The winter season is ending soon, and the next thing you know your chimney and fireplace needs cleaning. Your fireplace may sit idly during the warmer months, but you can always make it your home’s center piece. However, you have to do some cleaning before you can start decorating.
Cleaning Your Chimney
Cleaning your chimney and your fireplace should be a priority if you want to make it last long and keep it safe. Make sure that your chimney is creosote free. Here are some tips to clean your chimney after the winter season.
• Chimney brush. You can always clean your chimney yourself with the appropriate chimney brush suited for your size and your chimney type. A wire brush is suited for a chimney made of brick and mortar. On the one hand, if your chimney is prefabricated, you can use a chimney brush with polyester bristles.
• Cleaning from the top or cleaning sitting next to your fireplace. After determining what type of brush to use, you then need to decide whether you are comfortable cleaning your chimney from your roof or sitting next to it. If you are more comfortable sitting next right to your fireplace, you have to make sure that your brush has enough rods to reach the top of your chimney. Make sure that you start on top working your way down. As you work your way down cleaning your chimney, you have to make sure that your eyes are protected. Loosened creosote may fall into the fireplace.
Should you decide to work your way down your fireplace from your roof, you have to make sure that you have a rope long enough to reach the bottom of your chimney. You may also need to use some weight material attached to your chimney brush. You also have to make sure that you are safe while on top of your roof. Make sure that you have a stable footing.
For both methods, you can clean your chimney with a back and forth motion from the top to bottom. Scrape as much creosote as possible to keep your chimney clean and safe.
• Hiring chimney sweeps. Of course, you always have the option to hire professionals to clean your chimney for you. You can always resort to the ultimate resource (the internet) to find a Certified Chimney Sweep in your locality. They know what to do, and they have the equipment needed to clean your chimney thoroughly. They can make sure that your chimney meets all safety standards.
Cleaning Your Fireplace
After cleaning your chimney, it is time for you to clean your firebox. You will need to give your firebox walls a good brushing just like your chimney. You need to you a stiff brush to knock down loose soot and ash attached to its walls and flue. You also need to scoop cooled ash and unburned chunks of wood from your firebox, as much as you can. You will need a shovel and an ash bucket to do this. To remove the remaining ash, you can use a brush or vacuum to clean it off.
Of course, after cleaning your chimney and your fireplace, you also need to clean all the tools that you have used. This will make sure that they can be used the next time chimney and firebox cleaning is called for. Once all the cleaning is done, you can start decorating your clean fireplace for all to enjoy in the coming warmer months.