How to Clean a Chimney Sweep

Few things are as relaxing and romantic as a well-built fire, especially to cap off the long week or at the end of a rough day. In order to fully and safely reap the benefits of your fireplace, you have to make sure that your chimney is clean and in good condition. If dirty, you could start a chimney fire that can easily spread to the rest of your home. While physically demanding, cleaning your chimney is a simple procedure that is well worth the time and effort.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vacuum
• Mask
• Ladder
• Tape
• Plastic or cloth sheet
• Protective goggles
• Chimney brush

1. Examine your chimney and decide if you are physically capable of doing this yourself. Cleaning a chimney is very demanding and requires muscle strength and endurance. It can also place a great deal of strain on your back.

2. Remove the damper plate and set aside. These can be attached either with pins, nuts, bolts or chains.

3. Seal off the opening of the chimney so that your cleaning doesn't send debris into your home. Use either a plastic or cloth sheet.

4. Check the chimney for animal nests or debris that may have accumulated over time. Also pay attention to where creosote has built up over time from the burning of wood logs.

5. Scrub the chimney with a chimney brush, focusing on the creosote deposits. Make sure that you are wearing goggles to protect your eyes and that your ladder is secure and on a level surface.

6. Clean the bottom of your chimney where the creosote and other debris have fallen using a powerful vacuum. You'll likely have to remove the sheeting that you put up so be careful when doing this so as not to stir up any dirt and dust.