Tuesday 10 January 2017

DIY Tips On Chimney Cleaning And Maintenance

Posted by Unknown at 14:08
By Mary Bennett


It is common for soot and creosote to accumulate in chimneys that are frequently used. This flammable and sticky substance is dangerous since it could torch the entire house with the smallest spark. Frequent chimney cleaning is required to avert this danger. Professional cleaners are usually expensive to hire. To save the situation, simple tools from the hardware will get the work done within a regular house cleaning session.

The status of the flute of your chimney will tell you whether it is time to clean or not. Using a knife or a pencil, you peel on the side to collect the accumulated creosote. If it exceeds 1 / 8 of an inch, it is time to clean. The best time to clean your flute section is in Fall. This prepares you for the season where burning is inevitable. In fact, you only clean this section once a year. Failure to clean the area will torch the area the first time you light a fire.

Animals like birds, squirrels and raccoon take advantage of chimneys during the cold season. They are likely to camp in the area and cause blockage. Before beginning ordinarily clearing, check whether they have camped there. They may also have built nests and abandoned them, leaving the area blocked.

The flue is not cleaned with ordinary tools. There is a special brush made of plastic or wires that can scrub the walls and clear all the soot. To effectively clean the walls, the brush must hold firmly and thus must be of the right diameter. It is unhealthy to breathe the dust and soot. Use protective gears like masks and goggles. To get to the top of your roof, you need a ladder of appropriate size.

Whether you are clearing the area bottom-up or up-down, you need protective gear. If you have a brush with a reliable handle, you can do it alone. The cleaning brush usually has a heavy material hanging to pull the brush down. Where such a pipe or rod is not available, you may use a rope with the brush tied in the middle. In this case, you have to be two cleaners, one pulling from the bottom and another from the top.

At the entrance, there is debris and soot that should be cleared towards the end. It is cleared as you collect the creosote and soot that came from your flute area. Scope it using a spade and carry it away in a bucket. To clear the fine dust particles, you may use a blower.

Since creosote and soot are flammable, the law prohibits their disposal in an ordinary pit. As such, dispose them appropriately. Check your chimney for cracks or deformities inside or outside. Any unwanted substance hanging on the inside or outside should also be cleared. This keeps it light, safe and secure.

Clear the area around the flute to ensure that trees or animal nests do not weigh the flute down. Trees may also introduce debris into the flute, and in the process block it. If the dirt or damage is too much, engage a professional chimney cleaner in San Diego, CA.




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