6 Useful Chimney Cleaning Tricks

If you are a homeowner, regular maintenance of every nook and corner is a must for you. But there are certain spots like chimneys that are better left to the professionals. Chimneys require skills and expertise to clean, but if you want to give it a try yourself, here are some tried and tested chimney cleaning tricks from chimney sweep services.

Why Is It Important To Keep The Chimney Clean?

You would ask this question if you didn’t know about chimneys. When you light a fire inside the fireplace, the smoke travels upwards and there is a residue in the fireplace which is called creosote. If you haven’t cleaned your chimney in a while, be sure to find a lot of creosote deposited in there. Little quantities of it can easily be brushed away, but large amounts can make the situation chaotic. It can get dangerous over time; sometimes result in a medical emergency. Creosote is also highly flammable, so you can’t rule out the chance of a fire hazard. Keeping your chimney clean is the only way out to protect yourself and your family.

Use Chimney Sweeping Logs

They help in drying out the creosote to reduce any buildup. They work as regular fireplace inserts, so they can be used to light fires as you normally would. But don’t take them as a substitute for regular cleaning since they only make the process easier. Nothing can substitute the necessary cleaning routine of your fireplace to avoid any buildup.

Don’t Forget The Doors

Many fireplaces are equipped with glass doors. Cleaning the chimney is extremely vital, but you should not forget to clean the glass door as well. The process to clean the door is fairly simple. All you will need is a glass cleaner, or some distilled vinegar, and a soft rag or brush.

Then clean your glass doors the same way you would clean your mirrors or windows.

Check Your Chimney For Any Leaks

Even if your chimney is working in excellent condition do check that there are no leakages. For this, start the fireplace fire and then go to the chimney and cover with a cloth. If you see smoke coming out of any other spots of the chimney, this is an indication of a chimney leakage. Remember or mark the leakage and repair it by yourself or by calling in a chimney repair service.

Clean Your Chimney Regularly

We know cleaning your chimney is not an exciting task, but you still have to perform it often to avoid fire hazards and health problems, because regular cleaning will help clear up the creosote before it starts to build up. Once you get in the flow, it is not that difficult. If you are doing it for the first time, make sure to note any points and address them properly as you make your way through it. Otherwise, they will turn into bigger problems.

Use Proper Protective Gear

Getting in contact with chimney soot can be very harmful to your eyes. Have a good pair of goggles at hand. They need to form a safety seal around your eyes, so your regular safety glasses don’t classify for the job. They must protect your eyes from any external elements.

Also wear a dust mask to avoid breathing in anything toxic. Chimney cleaning can pose serious threats to your health so take the necessary precautions.

Be cautious while working on the roof. Especially more if you haven’t been there before. Consider wearing a safety harness even if you don’t find any potential risk there.

Check Your Work With A Flashlight

Gradually make your way one spot at a time, because you don’t want to repeat the process again if you have missed any spot. Once you have cleaned the chimney inside out, use a flashlight to check for any missed spots.

It’s also better that you ask someone to assist you, as they might identify the spots that you might have overlooked. On the other hand, you can hire chimney cleaning services Upper Marlboro to ensure a tidy chimney and fireplace. It may be costly than DIY cleaning, but a huge benefit of hiring a service is they can detect issues with the chimney more easily and repair it on the spot. Good luck!

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