Safe And Effective Tips In Chimney Cleaning Preparation

By Misty Tyler


A great and comfortable Christmas celebration will not be complete in the absence of a clean place to stay in. Whether you are planning to hold a small family party in your house or invite some friends for dinner, having a clean place is necessary. Not only will this ensure a good air quality of the place, it will also make you more comfortable knowing that your visitors are free from dust and other materials that may be harmful to them.

One area that deserves careful attention is your fireplace. Aside from its constant use this winter, they are also prone to dust and creosote accumulation that can even cause fire in the long run. We want to avoid this incidents as much as possible. If you have not been cleaning the area for over a year, expect the need for a more detailed cleaning. To make sure all corners are covered, you will need the help similar services like the one offered by chimney cleaning Virginia Beach.

Experts recommend a twice a year full cleaning on most chimneys. However, if you think minor dusting off is necessary, then that is also fine. After all, you know best how well this area is used. The more frequent the usage, the more dust it gets. Removing these dusts from time to time may save you some money from the fee you pay to those professionals who do the process. If you plan to do the process yourself, here is how you can begin.

One, check your fireplace. This will tell you what part needs dusting off and what part has dark spots and the like that needs professional help. This will also make sure that no animals are nesting on it. The presence of birds and squirrels living in this area of the house is nothing new. Fireplaces offer them warmth during the winter so it is a favorite hideout. Ensure that you drive them away before you start.

Second, get the height, size and shape of the chimney. This is necessary to find the appropriate tools you will need later. When doing the estimate, provide extra inches so that you will not fall short on the length of the materials during the process.

Buy the necessary cleaning supplies. If you do not have them yet, your best options is to go the nearest hardware and secure a chimney brush with its extension pipes, small stiff wire brush, drop cloth, ladder long enough to reach your roof, dustpan and broom and mask and goggles. If you can find these materials at home, or can borrow some of them from your neighbors, the better.

Fourth, dress right. This means removing all the unnecessary things in your body such as jewels and other accessories. You can expect a lot of dust so wear something that you do not mind getting dirty, preferably a black shirt and loose pants. Use protective gears like gloves, masks and goggles.

Fifth, remove the damper from the chimney and begin the process. You will need the ladder to climb on top and the brush attached to the rope to clean the fireplace interior. Place the damper aside to ensure that it is not distracting when you start.

This may be too much work for you but if you do it well, you can refrain from regularly calling the help of the pros. Also, ask the help of family members to assist you on this. You would not know how willing they are to help unless you ask.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment