Chimney Cleaning And Why You Need A Chimney Sweep
Chimney cleaning is a task that truly cannot be neglected. The NFPA has stated that there are more than 30,000 chimney fires every single year. They also state that they recommend every home owner has their chimney cleaned as well as inspected yearly. Even with this advice many chimneys are neglected. The winner of this situation is the chimney replacement liner manufactures.
Because that is the only solution to fixing a chimney flue when it has deteriorated to that point. These cost a lot of money to have installed expect a price tag around $2000 to have a chimney liner installed. There is a simple solution. Have a skilled chimney sweep clean and inspect your chimney. The NFPA recommends this anyway. They are not a for profit company and have nothing to gain by advising this to America.
They tell it because if you do not have a your chimney cleaned the proper way you are running the risk of a chimney fire. This is just the fact of the matter. Like or not it is the way it is.
Many people have an other misconception about their chimney as well. If you have a furnace that burns gas or oil to heat your house you have a furnace flue. Many home owners have some notion in their heads that the technician that cleans their furnace cleans their furnace flue this is not true at all.
Just to clear up this misconception, Unless you see the technician go to your roof or basement with chimney rods and chimney brushes there is no way they cleaned your furnace flue. The furnace flue is inside your chimney and goes up all the way to the top of your chimney. No furnace technician is going to clean that. They may clean the furnace exhaust pipe but not the chimney flue!
You have no idea how many times I have been told by home owners that their furnace technician has cleaned there furnace flue. Then when I inspect it and show them the pictures, Their heart drops because they know then that they have a big problem. Do not let this happen to you it costs very little to have your furnace flue and your fireplace cleaned every year find a company who is skilled in the craft and hire them to do this service for you every year. If you do not some day you will find your self with a big billed estimate in front of you for a replacement chimney liner around $2000.
DIY Chimney Cleaning: How to Have A Soot-Free Chimney Inexpensively
During years of usage, a chimney will accumulate remains such as soot and creosote, not to mention bird nests, leaves, and other debris buildup. Cleaning your chimney does not only make your chimney shine as new. Most importantly, chimney cleaning also prevents dangerous chimney problems such as a chimney fire and smoke leakage into your house. Creosote, the thick, black tar-like matter is very hard to clean. If this substance buildup catches fire, it will create a massive fire. Not only damaging your chimney, the chimney fire can also damage your home. Creosote buildup, leaves, or bird nests can also block your chimney so, instead of venting through the chimney, the smoke goes back to your home causing very dangerous carbon monoxide fumes.
Cleaning your chimney regularly is the best way to prevent chimney-related problems. There are two major ways to clean your chimney; the bottom-up and the top-down method. You need a chimney brush and a strong flashlight to clean your chimney. For protection, wear a pair of protective glass, safety gloves, and a full-faced mask. Since you will likely to be covered in soot, leave your good clothes behind and wear your old clothes instead.
Top-Down Method
To clean your chimney from the top part of the chimney, prepare a sturdy ladder. Make sure the damper above the fireplace is open and the fireplace is securely closed. Climb onto the roof and remove the chimney cowl (if you have one). From above, sweep the inside of the chimney using the chimney brush to the bottom of the chimney. Sweep the chimney with up-bottom, bottom-up motion until it's thoroughly clean. Check with the flashlight to make sure you don't miss any significant spot. After the sweeping is done, place back the cowl, open the fireplace cover, and clean the wastes from the fireplace.
Bottom-Up Method
This method is basically similar to top-down method; only you reverse the process. Open the fireplace damper and sweep the chimney with the brush from below to the top with bottom-up, up-bottom motion. Make sure no spots are missed by checking the chimney with the flashlight. Clean the mess after the cleaning is done. This method is safer than the top-down method since you don't have to climb up a ladder. However, you will leave a lot of mess. Therefore, it is suggested to "evacuate" all the items that can be damaged by soot such as electronic devices, upholstered furniture, carpet, and others.
Some of the most common questions that homeowners with fireplaces have are "How often should chimney cleaning be done?" and "How do I know if my chimney needs to be cleaned?"
