DIY Chimney Sweep
Rather than hiring pricey professionals, save yourself money by learning to clean your own chimney instead. The most strenuous part is climbing the ladder to reach the roof. Cleaning is done by a quick push of a wire brush, allowing the brush to spring back up rather than you pulling it. If you get the right size of chimney brush, it does practically all the work. Choose a double spiral brush for a moderate amount of soot, a single spiral for light soot and a flat wire for heavy-duty jobs. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Ladder
- Tape measure
- Pen
- Paper
- Bag
- Wire brush and rods
- Plastic cover sheets
Instructions
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1
Put your tape measure, pen and paper in some kind of bag that will allow your hands to be free to climb the ladder.
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2
Use the ladder to climb on your roof.
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3
Remove the chimney cap by loosening four thumbscrews at the base or on the lid.
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4
Use the tape measure to get the dimensions of the inside of your flue tiles. Write the measurements on the paper.
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5
Look at the chimney and check for black soot and buildup (creosote). If there is black soot and a little buildup, you will need a regular wire brush. If the buildup is thick, use a flat wire brush. The brush should be about the size of the flue so that it makes contact with the surface of the chimney.
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6
Measure the height of the chimney, from the top to the smoke chamber. A two-story home usually has a chimney about 25 inches high; a one-story home averages about 15 inches. Handles for the chimney comes in three-, four-, five- and six-inch rods that screw together as one piece.
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7
Climb down the ladder to your fireplace. Cover the opening of the fireplace with plastic to prevent dust from damaging your furniture.
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8
Assemble your chimney sweeper. Attach the right size rods according to the height of your chimney and the brush.
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9
Reattach the chimney cap and tighten the screws.
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References
- Photo Credit chimney image by Tedy from Fotolia.com
