Full Answer
How often should you clean and Sweep Your Chimney?
How Often Should You Sweep your Chimney. You should have your chimney swept at least once a year as a bare minimum. This ensures your chimney is kept as clean as possible and prevents buildup that will become harder to remove if you leave it.
What is the best way to clean a chimney?
To use a chimney brush, follow these steps:
- Close the door to the woodstove, or tape plastic across the fireplace opening.
- Working from above, with the damper open and the chimney cap removed, thread on the first rod.
- Insert the brush into the flue, push it down, scrubbing up and down as you go.
- Thread on additional sections of rod as needed and repeat the scrubbing until you reach the bottom.
Can you sweep your own chimney?
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.
Is a chimney sweep really necessary?
With a list a mile long of things you’d like to get done before winter hits, you may be asking yourself if it’s really necessary to call in a chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney. The answer to that is a resounding yes! Over the course of a year, a burning fire can cause structural damage or fire hazards, and these things just ...
How do I choose a good chimney sweep?
Here are some things to ask for when vetting different chimney sweeps: Can they provide references? Does the company or individual carry a valid business liability insurance policy to protect your home and furnishings against accidents? Does the company have good reviews on trusted websites?
What size chimney sweep do I need?
Measure the inside of your chimney and match that size to a brush designed for your flue. The brush should be 1/2" – 1 inch larger than the flue. An oversize brush will not improve cleaning and could become lodged in the chimney. An undersized brush will not provide the pressure on the walls for proper cleaning.
How often should a chimney sweep be done?
once a yearHow often should you clean your chimney? Both the NFPA and Spisto recommend getting your chimney cleaned and inspected once a year by a qualified professional. Carli says that regardless of chimney type, you should you have your chimney swept at least one time a year.
How do I know if my chimney needs to be swept?
7 Quick Signs Your Chimney Needs Cleaning You can smell smoke in your home after a fire. Your fireplace surround is starting to turn black. Your fires aren't burning as strongly and burning wood creates more smoke than usual. Strong smell coming from the fireplace. Soot is dropping down into the fireplace.More items...•
Do metal chimney flues need cleaning?
Cleaning a metal chimney from a fireplace or woodstove is a necessity to ensure it is in good working order as well as to avoid fires from the build-up of creosote or ash. The task is not for anyone in poor health or physical shape, as it is labor-intensive and requires getting on a ladder.
What size is my chimney?
1 – Measure Your Chimney Flue Measure inside the chimney SIDE TO SIDE & FRONT TO BACK at the narrowest part of the flue (usually about 600mm above the opening). FINALLY measure to the narrowest part of the flue from the top of the fireplace opening.
How long does it take to sweep a chimney?
A typical chimney sweep and inspection can take 45 minutes to an hour. Rooftop Chimney Sweeps blocks off a 2 hour time slot just in case something comes up that causes the service to take longer to properly complete.
What happens if you don't sweep your chimney?
If you don't clean your chimney regularly, soot will accumulate around the flue causing an inability to draw smoke upwards. The smoke will then be directed to your room leaving black soot on the walls, furniture, and carpeting. It causes permanent staining around the chimney in some cases.
What does a chimney sweep include?
A chimney sweep will, at minimum, inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney. That will take an hour or two depending on where you live, the condition of your chimney and the speed of the sweep hired. The inspection and cleaning might begin inside, up on the roof, or both, and may or may not involve a camera.
Does a lined chimney need sweeping?
Even if you have a chimney liner, a regular sweep is essential for getting rid of any blockages or debris that can put you at risk of a chimney fire. A professional chimney sweeper will also be able to look out for any other hazards you may be unaware of.
Can you clean your chimney yourself?
In many cases, you can clean the chimney yourself and save a few hundred dollars. Removing ordinary chimney soot is pretty simple. But if you have heavy creosote buildup, you'll have to call in a pro. We'll show you how to inspect yours to see if it qualifies as a DIY job.
How do you know if you have creosote build up?
Signs of Creosote Build-UpReduced drafting in fireplace.Less ash and more wood in fireplace after a fire.Black soot in and around fireplace.Very dark smoke from chimney.You can visibly see more than 1/8 of an inch of soot build-up.
What is the average chimney flue size?
8 by 8 inchesThe most commonly used sizes in residential construction are 8 by 8 inches, 8 by 13, and 13 by 13 (outside dimensions). Flue tiles are connected together with cement mortar joints, struck smooth on the inside.
What size flue liner do I need for a woodburner?
Usually, you will buy the flue liner of the corresponding size to the outlet on your stove. If your woodburner has a 6-inch outlet, you would buy a 6-inch stove liner. Under the Building Regulations, the minimum flue liner size you can use is 6 inches (150mm). But there are exceptions to this rule.
How do you size a chimney pipe?
As a general rule, the diameter of the chimney should match the flue collar on your wood stove. A 6-inch stove requires a 6-inch flue. In most cases, a step up is also fine. For example, you could vent a 6-inch stove into an insulated chimney that is 8 inches in diameter.
Can you sweep your own chimney?