Regular chimney cleaning is necessary in order to remove the creosote deposits that build up within the chimney system during use of the fireplace. These deposits are highly flammable, and can lead to a dangerous chimney fire (an uncontrolled 2000 degree fire burning inside of the chimney). A report published by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that fires that originated in chimneys and fireplaces were the cause of 27,000 residential fires and 20 known deaths (most current statistics as of Aug. 2010). At the very best, a chimney fire will cause significant damage to the chimney structure that will require thousands of dollars to repair.
So, how often should chimney cleaning be done? In a nutshell, here in Southern California, the guidelines are every 1-2 years for average use. Given the generality of the term "average", the importance of having an annual chimney inspection becomes clear. The National Fireplace Protection Association (NFPA) recommends an annual Level I Inspection of the fireplace/chimney/heating appliance. Ideally, this inspection should be done before the start of the burning season, by a qualified chimney professional. The gold standard for this qualification is certification by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Your CSIA certified chimney sweep will perform the Level I Inspection, and be able to determine the overall condition of the chimney, and will let you know if chimney cleaning is needed. In most cases, the chimney cleaning can be performed during the same visit.
Occasionally, chimney cleaning will need to be done more frequently. There are some signs that you, the homeowner, should be aware of. Chimney cleaning may need to be done more frequently if you notice the following:
The chimney smokes back into the living area during use. While there are certainly other issues that can cause this problem, a chimney that otherwise performs well and begins to gradually put more and more smoke back into the room during use may be due for chimney cleaning.
There is a "sooty" or "campfire" smell in the house, even when not using the fireplace. This is usually a sign that chimney cleaning is needed. Fireplace odors come from the creosote deposits within the chimney system. They are usually worse in high humidity, during the summertime, and when it rains. A thorough sweep, designed to remove the creosote deposits that accumulate over time, will usually correct this problem.
In conclusion, chimney cleaning is an important part of home maintenance. Finding a qualified chimney professional in your area, and having an annual inspection of your fireplace will help to ensure that you and your family enjoy the quality time spent around the fireplace for many years to come.
Regular chimney cleaning is essential for maintaining the fireplace in a good working condition. Cleaning is done to remove soot and creosote that is highly flammable and hazardous. Chimney cleaning may be a little complicated but with basic cleaning tips, someone could do it without hiring a professional.
Cleaning starts with gathering the necessary materials and tools. Some of the tools needed for an effective chimney sweep include gloves, a chimney brush, a ladder, dust mask, a rope, flash light and protective goggles. Before purchasing a chimney brush, it is advisable to measure the inner part of a chimney liner so that you buy the appropriate size.
Among the many ways of cleaning a chimney is starting from the rooftop. This is done after sealing the fireplace to avoid spreading soot through the room. The flue cap should as well be removed to allow unrestricted access to the chimney. In this method, a flexible rod is fitted with a chimney brush and then lowered through to the chimney. The rod should be long so that it covers the whole chimney. After the chimney brush has touched the base, it should be turned to scrub the area before it is brought back to the top. This should be done several times, before examining the whole chimney using a sharp flashlight.
Another method of cleaning the chimney entails attaching the chimney brush to one end of a rope. The opposite end of the rope is tied to a weight, but the rope too should be equal to the length of the chimney. The rope is then lowered to the base before it is pulled up and down several times to ensure the chimney is swept clean.
The other method involving use of the rod is whereby a chimney brush attached to a rod is inserted from the bottom rather than the roof. This may however not be effective because it is not possible to seal the kitchen area. Soot will therefore spread all over the area.
There is also a procedure called the two-person cleaning method. Chimney brushes are tied to the two ends of a rod, and then ropes are extended. A person inserts one end from the rooftop while another holds the rod from the bottom and they alternately pull the rope so that the brushes move back and forth.
One reliable method that does not need such cleaning material is the use of cleaning logs. These logs emit some chemicals which dissolve and loosen creosote so that it does not stick to the chimney walls. Instead, the soot drops to the base where it is easily collected.
The frequency at which the chimney is cleaned depends on how often it is used as well as the type of fire and wood used. It is however advisable to do a chimney sweep once every year and preferably during a cold season. Conclusively, a fireplace can only last long if you periodically clean the chimney and carry out diligent inspections.
20 Mercer Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(551) 313-9844
Website: https://chimneysweephackensack.com/
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/view/bestchimneysweepchimneyclean/
Google Folder: https://mgyb.co/s/Y5oom