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Things to know before cleaning your chimney

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While it is always advisable to let a professional chimney cleaning and repairs company handle the cleaning and maintenance of your heating chimney, you may be able to do minor cleaning of your chimney at home. However, it is important to know as much as you can about the job before you attempt it. This article will answer some of the basic questions you may have about cleaning out your chimney.

Why should you clean your chimney?

A dirty chimney will affect not just your energy bills but is a major fire hazard as well. Creosote, a tar-like substance can build up on the walls of your chimney and is extremely flammable. A clean chimney will also ensure that all the by-products of the fire are vented out of the house efficiently.

What tools do you need to clean your chimney?

You will need a chimney brush to start. A chimney brush is circular and has long and strong bristles that can scrub out the most stubborn chemicals that have built on the sides of your chimney. A long pole or rope to hold and move the brush through the length of the chimney is also needed. You also need some safety equipment like goggles and a mask to make sure that the dust does not get into your eyes or mouth. You should also get hold of a flashlight. A fireplace cover, tarp or cloth covers are also needed to protect the furniture in the room.

What cleaning products can you buy to clean the chimney?

If you have major creosote build up, you may consider getting hold of a creosote cleaner that will make it easier to remove the gunk after application. They come in spray bottles or tubs and some are even available in a powder form. You can sprinkle the powder into your fire which will move up into the chimney and turn the creosote into ash. Chimney cleaning logs are also available that you can use in your fireplace. These have some additives that increase the efficiency of the fire and also help in reducing the smoke and creosote in your chimney. This will make scrubbing the deposits a lot easier.

Make sure that you know how to use each product properly and understand how to perform the job safely and efficiently. Professionals can always inspect and clean out your fireplace and chimney and ensure that they job is done well.