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According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over five thousand fires a year are attributed to chimney fires. The majority of these fires could have been prevented simply by keeping the chimney clean.
All homeowners should have their chimneys inspected at least once a year by a professional chimney sweep. The chimney sweep will look for cracks, loose firebrick and other faults in your flue that could lead to a chimney fire.
If you use your fireplace regularly, or use a woodstove to heat your home, you should clean your chimney regularly during the burn season. The only specialized equipment you will need is a good chimney brush kit. The kit includes a round or square heavy wire brush and extension poles that can be screwed together to fit the length of your chimney. Be sure to measure the diameter of your flue opening before buying your brush kit, as sizes do differ and purchasing a kit that is too small makes cleaning ineffective.
It is recommended that before climbing onto your roof that you make sure you are wearing good, non-skid shoes. Roofs can be slippery from moisture and falls are the most common accident associated with chimney cleaning. The right shoes are especially important if you have a slate or metal roof.
It is also recommended that you have an assistant who will be on the ground, to help hold the ladder, pass up tools and be there in case of an accidental fall.
If cleaning a fireplace, you will need to make sure the damper is in the closed position or soot and dust will enter your house. There is usually a lever inside your chimney just above the fireplace opening to accomplish this step.
Before you climb onto your roof, gather the materials you will need. This includes your brush kit and generally a screwdriver or drill to remove the chimney cap. A five gallon bucket and a small camp shovel are needed for the residue in the clean out compartment of your chimney if it has one. Leather gloves will protect your hands from the wire bristles of the brush.
Choose the location where you will place your ladder carefully. It will need to be placed on firm ground, away from power lines, and where access to the roof is easiest.
Most fireplace chimneys have a clean out door, outside, near the bottom of the flue. This is what you will clean first. Open the door, and with a camp or other small shovel, begin scooping out the residue at the bottom of the chimney.
Many woodstove chimneys do not have a clean out compartment and the procedure must be done by moving the wood heater away from the pipe connecting it to the flue. Remove the pipe, and wearing leather gloves, scoop the residue into the bucket. This can be a very messy job, so it is best to scatter newspapers or tarps to collect the soot that escapes.
When the bottom of the chimney is cleaned out, it is time to move to the roof. Remove the chimney cap from the top of the flue and set aside.
Begin attaching the handle rods to your wire brush. It is easier to do this before you begin the actual brushing. Position the brush over the flue and using gentle pressure, push the brush slowly down the flue until you hit the bottom. Raise the brush back up by using an up and down scrubbing motion until you reach the top. Repeat the procedure at least four or five times to remove the creosote from the walls of the flue.
Attach the cap back onto the chimney and disassemble your brush handle. Carefully descend from the roof. It is wise to make several trips or hand them off an assistant on the ground.
Again, clean out the bottom of the chimney following the method described for the type of flue you have. Reattach the door to the clean out compartment or the pipe to the flue and woodstove.
By cleaning out your chimney regularly, you reduce your chances of a chimney fire dramatically. One hour's work may save you a lifetime of heartache.
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