How Messy Is Chimney Cleaning

If you have a fireplace in your house, it means you must have a chimney as well. As the woods burn in the fireplace, toxic gasses are produced as a result that exit through the chimney. As a result, the chimney is supposed to become accumulated with soot over time. Therefore, cleaning the chimney by hiring chimney sweep services is important to prevent a fire from breaking out and to prolong the life of the chimney itself. So, let’s take a look into how chimney cleaning is done and how messy it is.

Will Chimney Cleaning Make A Mess?

The amount of mess created while cleaning a chimney depends on the person performing the task. If you intend to do it on your own and it’s your first time doing it, you will surely end up creating a lot of mess. However, if you have hired a professional to do it, then relatively not so much.

Cleaning a chimney requires using a drop cloth and a filter vacuum to keep the dust levels down. Plus, the process either starts from the flue and goes all the way up or begins from the roof of your house and goes its way down. Keep the vacuum running for the entire time so that the home remains clean during the process.

The goal is to carefully scrape all the soot without damaging the coating so that it falls down on the drop cloth and can be vacuumed easily.

How Hard Is It To Clean A Chimney?

Cleaning a chimney thoroughly can be a tiring process for first-timers. There are three stages to creosote buildup. The first is the easiest to clean while the second and third may require expert help. This is why experts recommend inspecting and cleaning the chimney at least once a week or month depending on the usage frequency.

Additionally, the chimney should be cleaned at least once a year by an expert. The reason is that not only do professionals have the right tools but also inspect it from the inside and check for cracks and damages, etc. This helps prevent any accidents later down the road by repairing or replacing any defective components.

How To Prepare For Chimney Cleaning?

Preparing for chimney cleaning is quite easy. All you need to do is lay down a piece of cloth or plastic on the ground to catch the soot, dust, dirt, etc. It would be better if you opt for a cloth that is specifically made for such purposes as normal cloth can catch fire.

Moreover, you need to wear safety equipment such as goggles and gloves to protect the exposed parts of your body. Do not risk cleaning the chimney without wearing safety equipment as soot contains toxicants that can cause chronic health issues if exposed regularly.

How Is A Chimney Cleaned?

Regardless of whether it is you or an expert performing the task, the first step of the process is inspecting the chimney inside out. Not only do you have to determine the intensity of the soot buildup but also detect any cracks or damages. However, that might not be easy for you using a torch as you will be needing tools to take a closer look inside the chimney.

Professionals, however, use pen cameras that can access narrow and tight spaces, allowing insight and a detailed look at what needs to be done. Plus, they also have special tools to reach otherwise inaccessible areas without having to damage the chimney.

While cleaning the chimney, it should be made sure all the soot accumulation is removed. That said, it could take anything from 20 minutes to an hour. The reason every inch of soot accumulation needs to be removed is that it can lead to a fire.

Therefore, even if you have the right tools, your lack of skills and experience might lead to an improper job. So, instead of saving some money, think of it as an investment and hire an expert to clean the chimney the right way.

Conclusion

To be fair, chimney cleaning does create a mess but not much if you are smart with the preparations. Simply remove any objects in the way and cover the surrounding area as much as you can to prevent soot from adding to your troubles. Get instructions from chimney cleaning services Bowie to correctly prepare your house for a chimney sweep.

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