Step By Step Guide In Preparing For Chimney Cleaning

By Misty Tyler

Now that the holiday season is approaching, cleaning our house has become more necessary. Not only do we want our place to appear great when relatives and friends pay us some visit. We want it to be at its best when we welcome this wonderful Christmas Eve and New Year.

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.

First, examine the chimney. You will not know just how much it needs to be cleaned unless you see its condition first hand. Bring out a flash light and check the area. Aside from determing the places you need to dust off later, you will also be able to see possible animals that are nesting on it. Winter is a popular season for them to stay on warm places such as your chimneys.

Two, measure your chimney. This includes getting the size and height of the place. Not all units have the same measurement. Getting an estimate is fine as long as you provide several extra inches. This will come in handy when you are buying some of the materials you will use.

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.

Four, gear up right. The last thing you would want it to get too uncomfortable with what you are wearing that you entirely stop the cleaning process. Expect to have a lot of dust on your clothing so wear something that you would not mind getting dirty. Clothing that are lose and dark colored are some of the top options. Do not forget your protection gears as well like goggles and masks.

Remove the damper from the chimney and proceed with the brushing. Your first move should be removing the damper from the chimney and brushing it off using the small stiff brush. Set it aside in the drop cloth so it will not obstruct the rest of your cleaning.

Doing it yourself may not be able to remove those dirt that has hardened but it will at least get those dust off. For a thorough sweep, hiring a professional is the best choice. Not only are they trained to do the cleaning. They also have the necessary materials to remove those hazardous materials inside your chimney.

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