DIY Chimney Sweeping
Without proper and regular chimney maintenance, it can actually catch on fire. Chimney fires are among the most dangerous a home can endure, as they burn toxic creosote and soot. The carcinogens that are produced can have a devastating effect on the air, long after the fire has gone out. Chimney sweeping is a “sure fire” way to prevent these types of fires. If you haven’t gotten your chimney cleaned in a while, it’s best to hire professional chimney sweepers. However, if you insist on doing it yourself, here’s a few basic guidelines to follow.
The assessment
Before you do any work on your chimney, you must evaluate a few things. Take note of the size of your flue and the length of your chimney. For overly small or overly large chimneys, you might need special tools. However, assuming your chimney is of average size, all you need to do is figure out the length and diameter of the chimney column itself.
Shop for the right chimney cleaning tools
Go to your local hardware store, and purchase the proper poles, brushes, and ropes you may need to reach the full length of the chimney column. Other things you will need, include:
* duct tape
* plastic sheeting
* tarp - so soot doesn’t come into your home
* plastic creosote scraper - to dislodge large chunks
* dust mask
* safety goggles
Lay the tarp
Spread the tarp on the floor of your fireplace and open the damper. Lay out more sheeting over the opening of the fireplace, to make sure you have a tight seal, so that dust and soot don’t enter your home.
Open windows
Open all nearby windows, so you can get plenty of ventilation during and after the chimney sweeping process.
Climb up to the roof
Put on the shoes that provide you the most traction, gather all necessary tools, and climb up to the roof using a stable latter (you might need to make a few trips).
Beginning with the chimney sweep
Put on your mask and goggles, and with your chimney sweeping pole, rub the chimney column’s interior walls firmly for 2-3 minutes. Subsequently, shine a flashlight into the column to make sure you’ve done a good job. Remember to never go up on the roof in icy conditions. The best time to clean your chimney is in the spring, after months of using your fireplace regularly.
Return to ground level
Remove the sheeting in front of your fireplace, fold the tarp (that is not filled with debris) and put it into a trash bag. Be sure to be wearing your gloves, mask and goggles while doing this. Use a gentle motions to sweep up all of the other debris, to minimize the amount of dust in your home.
Use flashlight again
Do one last visual inspection from the ground level with your flashlight. If you see cracks in your chimney column, these could be carrying acidic gases into the walls of your home. If this is the case, purchase a chimney liner that eliminates this problem, and makes it much easier to clean in the future.
So although you might get a little dirty, as long as you followed the steps above, you should be left with a pretty clean chimney. If the process with a bit difficult for you, don’t worry - the more you clean your chimney, the easier it gets.
If you’re interested in having your chimney swept, or you simply want to learn more about chimney cleaning, don’t hesitate to contact Atlanta air duct cleaning, your premier Atlanta chimney sweepers!
