How to Clean Chimneys

Chimney cleaning is of fundamental importance for the safety of the home. It can be done by a specialized professional or by you.

Furthermore, a fireplace , barbecue or oven will never reach its maximum performance if the smoke produced by the burning is not being drained properly.

Find out below how to clean your chimney

Chimney Cleaning Planning

Like fireplaces, chimneys must undergo thorough cleaning twice a year - before and after the season of greatest use of the fireplace, barbecue or oven.

If in doubt, carry out maintenance in spring and autumn.

To make sure it is the right time to proceed with cleaning, search the inside of the chimney with the help of a flashlight. You can find bird nests, squirrel shelters and insect houses, for example. If so, remove them from there.

Scrape the creosote, type of soot, lodged on the sides of the chimney. If it is more than 0.3 cm thick, cleaning is urgent. Creosote is formed by burning wood and can generate fires.

You will also need to measure the chimney plumbing, as you will need to provide cleaning tools of the corresponding size. You can do this from the bottom of the fireplace and then up on the roof and measure from the chimney mouth.

Do not forget to establish the internal shape of the pipe.

Chimney Cleaning Equipment and Preparation

You can find chimney cleaning equipment at stores specializing in cleaning or building material. You will need:

• Chimney brush made of plastic or wire, with extension pipes that will help to clean the entire length of the pipe
• Smaller brush with stiff bristles
• Waxed plastic canvas
• High staircase
• Duster
• Broom
• Rubber gloves, protective goggles and dust mask

When you decide to clean the fireplace, wear old clothes and rubber gloves, glasses and a mask. If you prefer, put on a cap to protect your hair from soot, and wear sneakers.

Remove the carpets and cover any furniture near the fireplace, barbecue or oven.

You can also use the plastic tarp to seal the fireplace, barbecue or oven outlet, so that no dust escapes the environment.

Cleaning the Chimney

The first step will be to locate the damper in the chimney pipe: clean your valve with a brush. Then remove the earmuffs and set it on a cloth. This will make it easier to clean the tubing.

Insert the chimney brush into the base of the fireplace or barbecue until the end. Rub.

Assemble the brush as long as necessary to reach as low as possible. Move back and forth and scrub the tubing well.

If you prefer the roof method, clean the bottom of the chimney (using the fireplace, barbecue or oven) last.

The important thing is that the movements are not too intense, so you don't throw the soot too far. Even so, wait an hour after finishing the work to remove dust from the environment or remove the tarpaulin from the fireplace, barbecue and oven.

Remove the remaining dust with a vacuum cleaner and then wipe the floor and surfaces with a damp cloth.