Five Tips on How to Sweep Your Own Chimney
Vacuum
When you sweep your own chimney, you should always use a vacuum. The vacuum will keep the soot from flying around your house while you clean the chimney. You can’t use a regular vacuum though. The vacuum you need to use has a special filter to trap the particles in the chimney.
Soot
If you don’t use a vacuum when you sweep your own chimney, you will need another way to control the soot. You should cover your furniture and floor with a tarp so that the soot doesn’t get on them. You should also cover the fireplace opening because that will keep most of the soot from entering your home when you sweep your own chimney. You need to make sure that you wear goggles, gloves, and a dust mask at all times.
Cleaners
There are also chemical cleaners that you can use to sweep your own chimney. These cleaners are designed to remove the creosote buildup. They can also be used for maintenance so that the creosote doesn’t build up excessively. You should be careful which cleaner you use. Some cleaners have chemicals that are corrosive and can cause your chimney to deteriorate. Some of these chemicals also emit harmful fumes.
Brush
When you sweep your own chimney, you also have to consider the type of brush that you will use to do it. If your chimney is very dirty, you will need a brush that provides a lot of surface contact. Flat or double spiral brushes work best for these situations. If you just need a moderate or mild cleaning, you can use a standard brush to sweep your own chimney.
Frequency
The frequency with which you sweep your own chimney is important. You should check to see if your chimney needs to be cleaned at least once each year. You need to do this even if you don’t use your fireplace much. Even if you don’t use your fireplace frequently, there can still be obstructions inside thee chimney that could make it unsafe to use.
These are a few tips on how to sweep your own chimney. You should always use a vacuum to control the soot, or at least cover your floor and furniture with a tarp. When you sweep your own chimney, you should also choose a brush depending on how dirty your chimney is.
