DIY Chimney Cleaning: How to Have A Soot-Free Chimney Inexpensively
By Faisal Barus
During years of usage, a chimney will accumulate remains such as soot and creosote, not to mention bird nests, leaves, and other debris buildup. Cleaning your chimney does not only make your chimney shine as new. Most importantly, chimney cleaning also prevents dangerous chimney problems such as a chimney fire and smoke leakage into your house. Creosote, the thick, black tar-like matter is very hard to clean. If this substance buildup catches fire, it will create ...
a massive fire. Not only damaging your chimney, the chimney fire can also damage your home. Creosote buildup, leaves, or bird nests can also block your chimney so, instead of venting through the chimney, the smoke goes back to your home causing very dangerous carbon monoxide fumes.
Cleaning your chimney regularly is the best way to prevent chimney-related problems. There are two major ways to clean your chimney; the bottom-up and the top-down method. You need a chimney brush and a strong flashlight to clean your chimney. For protection, wear a pair of protective glass, safety gloves, and a full-faced mask. Since you will likely to be covered in soot, leave your good clothes behind and wear your old clothes instead.
Top-Down Method
To clean your chimney from the top part of the chimney, prepare a sturdy ladder. Make sure the damper above the fireplace is open and the fireplace is securely closed. Climb onto the roof and remove the chimney cowl (if you have one). From above, sweep the inside of the chimney using the chimney brush to the bottom of the chimney. Sweep the chimney with up-bottom, bottom-up motion until it's thoroughly clean. Check with the flashlight to make sure you don't miss any significant spot. After the sweeping is done, place back the cowl, open the fireplace cover, and clean the wastes from the fireplace.
Bottom-Up Method
This method is basically similar to top-down method; only you reverse the process. Open the fireplace damper and sweep the chimney with the brush from below to the top with bottom-up, up-bottom motion. Make sure no spots are missed by checking the chimney with the flashlight. Clean the mess after the cleaning is done. This method is safer than the top-down method since you don't have to climb up a ladder. However, you will leave a lot of mess. Therefore, it is suggested to "evacuate" all the items that can be damaged by soot such as electronic devices, upholstered furniture, carpet, and others.
Chimney cleaning is cheaper if you do it by yourself. However, if you opt for professional chimney cleaner services, you can find about chimney sweep cost in chimneysweepcost.org.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faisal_Barus
http://EzineArticles.com/?DIY-Chimney-Cleaning:-How-to-Have-A-Soot-Free-Chimney-Inexpensively&id=6633003
By Faisal Barus
During years of usage, a chimney will accumulate remains such as soot and creosote, not to mention bird nests, leaves, and other debris buildup. Cleaning your chimney does not only make your chimney shine as new. Most importantly, chimney cleaning also prevents dangerous chimney problems such as a chimney fire and smoke leakage into your house. Creosote, the thick, black tar-like matter is very hard to clean. If this substance buildup catches fire, it will create ...
a massive fire. Not only damaging your chimney, the chimney fire can also damage your home. Creosote buildup, leaves, or bird nests can also block your chimney so, instead of venting through the chimney, the smoke goes back to your home causing very dangerous carbon monoxide fumes.
Cleaning your chimney regularly is the best way to prevent chimney-related problems. There are two major ways to clean your chimney; the bottom-up and the top-down method. You need a chimney brush and a strong flashlight to clean your chimney. For protection, wear a pair of protective glass, safety gloves, and a full-faced mask. Since you will likely to be covered in soot, leave your good clothes behind and wear your old clothes instead.
Top-Down Method
To clean your chimney from the top part of the chimney, prepare a sturdy ladder. Make sure the damper above the fireplace is open and the fireplace is securely closed. Climb onto the roof and remove the chimney cowl (if you have one). From above, sweep the inside of the chimney using the chimney brush to the bottom of the chimney. Sweep the chimney with up-bottom, bottom-up motion until it's thoroughly clean. Check with the flashlight to make sure you don't miss any significant spot. After the sweeping is done, place back the cowl, open the fireplace cover, and clean the wastes from the fireplace.
Bottom-Up Method
This method is basically similar to top-down method; only you reverse the process. Open the fireplace damper and sweep the chimney with the brush from below to the top with bottom-up, up-bottom motion. Make sure no spots are missed by checking the chimney with the flashlight. Clean the mess after the cleaning is done. This method is safer than the top-down method since you don't have to climb up a ladder. However, you will leave a lot of mess. Therefore, it is suggested to "evacuate" all the items that can be damaged by soot such as electronic devices, upholstered furniture, carpet, and others.
Chimney cleaning is cheaper if you do it by yourself. However, if you opt for professional chimney cleaner services, you can find about chimney sweep cost in chimneysweepcost.org.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faisal_Barus
http://EzineArticles.com/?DIY-Chimney-Cleaning:-How-to-Have-A-Soot-Free-Chimney-Inexpensively&id=6633003
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