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Spring Cleaning for Your Chimney Systems

There’s just something about springtime that gets you in the mood for change. Once the weather is nice, you want to spend more time outdoors, taking walks, grilling, or even just hanging out on the front porch. Sometimes the spring cleaning fever hits, as well; closets get emptied, attics get cleaned, garage get swept. It just feels good to get everything in order so that you can enjoy the long, lazy days of summer. One place you definitely don’t want to neglect is your chimney system. Although nothing can replace your annual sweeping and inspection from a qualified professional, there are some things that you can do to prepare your chimney for summer.

Cleaning You Can Do Yourself

In order to prepare for spring cleaning your fireplace, you must first assemble the tools. It’s a messy job, and you don’t want to quit in the middle of doing it. Some essential items you’ll need are the following: a fireplace broom, a fireplace shovel, a metal can, a stiff-bristled brush, and some plastic covering to put down in front of the fireplace. If you have a hand-held vacuum, this can come in handy as well.

First, clear out the ashes. Ashes can be fly-away, so a good trick is to sprinkle some used coffee grounds over the ashes to hold them down. Next, shovel the ashes in the metal can, then take them out of the house to dispose – use the broom or the vacuum to pick up remaining ashes. Then, remove the andirons and grate to take them outside with the stiff-bristled brush and scrub them down. You can even reach up into the chimney with the brush to scrub out any soot and grime – make sure to put some newspapers down to collect the falling debris!

Next, you’ll want to clean the bricks in the fireplace. This can be accomplished by either brushing them down or use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner. If there are tough spots that need extra cleaning, use a mixture of water and cream of tartar. Dab mixture on the spots, let it set a few minutes, and wash off with warm water. You can repeat those steps as many times as necessary.

Finally, clean the glass doors on your fireplace to cap off this job and leave the room looking fresh and clean. Because the grime on the doors is tougher than ordinary dirt, one trick is to use ashes to clean it. Get some old newspapers damp, dip them in ashes, and use this to scrub the glass. It may take a little elbow grease, but the end result is most definitely worth it!

Cleaning by Professionals

Of course, none of this should replace your annual chimney spring cleaning and inspection, performed by professionals. Give the professionals at Chim Cheroo Chimney Systems a call soon to get your sweeping out of the way early, and you can spend the rest of your summer days enjoying all the fun, warm weather activities!

Schedule Your Annual Cleaning Before The Busy Season Hits!

Soon autumn will be here and you’ll be doing all those great fall activities: raking leaves, going on hikes, and watching football games. State fairs are going on, and isn’t that food great?  Not to mention, the kids are back in school and involved in lots of activities! It would really be nice to have some of those necessary, but not so fun jobs done already. One of those jobs would be to call and schedule your annual chimney inspection and cleaning.

Inspection and Cleaning

You may be wondering how often it’s necessary to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. Inspections should take place on an annual basis. Most experts agree that cleanings should be done when there is an ⅛ inch build up in your chimney. This is one thing that your chimney inspector will be looking for. Since the term ‘chimney inspector’ has been used, let’s talk qualifications for a good chimney inspector.

The first thing you should know? The highest accreditation that your chimney inspector can have is through the Chimney Safety Institute of America. The CSIA website gives details of what to look for in a chimney inspector: How long have they been in business? Do they have valid liability insurance? Have there been valid complaints filed against them? Can they provide references?

What Are They Looking For?

Your chimney specialist will be looking for several things. One of these is obstructions that could potentially start a fire. Something that is notorious for causing a blockage is bird or animal nests. Chimneys make excellent places for creatures to build nests; they’re small, warm, dark, out of the way of other predators, and out of the way of wind and weather. Unfortunately, when the babies are out of the nest and the parent animals move out. Leaving the nests to remain, a potential fire hazard can happen when you use your fireplace in the winter months!

Another potential fire hazard is creosote. When you use your fireplace, the smoke that is released up the chimney is composed of water vapor, a variety of gases, and a variety of chemicals. When the smoke hits the cool top part of your chimney, it condenses and forms creosote. This substance is highly flammable, especially as it builds up! Your chimney inspector will be able to determine how much creosote you have, and whether you need to have the chimney cleaned.

Another thing that your inspector will be looking for is any damage that might need to be repaired. If there is anything that might be causing instability in your chimney, your inspector will recommend the necessary repairs.

CSIA Certification

Do you live in north-central Ohio and are looking for top rated, professional, courteous CSIA certified chimney specialists? If so, give Chim Cheroo Chimney Service a call today to set up your annual inspection and cleaning. Then go out and enjoy the beautiful autumn season!