Chimney Sweeping Process
Attention! Chimney owners, it is important to clean your chimney for the safety and efficiency of your fireplace. It is a common observation that over time, debris and creosote can build up in the flue and other chimney parts, which will put your house at risk of fire and toxic gas leaks.
If you don’t have any idea how to sweep the chimney, then don’t worry at all, Chimney Sweep St. Louis is at your service. But it’s also important for you to understand the process we gonna follow to clean your chimney. Here is the step-by-step guide from inspection to creosote removal and final checks.
Step.1 Protective Coverage
For us, safety comes first, and we make sure that while sweeping your chimney, other essential items of your home remain protected. Before any cleaning process begins, we will cover your fireplace and nearby areas with a protective covering. This will help to protect your furniture, floors, and decor from the soot and debris that can flow out during the cleaning process.
Step.2 Detailed Chimney Inspection
After taking protective measures, we are now heading towards a thorough chimney inspection. A full chimney inspection has three main levels. The inspection helps determine how dirty the chimney is, what cleaning method to use, and whether there are any issues that need repairs.
Briefly, our experts will take a visual examination where we will check your chimney interior as well as exterior parts. We will make sure to check if there are any cracks or gaps in the flue liner or any signs of deterioration.
We will evaluate the dampers and smoke chamber and make sure there are no signs of water damage. We have a detailed guide on those three levels of chimney inspection. You can read all those levels here.
Step 3. Sweeping Methods
After the inspection, we are now clear about the cleaning process. Based on those previous observations, our expert technician will now choose one or two professional methods.
1- Top to Bottom
In this top-to-bottom method, we will start from the top of the chimney and work down to the base. It is often utilized when we confirm that the access from the top is safe.
2- Bottom to Top
The second step, which can be utilized, is from the bottom to the top. We usually utilize it when we observe that the roof access is limited, and in some cases, the roof is not safe for our operations.
You don’t need to worry, both methods are equally effective, and we will use the one that best fits your chimney design.
Step. 4 Using Rotatory Brushes & High Efficiency Vacuum
It’s time to start the sweeping process, as we are aware of what method of sweeping will be utilized. Our experts now use rotary brushes. These brushes spin very fast, and they are usually used to scrub the inner walls of the chimney.
They help us to remove the creosote, soot, and any type of residue that is clinging to the flue liner. Don’t worry, we don’t let them fall and spread in your room, at the base we will use high-efficiency vacuum which will help us to capture all the loosened debris.
What Parts of the Chimney Are Cleaned?
To understand what areas are covered during a chimney sweep, here’s a detailed overview of the key components we clean.
Flue Liner
Our experts will clean the flue liner, which is the inner wall of the chimney. This is the part of the chimney that guides the smoke and gases out of the home. For this reason, this area is at risk of creosote and soot buildup, so it is on our priority list.
Smoke Chamber
We then move to the smoke chamber, which is located above the firebox and below the flue. This is the area where the smoke passes towards the flue, and it can collect the creosote, so that’s why we recommend a detailed scrubbing of this part.
Smoke shelf
The smoke shelf is a common ledge that is behind your chimney’s damper. It is designed to collect debris, and this is the common area for soot, debris, and nets.
Damper
The damper is designed to control the airflow in the chimney, and maintaining a clean damper assembly is essential for proper function.. That’s why we make sure to clean it in the process. Because improper cleaning may lead to restricted airflow and reduced ventilation.
Firebox
It is the area where the fire burns. It is not as critical compared to the flue and other parts of the chimney, but a sight-swept clean to remove the ashes and debris is needed.
Creosote Removal
Creosote is a thick, tar-like substance that builds up in your chimney due to the incomplete wood burning. It sticks to the flue and other parts, and it is highly flammable. The more the creosote, the higher the chance of fire. There are multiple stages of the creosote that will be found during the chimney inspection, and then our highly trained technician chooses the safest and most effective way to remove the creosote.
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Debris and Obstruction Removal
Your chimney can collect more than just creosote. Other kinds of debris and obstructions are found in the chimney, like bird nests, as chimneys are supposed to be warm, and it’s common for nesting birds to build nests.
Leaves and twigs are likely to fall through the exterior opening. Unfortunately, there are chances that small animals get trapped in the chimney, and many times we need to remove the dead bodies of those animals.
There is a high possibility that over time, your chimney structure will crumble and some parts of it will fall inward. All these blockages are dangerous as they cause the flow of carbon monoxide leaks, and it’s essential to remove them.
Final Check and Homeowner Demonstration
Once all this process is done, we will move to the final touch, which is none other than a final demonstration to you. We will make sure that everything is spotless and functioning properly. In that case, we will inspect the chimney interior one last time by shining a flashlight up the flue. We also offer a video inspection by using special cameras for the customers to make sure that the job was done right.