Chimney Cleaning Tips

Cleaning the chimney is one of those things that goes right along with cleaning the gutters. It is not something that we like to do, however it does have to be done. In fact, it is recommended that cleaning the chimney at least once a year or more depending on how often you do use the chimney. The chimney cleaning job is not one that most people want to end up with, however, there are ways to ensure that you get the job done without having to end up going to the emergency room or having a huge mess to clean up afterwards.

The first tips, before you begin any type of cleaning, be sure to cover the area inside the house where the fireplace is located with tarps and sheets, basically anything to protect the inside of the house. Many times when someone is cleaning the chimney, the soot and ash that is left behind gets stirred up and this can turn a perfectly clean living area into one that looks like it just escaped from a fire.

Secondly, wear protective gear. Smelling and inhaling the soot and ash is not going to help you in the long run. In fact, those that are in the presence of soot and ash for long periods of time and do not wear protection often develop asthma or other breathing related illnesses that they are forced to live with for the rest of their life. You will want to make sure to not only wear a facial mask, but safety glasses as well. Soot and ash that go into the eye can cause an infection and if not treated could lead to blindness.

Cleaning the chimney does involve getting on top of the roof. You are going to have to make sure that the ladder is secure and it would be advisable to use some kind of harness so that on the off chance you do fall that you do not hit the ground. Though this kind of antic is funny on movies and television, when it happens in real life it could very well cause death, permanent back injury or neck injuries that take years to get over. If you could have someone holding the ladder while you climb, you can also reduce the chances of having an accident related to falling.

Many of those that decide to clean their chimney do get the idea of going down the chimney in order to clean it better, after all some professional chimney cleaners do this, or so people think. However, under no circumstances should a person lower themselves into the chimney in order to clean it. For one, they could get stuck and it is no fun having a fire rescue team have figure out how to get you out. Two, the smell of the fumes that are in the chimney could cause the person to pass out and if they are left inside for too long, they could die because the oxygen levels would be very little. For more information on cleaning a chimney and tips to help the process run more smoothly, visit proyecto-maid.net.