When the weather turns cold and wet, houses provide a cozy respite—and this is where you spend the majority of your time during the coldest months of the year.
If your home has a fireplace, that is even better. The comforting heat and delicate flicker of the flames are, to put it mildly, calming.
However, in order to function properly and safely, your fireplace requires regular cleaning and maintenance. You can do the task yourself or hire chimney cleaning services providers.
Follow these methods to clean your fireplace, chimney, and accessories.
Why you need to clean your chimney
Cleaning out your fireplace or chimney may not be at the top of your winter to-do list. But to be on the safe side, it should be a top priority—especially if yours hasn’t been cleaned in a few years.
What’s the reason? One of the leading causes of chimney fires is the accumulation of creosote, a result of burning wood in the chimney interior.
While you can take certain steps to reduce the amount of creosote that gets created, you can’t prevent it from growing, which makes cleaning your chimney a must-do task.
Another benefit of cleaning your fireplace and chimney is that it increases their energy efficiency. As debris builds up, it will clog up the chimney flue liner. When the liner gets clogged, it can inhibit fire operation.
How often to clean the chimney
While there is no set frequency for cleaning your fireplace and chimney, you should do so at least once a year, especially if you use it frequently. Otherwise, clean your fireplaces during peak season, if you smell burning wood or notice soot.
How to clean different fireplaces
As a general rule of thumb, you should remove creosote buildup (to prevent the possibility of a chimney fire) and inspect the chimney for cracks to ensure smoke does not leak into the house.
To help you out, here are some of the ways to clean the different fireplaces:
Brick
You need to mix equal parts warm water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture over the bricks and allow to sit for five minutes. Blot at stains or grime with a sponge, using more of the vinegar mixture if needed.
If you detect stuck-on grime or dirt in the crevices of the bricks, use a strong bristle brush to remove the material and then let it dry.
Cast iron
Wipe the surface with a methylated spirit and a soft cloth. To restore the shine of faded or worn colors, apply iron polish or WD40.
Stone
While washing the stonework, use a light dish soap and warm water to remove grime and stains. Allow the stone to fully dry and be mindful not to oversaturate it with water, as it can leave watermarks.
Chimney cleaning best practices
When you are cleaning the chimney there are a number of tips you should put into consideration to ensure that you have a great time. These tips include:
Hire experienced contractors
When it comes to cleaning the chimney, the only way you can be sure that the contractor will do a good job is to hire an experienced one.
To be on the safe side, only hire a licensed chimney sweep.
The National Fire Institute and the CSIA are professional organizations that train and certify chimney sweeps. Their websites include a list of contractors who have been certified by them. When hiring a chimney contractor, make sure they have professional certification.
Visit the website and ensure that the contractor you are looking to hire is licensed here.
You also should check with the Better Business Bureau. Your local Better Business Bureau tracks fraud in your area. On their website, you can also obtain ratings for local firms and contractors, which can help you determine the quality of the chimney sweep you’re contemplating hiring.
Obviously, you should only hire a reputable contractor with a proven record.
Many people hire the cheapest contractor they can access. This is wrong. Instead, you should take your time to find a reputable contractor. They might be a little expensive, but they will be worth it in the long run as they will give you a great experience.
Reviews are vital in helping you know whether a contractor is reputable, so check on them. Look into the reviews on Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List. By reading about previous customers’ experiences can help you understand the quality of their job and what you may expect.
Don’t wait until fall to schedule chimney cleaning
Autumn is the busiest season for chimney sweeps, but it’s not the greatest time to clean. Many people wait until the weather cools down before scheduling a chimney cleaning, this is wrong.
If you’ve done this before, you know that it’s the most difficult time to schedule an appointment. Chimney services are in high demand in the fall, resulting in few appointments and the highest prices.
Spring and summer are ideal times to arrange a chimney cleaning. During this time, most of the contractors aren’t busy meaning you can easily set up an appointment at a low cost.
Also if any chimney damage is discovered when cleaning, you will have plenty of time before winter to have it fixed.
Don’t rely on chimney cleaning logs
Many households use chimney cleaning logs or other materials, such as salts and chemicals, to remove creosote rather than hiring a professional chimney sweep. Don’t do this
As many DIY chimney cleaning products are readily available at local home improvement stores and online, some products can be more harmful than beneficial.
Burning a chimney-cleaning log can raise the risk of a fire rather than decrease it. The chemical fumes produced by DIY chimney cleaning logs can remove creosote that has built up on the flue walls.
When loosened creosote falls down the chimney, it might ignite, causing a chimney fire. The caustic chemical vapors can also harm some chimney linings.
If you have a wood-burning stove, it can be irreversibly damaged. Using a chimney sweep log may be easy, but the risks are not worth it.
The best way to clean the chimney is by hiring an experienced chimney sweep Bowie. They might be a little more expensive than the logs, but they will be worth it.