In many cases, you can clean the chimney yourself and save a few hundred dollars. Removing ordinary chimney soot is pretty simple. But if you have heavy creosote buildup, you'll have to call in a pro. We'll show you how to inspect yours to see if it qualifies as a DIY job.
How Much Does a Chimney Sweep Cost?
Standard chimney sweep services, including a general inspection and cleaning, can range from $75 to $250 depending on where you live. That number rises if your chimney hasn’t been serviced for a while, or if the sweep discovers repairs, structural issues or pest infestations that need to be addressed.
What to do if a chimney sweep suggests masonry?
It’s a good idea to request a list of any suggested repairs, including an explanation of why these repairs are necessary, and suggested pros to complete anything outside the chimney sweep’s expertise.
Why Do You Need a Chimney Sweep?
Hiring a chimney sweep helps protect you from avoidable dangers and saves you money, too.
Why Hire a Service To Do a Chimney Sweep?
Cleaning a chimney is hard, messy work that many homeowners leave to the pros. The benefits of hiring this task out include:
Why is my chimney not venting properly?
If your chimney isn’t clean or properly vented, the process falters. The majority of chimney-related carbon monoxide problems happen due to improper exhausting, something almost entirely avoidable with regular inspection and cleaning by a chimney sweep. It will help prevent chimney fires.
How long does a chimney sweep visit last?
If your chimney needs a deeper clean, such as a chemical treatment to get rid of late-stage creosote glaze, the visit may last a few hours. If the chimney sweep needs to do minor repairs, such as replacing a missing chimney cap or damaged chimney liner, they may complete this the same day, depending on the sweep’s policies and tools they have on hand.
How long does it take to clean a chimney?
A chimney sweep will, at minimum, inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney. That will take an hour or two depending on where you live, the condition of your chimney and the speed of the sweep hired. The inspection and cleaning might begin inside, up on the roof, or both, and may or may not involve a camera.
How do you know if you need a chimney sweep?
How do you know it’s time to hire a chimney sweep? Sometimes you have no option: smoke is pouring into your living room, you actually experience a chimney fire, or you notice significant water in the firebox. Ideally, you’ll have the chimney regularly swept—at least once per year if you regularly burn fires—and won’t need to call in the event of an emergency.
How much does a chimney sweep cost?
Chimney sweeps charge for various services, and how much a cleaning costs will vary based on several factors. The national average price is between $129 and $378. This includes either a single professional using an appropriately sized wire brush to scrub the chimney’s walls from the inside or a team working from both inside and on the rooftop (which makes less of a mess inside). However, professional chimney sweeps will also inspect your chimney before and after cleaning, looking for structural defects.
What is the chemical in a chimney?
Most of what chimney sweeps are cleaning out of the chimney is a chemical called creosote. When you burn wood, pellets, or oil, they produce gases that can create a sticky buildup that sticks to the chimney walls and eventually hardens. This substance isn’t dangerous or problematic with regular cleaning, but the longer you go without cleaning, the harder the substance gets and the harder it is to remove. As the buildup gets thicker, it becomes more likely that you’ll experience a backup or blockage, and it also makes it more likely that the necessary cleaning will damage the chimney. There are at-home products you can use to remove creosote gradually. You’ll want to ask your chimney sweep which ones might be appropriate for your situation. Still, these products can help reduce creosote in between professional cleanings and keep your chimney structurally sound.
Why is chimney maintenance important?
Maintenance and creosote reduction is important to chimney safety; a chimney sweep can offer instructions on home maintenance and creosote-reduction practices so you can keep your chimney cleaner for longer.
What do chimney sweeps do?
Chimney sweeps perform inspections of the physical chimney and provide repairs, install liners so older chimneys seal better, clean the chimney walls, assess how much air transfer is occurring between inside and out, and check to make sure there aren’t blockages or buildup that can increase the chances of fire or carbon monoxide buildup. They can install chimney caps and repair the flashing around the chimney to ensure it’s watertight. In addition, chimney sweeps can professionally install a fireplace insert. Chimney sweeps can also provide testing and assess whether your chimney meets the EPA’s clean air standards and recommend adjustments to help you improve. If the job involves the chimney or its components, a qualified chimney sweep is the right person to hire.
Why is my chimney blocked?
Blockage removal. If the creosote (a chemical that builds up on the inside of the chimney wall due to burning wood or paper) has gotten too thick on the chimney walls, your chimney could be blocked entirely. This is dangerous, especially if you have gas appliances that also vent through your chimney and can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide in your home. If your damper is open and the smoke is coming in instead of going out, call a chimney professional immediately.
How to check if smoke is out of control?
First, make sure the damper is open. The damper is the door that closes off the chimney when there’s no fire and keeps your heated indoor air from escaping up the chimney. For a fire to burn, the damper needs to be open so the smoke can draft upward as the fire is fed by oxygen. If the damper is closed, there’s less oxygen to burn, and the smoke that does develop has nowhere to go, so it’s forced back into the house. If the damper is open and it’s still smoky, check the outdoor temperature. The colder it is outside, the greater the difference between the firebox temperature and the outside temperature, creating a good draft as the warm air tries to run up the chimney. The smoke will stay low in the chimney and ooze back inside if it’s too warm outside. If neither of these is the culprit, it’s time to call in help.
