3 Simple Steps to Cleaning your Chimney
Over the cold winter months lighting an open fire is a cost effective and convenient way of providing heat to areas of your household without the need to increase utility bills. Burning an open fire comes with its own risks, without effective maintenance and cleaning to your chimney flue you could increase the risks of a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common causes of a chimney fire are infrequent cleaning of the flue, burning unseasoned wood and overnight burning. In this week’s blog we will show you how to effectively clean and maintain your chimney flue, in this guide we will cover we will cover the techniques to determine whether your chimney needs cleaned and also the 3 simple and effective steps to cleaning it.
Determining whether your Chimney Flue needs to be cleaned
There isn't a simple rule of thumb for how often you should clean your chimney; it is recommended that you clean out your chimney once every year or after 50 uses. A simple way to tell if your chimney needs to be cleaned is to check if there is any creosote build-up above the smoke chamber. While wearing safety goggles and a disposable dust mask, take a poker and scratch the back surface of the damper, if the groove you scratch in the creosote is 1/4 inches thick you will need to get your fireplace cleaned as soon as possible.
Preparation for Cleaning your Chimney
There are three main reasons why you should ensure your chimney has been cleaned thoroughly before use, they are to protect your health, to avoid a chimney fire and also to avoid smoke damage to your household. With this guide it is possible to clean your chimney yourself without the need for professional assistance, to do this you need to devote your whole day to the procedure and also have patience and the correct equipment. To give your chimney a thorough clean you are going to need to follow three basic steps, each of these steps requires specialist equipment.
You will need to make sure you have the correct sized equipment to properly clean your chimney; this will require you to measure your chimney from top to bottom. Once you know the dimensions of your chimney you should purchase the correct sized equipment for the job. You can clean the chimney from the outside or from the inside, it is recommended to do it from the inside as it will provide a more thorough clean and will be less hazardous. It is recommended that you prepare your house for the cleaning of the chimney flue, this entails covering around your fireplace with a tarpaulin to prevent damage to expensive rugs and furniture.
Step 1 - Using a Cleaning Log
Step 1 of cleaning your chimney involves using the Chimney Cleaning Log, before using the log you need to inspect your chimney and flue to ensure that it is free of debris, bird's nests and other obstructions. To begin with set the cleaning log inside the fireplace and pull the seams of the wrapper outward to crease an airspace between the log and the paper, this will allow it to catch fire easier. The cleaning log contains a mixture of additives that will be dispersed during the process of burning, the smoke will adhere to the creosote which will help to remove and loosen the deposits gradually. Once you have used the cleaning log it is recommended to allow for a few days in-between using the log and starting to clean the flue to give the additives time to treat the creosote, this will make it easier to brush off.
Step 2 - Using a Chimney Sweeper
This is the most tedious and time-consuming step in cleaning your chimney. During this step you need to ensure you are not only cleaning away soot and dust from the shoot but also the creosote deposits which can be extremely hazardous. The ideal kit for doing this job is the De Vielle 9 Piece Chimney Cleaning Kit, this kit contains everything you need to clean your chimney whether you use a coal or log burning fire. This kit contains 8 flexible 920mm polypropylene rods which reach up to 24 foot in length when assembled and also a 10-inch brush head. To begin the cleaning process simply connect the polypropylene rods to your desired length, attach the brush head and you are ready to start sweeping the creosote deposits away. Insert the brush into the chimney, using up and down motions begin to scrub the flue clean. Because of the work done in the previous step the deposits should lift off hassle free and you should be left with a clean ready to use chimney.
Step 3 - Finishing the Job
After you are finished using the cleaning log and chimney cleaning kit there will be a build-up of creosote and soot at the bottom of the fire place. The perfect accessory for clearing the debris is the De Vielle Ash Vacuum, this Vacuum boasts an intuitive triple filtration system which ensures an effective and reliable method for removing debris from the bottom of the fire. After uplifting the soot and creosote in the vacuum you will need to dispose of it in accordance with your local laws since creosote is a flammable substance.
Fire Safety
There are simple steps to avoid the risk of a chimney fire, this includes getting your chimney swept before lighting the first fire of winter, ensuring a fireguard is in front of the fire at all times, and also ensuring the fire is completely extinguished before going to bed. If you are using wood on an open fire you will need to make sure it has a moisture content of below 17 per cent, you can check the moisture content of wood by using a Moisture Meter.
If you are planning on using an open fire over the winter months it is highly recommended that you have a working smoke alarm fitted to each floor of your house. Smoke alarms save lives by giving you an early warning of a fire which will give you extra time to react accordingly. If your chimney is clogged with creosote and tar this will prevent this can pose a danger of carbon monoxide fumes, a blocked chimney or flue will allow carbon monoxide to seep into your home and it can have a devastating effect to your wellbeing, this is why it is recommended that your house is fitted with a carbon monoxide alarm.