How To Clean A Chimney… Hire A Chimney Sweep!
Posted: Wednesday, November 24, 2010
by Bob Alexander
http://www.bluemarlinbob.com
For many of us, it is still much too warm to build a fire in the fireplace, but before you do, it is wise to hire someone to clean the chimney. They are better known as chimney sweeps and are generally worth whatever it costs to hire them.
The days are gone though, when you could lower a small boy into a chimney with a brush and force him to clean the soot and creosote from the flue of the fireplace. That may never have happened, but the notion was immortalized by Charles Dickens in the stories of the orphan boy, Oliver Twist, who was sold to a chimney sweep.
The only blazing chimney fire I have ever seen looked like a giant Roman candle on steroids as it lighted up a dark, rainy winter's night. Luckily the rain dampened the roof enough to where sparks couldn't catch the roof on fire.
Why clean out the chimney before you use it? Gases from the fire travel up the chimney with the smoke. Depending on the temperature of the blaze in the firebox, the gases either solidify or liquefy. When they combine they form creosote, which is not a good thing because it's combustible.
Creosote sticks to the walls of your chimney in syrupy form or as a golden glaze inside the flue linings. This residue can ignite when there is a roaring flame coming out of the fireplace. Small flames in the top of the chimney that can't be seen from the ground, are culprits in many house fires.
Keep creosote problems to a minimum by burning seasoned wood. Oak that has been aged and sheltered from the elements for at least a year is my preference. Hickory burns as hot as oak, but will cast sparks toward the front of the fireplace. A screen for this fuel is a must.
Dry pine might be good enough for campfires if there is nothing else available, but is a terrible idea for a fireplace or wood burning stove because it emits a lot of creosote. My experience with burning pine is that it just sits there and smolders without producing much heat.
Sweet Gum is another wood that produces a lot of smoke; therefore emitting a lot of creosote. Gum Trees are composed of grains that split off into different directions, like a loosely put together window screen. It also smolders without producing much more than smoke.
A smoky fire isn't what you what you want if you're trying to keep your chimney clean. Seasoned oak is my choice of fireplace fuel, but even that will produce gases that can turn into creosote and stick to the inside of your chimney.
Since almost anyone can go to a hardware store and buy a set of flue brushes and a vacuum cleaner to clean up the mess, it's not a good idea to hire the first person you find in the yellow pages. Members of Chimney Sweep Guilds as well as those who have had over 20 years experience in the business can usually be trusted to do a safe and thorough job. They will know how to dissolve creosote in your flue linings and usually can repair minor cracks and imperfections in your chimney.
Don't take chances with your fireplace. Get it checked out each year. The peace of mind in knowing that your home is safe when a roaring fire is going in your den, is worth the price of hiring a chimney sweep.
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, gardening, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:
http://www.homeandgardenbob.com
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