Tuesday, January 10, 2017

DIY Procedure For Chimney Cleaning

By Mary Bennett


Chimneys are prone to accumulation of creosote and soot due to frequent use. This substance is sticky and flammable, exposing your house to fires if not removed. To reduce this danger, you need regular chimney cleaning. Hiring a professional cleaner might be expensive. To keep the place clean, you need ordinary tools from the hardware and a few minutes during your regular general cleaning session.

The status of your flute will determine where it needs to be cleaned or not. With simple tools like a knife or pencil, you peel a little of the accumulated creosote at the base. Should it exceed 1/8 of an inch, you need to clean the area as fast as possible. The fall gives you a chance to clean the area before the season where most burning takes place. Leaving the soot and creosote hanging increases the chances of fire.

Animals like birds, squirrels and raccoon take advantage of chimneys during the cold season. They are likely to camp in the area and cause blockage. Before beginning ordinarily clearing, check whether they have camped there. They may also have built nests and abandoned them, leaving the area blocked.

An ordinary brush or rag cannot be used to clean the flute section. You need a brush whose design matches that of your chimney. If the area is round, a circular brush is required. Where it is rectangular, choose a brush that can scrub all corners. A ladder will also enable you reach the top of your roof. Use masks and goggles to protect you against dust.

Whether you are clearing the area bottom-up or up-down, you need protective gear. If you have a brush with a reliable handle, you can do it alone. The cleaning brush usually has a heavy material hanging to pull the brush down. Where such a pipe or rod is not available, you may use a rope with the brush tied in the middle. In this case, you have to be two cleaners, one pulling from the bottom and another from the top.

The entrance also accumulates debris that needs to be removed. The dirt removed from your flute will also gather here. Scope it with a spade and clear the area, carrying off the dirt using a bucket. You may use a blower to deal with fine dust particles.

The law prohibits the disposal of flammable materials in an ordinary pit. This means that the disposal of creosote and soot should be according to local authority regulations. As you clean your chimney, watch out for cracks or deformities especially on the outside. Debris hanging from this area should be removed to keep it light, secure and safe.

There should be no branches or animal nests near your chimney. This intrusion may introduce debris down your flute leading to blockage. Hire a professional chimney cleaner in San Diego, CA if the amount of work demands such.




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