How To Clean a Chimney

Chimneys that are usually located in the fireplace, a furnace, or a stove make an important part our kitchen for heating. More than just ventilating your home, chimneys help in trapping harmful chemicals and substances that are found in dirt and smoke.

But using chimneys frequently allows the soot and grime to be building up inside the walls of the chimney, thereby leading to chronic health problems. The particles formed inside are subjected to various chemical changes from heat and exposure, and these substances when inhaled become poisonous as they pave way for problems like respiratory disorder and cancer. Thus, checking and cleaning your chimney at least twice a month is highly important to prevent diseases.

For cleaning a chimney you require some tools such as a ladder, chimney broom, flexible rod or handle, flashlight, plastic sheeting or newspapers for protecting furniture and protective clothing.

If your chimney is located inside your home, cleaning it from the roof is the best idea. Make sure to wear protective clothing such as a face mask, goggles, and gloves avoid the contact and inhalation of dirt and soot particles. Cover your furniture and appliances in plastic sheeting or newspapers then. After getting up on top of the roof, check whether you are in a safe and stable position.

Next step is attaching a long, flexible rod on one end of the chimney broom. By attaching several handles, you can comfortably insert the brush into the chimney completely.

Now slowly lower the broom and the handle into the chimney in such a way that all the sides of the brush are in contact with the inside walls. After lifting the brush carefully, shine a flashlight into the chimney. The inside walls doesnt need to be cleaned completely, but make sure that you have removed all the big lumps or chunks of soot that have built up on the inside walls.

Even though you can hire the services of a chimney sweep or a home maintenance crew, it is always recommended maintain your chimney regularly to make the task easy.