A chimney sweep is a professional who cleans fireplace chimneys, smoke ducts, and flue pipes to ensure that gas emissions are properly vented. They also conduct regular inspections to make sure that the chimney is safe for use. They follow specific guidelines and procedures to guarantee a thorough job. They also inform homeowners about correct burning techniques so they do not put themselves at risk of a fire. A chimney that is not regularly cleaned and inspected can cause soot and creosote build-up, which increases the risk of fire and causes excess smoke that damages your home and harms your health.
Chimney sweeps have various tools to clean chimney sweep euless your fireplace chimney and venting system. They may have heavy metal bristle brushes, long rods with bristles at the end, vacuum cleaners, tarps and blankets to protect your furniture and flooring, and other safety gear. Before starting a chimney sweep cleaning job, the professional will survey and prepare the area. They will lay down a blanket or plastic in the area where they are going to do the work to prevent ash and soot from getting on your floor coverings and furnishings. They will also put down a tarp on the ground in front of your fireplace to contain the ash and debris.
During the chimney sweeping process, the professional will remove any soot or creosote from the chimney flue, as well as from the inside of your fireplace and the outside of your chimney stack. They will then vacuum and sweep the debris away. Depending on the condition of your chimney and the amount of build-up, the process can take between 45 minutes to an hour.
There are two methods of chimney sweeping: the traditional method and the power sweeping method. The traditional chimney sweeping method uses a large brush that is pulled up and down through the flue. The brush can cause some damage to a brick chimney flue, especially if it has been exposed to excessive outward pressure (such as the kind of pressure shown in this video: “Kinder to Brick Flues”). The power sweeping method uses an electrically powered rotary chimney sweep tool with 10 polypropylene whiskers that clean your chimney from top to bottom. It eliminates the need for push brooms and can safely be used on older brick chimneys without causing damage.
After the chimney sweep is done, they will provide you with a detailed report of their findings. This includes recommendations and maintenance that should be undertaken, as well as a bid for any chimney repairs that need to be made. The sweep will also inspect the chimney cap, pointing out any code violations or cracks in the mortar. This is a very important part of the chimney inspection, as it keeps out rainwater and animals. In addition, it keeps water and other vapors from entering the chimney and damaging your woodwork. It is a good idea to get your chimney swept at least once per year.