Thursday, December 18, 2014

Step By Step Guide In Preparing For Chimney Cleaning

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.

Ideally, this area of the house should be cleaned twice a year. But depending on the frequency of usage you may have to clean it more. The good news is, you have the options to do your own swipe. As long as you do it right on your end, you may not have to spend too much when hiring professional cleaners. Here is a short guide on how you can do the process yourself.

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.

Measure the height and size of you chimney. Sizing is important so you will have the right measurement of rope to use in the cleaning later on. Determine if the shape of the flue is round or square. Either ways, measure it. Get the exact height as well. You can either climb on top using a ladder and measure it from there.

Third, secure the tools that you need. This includes the chimney brush, ropes, ladder, brooms, dustpan and your personal gears. Most of these materials can be found in your homes. If not, you can try borrowing from your neighbors. If you can refrain from spending, the better. You can use the money for other purpose.

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.

There are other modes on how you can clean your fireplace. But for a start, these simple steps should be good enough. If you do not want to hassle yourself and would want a more thorough cleaning process, hiring the professionals will be your best choice.




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