“Chimney Cleaning Once In A While Can Help Maintain The Chimney’s Efficiency!”
Cleaning the chimney is a daunting task.
But once done effectively, it can enhance the life of the chimney.
The smoke, oils, and spices smell that a chimney cleans also requires effective cleaning once in a while to function properly.
Otherwise, imagine yourself moving into your kitchen space with a greasy look and smelly all around.
Pathetic indeed!
Let us get acquainted with a few chimney cleaning tips drafted exclusively by Value Chimney Services.
DIYs To Clean Your Chimney At Home
The regular cleaning and sweeping of the chimneys and fireplaces with the use of several standard chimney sweeping tools can prevent hazardous and treacherous creosote fires.
But with the help of several tools, you can also try cleaning the chimney at home.
Here is all you need to know!
Tools Required For Chimney Cleaning Process!
- Dust Mask
- Crop Cloth
- Safety Glasses
- Flashlight
- Safety harness
- Flue liner brush
- Noodle brush
- Shop vacuum
- Brush with a long handle
Materials Required For Chimney Cleaning Process!
- Poly sheeting
- Duct tape
A Step-By-Step Guide To Cleaning The Chimney!
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Gather The Proper Chimney Cleaning Tools
Gathering the proper chimney cleaning tools is one of the essential steps of the entire process.
You can begin by matching the brush to a flue liner. For this, all you must do is:
- Get a metal bristle brush, and plastic bristles brush for the clay flue and metal liner, respectively.
- Purchase the rods to handle the fireplace chimney’s height.
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Bring A Special Brush Set For The Firebox
You can start by purchasing a bendable brush like a noodle brush to clean its smoke shelf.
Also, bring a brush with long handles to clean the firebox’s sides soot.
You may also require several special brushes for some chamber and firebox areas.
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Minimalize The Mess
You must work to protect the interiors. For this, you need to:
- Use a canvas cover over a hearth.
- Spread this canvas cover to the room.
- Tape a poly sheet on the fireplace
- Then insert the vacuum hose.
- And later seal it all with duct tape.
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Venting Outdoors
- In order to increase the length of the vacuum hose, add sections to it.
- Now connect it to the outside of the vacuum shop.
- Then run your vacuum while brushing it
- Directly change its filter if it clogs.
- Before beginning the brushing process, you must protect the home interior.
- Now close the windows and doors to prevent soot from re-entering the house.
Pro-Tip: Try To Purchase Some Vacuum Hose With Extra Length.
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Begin With The Cleaning Process
It’s time to brush up the flue and begin the cleaning process.
For this, you must:
- Hit the cleaning brush various times to eradicate the chimney soot.
- Then, use the flashlight to verify the work done before moving to the next step.
- Start the vacuum
- Then initiate the cleaning process.
- Continue adding the rods and move them down to the fireplace chimney till you cannot feel further brush resistance.
- This indicates that you have finally reached the smoke chamber.
- Now is the time to move down from the roof.
- And the work on the firebox from inside.
- Now peel some poly sheets.
- Use a brush with a long handle in order to clean the smoke chamber.
- Use a noodle brush to eradicate the soot.
- Now clean the firebox sides with the help of a long handle brush
- Now vacuum the complete firebox
- Then fold the poly sheet and canvas cover
- And move it outside
- Shake it out
You can reuse it whenever you plan to clean the chimney.
Along with this, the chimney filters must be cleaned regularly. Since such in-depth chimney cleaning is not possible frequently, you can choose to clean the filters once a month.
Here Are A Few Hacks To Clean Your Chimney Filters At Home.
Using Dishwasher
Dishwashing liquids contain liquid surfactants that can easily remove the oil deposits and grease on the chimney filters.
Surprisingly the cleaning agents present in the dishwashing liquids can work well with the filters of the chimney.
Vinegar
Vinegar is often used as an all-purpose cleaning agent due to its mild abrasive and acidic properties.
Well, not only this, but it also adheres to some disinfectant properties.
It can help make your kitchen space germ free and provide an utterly hygienic cooking space.
Baking soda
Baking soda is also popularly used as an all-purpose cleaning solution.
Its mild abrasive and alkaline properties help remove the oil stains and grease, devoid of causing any harm to its surface.
Caustic Soda
Caustic soda is acidic in nature that can help remove oil stains and grease.
And when the caustic soda is mixed with hot water, it can be an excellent cleaning agent.
Essential To Note!
Do Not Touch The Caustic Soda With Bare Hands As It May Cause Chemical Burns.
Paint Thinner
Paint thinners are capable of eradicating stubborn oil stains and grease.
Since it contains a powerful cleaning agent, it can easily remove the grease and oil stains on the filters.
All you need to do is:
- Soak thinner on a cloth piece
- Rub this soaked cloth on the chimney filter
- This will easily break the grease and oil stains
Fix it and use it!
Detergent Powders
The detergent powder, when mixed with boiling water, can do wonders.
All you gotta do is:
- Remove the chimney filters
- Take a metal tub
- Fill the tub with boiling water
- Pour three spoons of detergent powder
- Boil the water again
- Put the filters into it
- The grease and oil stains will disappear automatically
How Often Do The Chimney Filters Need To Be Cleaned?
This generally depends upon the type of food being prepared and how often the food is cooked.
However, according to Home Triangle, it is always good to clean the filters once a month for longevity to maintain uninterrupted hygiene.
But the cleaning frequency generally depends upon the filter type installed in the chimney.
Therefore, much consideration needs to be done based on its type.
The topmost types of chimney filters include:
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Baffle Filters
Baffle filters can separate the grease and smoke. These types do not get clogged often and cleaning them every 2-3 weeks is beneficial.
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Cassette Filters
Cassette filters are the ones that are composed of multiple aluminium layers that require cleaning every 10 to 12 days. Since these filters have tiny pores in them, they can stick the grease and ultimately block them.
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Charcoal Filters
Charcoal Filters contain charcoal granules that absorb grease, odour, and smoke. So, it must be replaced every four to six months because it cannot be cleaned.
Hiring a professional chimney sweep service provider can be a reliable solution to handle it all. They have the knowledge and expertise to handle the chimney parts and maintain their safety with exceptional care.
Final Takeaway!
Chimney cleaning can be something dreadful.
However, if done the right way, it can make your kitchen space shine.
Even though all the details and techniques of cleaning the chimney filters are available on the internet, it might make the cleaning job challenging.
This is because you don’t have the technical know-how.
Therefore, getting professional help is always beneficial to do it the right way!
Otherwise, the tips mentioned above using commonly used kitchen products can work well and keep your kitchen looking sparkling.
