for a long time without cleaning it or you have been burning plenty of unseasoned softwood. There are plenty of chemical agents that come in powder or liquid forms. You should coat your fireplace with the chemicals thus breaking down the glaze. When using the chemicals, ensure that they can’t damage your chimney.
Tips to consider when cleaning your chimney
In addition to using the right cleaning tools, you also need to hire the right chimney sweeping professional. You can clean the chimney by yourself but it’s always recommended that you hire a professional. The professional will not only clean the chimney but also inspect the chimney and fix any problems that it might be having.
When requesting the cleaning services you should do so during the summer months. During this time most of the chimney sweeps don’t have much work thus you easily get an appointment with them. You also tend to pay lower cleaning fees as the contractors aren’t in high demand. For peace of mind, ensure that the chimney company you hire is certified by the Chimney Sweep Institute Of America. To keep your fireplace in great shape you should clean it at least once a year.
