How to Sweep Chimneys
There is nothing like a cozy, warm fire on a chilly night to soothe the nerves and create a romantic mood. However, there is a lot more to using a fireplace than just lighting a fire and enjoying its ambiance. Besides the obvious cleaning of the ashes from fires past, a fireplace's chimney must be cleaned periodically because a dirty chimney can be a huge fire hazard. Creosol, a byproduct from burning wood, builds up in the chimney and can catch fire, and the fire it produces is extremely dangerous. With proper equipment and a little effort, however, the chimney can be kept clean and safe. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Old sheet or drop cloth
- Duct tape
- Chimney brush
- Small wire brush
- Ladder
- Flashlight
- Fireplace or whisk broom
- Vacuum cleaner
Instructions
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1
Make sure that the fire is completely out and that there are no hot coals remaining in the ash. Reach up into the chimney and ensure that the interior of the chimney is not hot.
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2
Remove all the ash and debris from the inside of the fireplace and, with a small wire brush, brush off and remove the grate and andirons.
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3
Seal the sheet or drop cloth around the outside of the fireplace with duct tape to prevent soot and ashes from filling the room.
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4
Screw the rods of the chimney brush securely so that there is no chance of them coming apart inside the chimney.
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5
Set up your ladder on the outside of the chimney so that while standing on it you will be able to look into the chimney and be able to move your arms freely to get a good, strong up-down brushing action.
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6
Start at the top of the chimney and work your way down using an up and down motion while twisting the brush.
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7
Shine the flashlight into the chimney to make sure that all the soot has been brushed off. If you missed some places go back and clean them.
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8
Remove the covering from the front of the fireplace and vacuum the soot that has fallen.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a stiff bend in the chimney, use a chimney brush that has flexible rods, but don't buy a brush that has rods that are too flexible because you won't be able to apply enough pressure to do an effective job. Measure the inside of the chimney to make sure you buy the correct size brush. A brush that is too big will not improve how well the chimney gets cleaned, and a too small brush will not do an adequate job.
Make sure that both legs of the ladder are flat on the ground and that the ladder does not wobble. Sweeping a chimney is not a job for someone who does not want to get dirty. Protective wear, such as safety goggles, gloves and a good quality dust mask should always be used when cleaning a chimney.
