How To Clean your Chimney & Fireplace?

The golden glow of flames in your fireplace is always a welcome sight and even more so on a cold winter's night. No matter what type of fuel you burn, a home fire gives you warmth to take the chill off and provides a place to gather for games or conversation. With a fireplace and chimney, though, you must take special care to keep everyone safe, and this is where chimney cleaning comes into play. 

 

The good news is that you can do a lot of the work yourself, which will save you money and take away your worries. In this article, you will learn how to clean your chimney and fireplace quickly and safely. 

 

  

Why is chimney cleaning necessary? 

Over time, the material you burn in your fireplace or burning wood stove creates residues that build up inside your chimney. This can result in a higher risk of a chimney fire if not taken care of, and you certainly don't want that to happen. In addition, burning wood causes creosote to form on the inside of your chimney, and, left alone, it will become a fire risk. Finally, even burning oil or gas will cause soot buildup or the presence of byproducts that can hurt your fireplace and chimney. 

 

Chimney maintenance and taking proper care of your fireplace will lead to better fires, fewer worries, and a better-looking hearth. It can also increase the longevity of your fireplace and chimney. How often you clean the fireplace depends on how often you have a fire and what fuel you use. Now and then, using a fireplace cleaning log will reduce the frequency of cleaning. 

 

 

 

Why having the right tools matters 

For every household job, there are essential products to help you, and chimney cleaning tools are what you need to improve the elements of your fireplace. Many general cleaning products can help get your hearth in shape, especially in the areas away from the fire zone. These products can be used for many jobs, but some of the tools for fireplace cleaning are pretty specific. 

 

A chimney brush is relatively inexpensive but very effective. You should always look for a brush that fits your chimney flue and that can be equipped with extensions that allow you to reach into the chimney. Use a metal chimney brush for masonry flues and a poly brush for stainless steel. 

 

The Rutland Chimney Sweep brush is designed with DIY in mind. It is made with oil tempered spring wire, sturdy enough to last for many cleanings. It is effective in removing creosote from a masonry chimney. Rutland also produces a longer brush that allows you to reach further into the duct. Other vital tools for the job are also necessary: 

 

• Cleaning gloves 

• Cleaning cloth 

• A flashlight or different lighting 

• A quantity of creosote remover 

• An amount of soot remover 

 

With the right tools, you can put together a chimney cleaning kit that meets the needs of your home. Once you have it in place, you can quickly go about the job of cleaning out debris, soot, and creosote. One option is to include the Gardus SootEater cleaning system, which cleans wood stoves and fireplace chimneys from the bottom up. It utilizes flexible rods and a spinning chimney whip that can be tailored to your home. 

 

 

How do you perform a good chimney cleaning? 

You start by looking into the flue to see its condition. You can do this from below or look down from above, which usually means getting up on the roof. If you have a chimney cap on, you will have to remove that. Then look for signs of buildup, which usually comes in a black and flaky substance. 

 

Whether you are cleaning from above or below, you will then use a brush to clean off the buildup of materials. This is a messy job, so you must prepare the inside of your home with a protective covering. A good vacuum system can help with the cleanup. Once you remove the accumulated residues, you must clean up and dispose of the creosote lawfully. 

 

Good burning practices can reduce the frequency of cleaning. The Rutland chimney soot stopper will clean out existing fireplace soot and prevent further deposits from forming.  

 

  

How do you keep your hearth in good shape? 

You might also want to spend sometime cleaning fireplace brick to improve the appearance of your hearth. A quality brick and stone cleaner will restore the beauty of your fireplace. A fireplace glass cleaner can also enhance the look of your hearth. Rutland's conditioning glass cleaner will clean off residue and apply a silicone coating to reduce cleaning frequency. 

 

  

A home fire is a beautiful thing that brings joy to your home, but remember to do an annual chimney inspection to avoid any chimney problems; you can hire a professional if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. Here at Max Warehouse, you will find all the necessary products to keep a clean chimney; we will help you have a safe, warm, and comfortable home year-round.

 

 

Shop Your Chimney Cleaning Products Today