How to Clean a Chimney From the Ground
A chimney is a quaint and old fashioned structural element that adds charm and coziness to any home. Having a chimney, however, is still a responsibility and something you should take seriously. Chimneys require regular cleanings to prevent chimney fires. Such cleaning allows you to rid the chimney of hazardous and extremely flammable creosote and soot that build up with constant use. While it's typical to clean chimneys from the top down, if you're afraid of heights you can still clean your chimney from the ground up. It is, however, a messier process. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Protective covers for furniture
- Protective eye wear
- Gloves
- Nose and mouth mask
- Fireplace shovel
- 2 garbage bags
- Fireplace double bristled brush
- Fireplace rods
- Broom
- Dustpan
- Vacuum
Instructions
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1
Open all your doors and windows to the room where the fireplace is located. You must keep this room as well-ventilated as possible. Drape protective covers all over your pieces of furniture. Put on protective eye wear, a mask the covers your nose and mouth, and gloves.
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2
Scoop up all the ash from the fireplace with your fireplace shovel. Slowly deposit it into your garbage bag. If you rush this process, you could easily create a dust cloud that will be hard for you to clean up.
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3
Screw together chimney brush rods until you have a rod that is just as long as your chimney. Screw your chimney brush to the bottom of it.
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4
Insert your brush and attached rods into the chimney clean-out door or fireplace damper. Move the brush up and down and side to side as you remove accumulated ashes and soot from the inside of your fireplace. Continue doing this until you feel your brush has made contact with nearly every inch of the interior surface area of the chimney.
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Remove your brush carefully and slowly stick it in an empty garbage bag so as not to track soot around your house. Sweep up all the soot that has puffed out of the chimney and into your home. Vacuum up all the remaining bits of ash.
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References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
