When you light your fireplace, it’s so cozy and relaxing. But keeping the chimney clean is a must or else the house might catch fire. To keep things safe, it is important to periodically clean the chimney. Unfortunately, cleaning a chimney isn’t as easy as lighting a fire. It requires some time and money but the benefits are worth it. If you are wondering how much does it cost to clean a chimney? Keep reading to find out. It shouldn’t be complicated because keeping your home safe from fire hazards should be priority number one for every homeowner, but that doesn’t make it any less necessary. Luckily, cleaning your chimney is not too hard or expensive if you do it regularly.
What is included in Chimney Cleaning?
The basic procedure for cleaning a chimney includes these steps: – Remove the loose flue tiles, dirt and other contaminates from the chimney walls. – Inspect the chimney flue for damages such as cracks, holes and rust. – Install a damper to keep critters and debris out of the flue. – Install a spark arrestor to protect the environment. – Clean the chimney flue of soot and creosote build-up. – Install a new spark arrestor and damper. You can also get your chimney inspected for other issues such as a bent flue or cracks in the exterior of the chimney. These are serious problems that need to be addressed before you can use your fireplace again. A professional chimney cleaning includes these steps in addition to inspecting and cleaning the interior of the flue.
The Importance of Chimney Cleaning
Keeping the chimney clean is important for a number of reasons. First, it makes your home look better and more presentable. A clean chimney flue makes your home look a lot better and cleaner. Second, it prevents fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. If the chimney is not cleaned regularly, creosote and soot can build up which can ignite inside the flue and cause a chimney fire. Having a clean chimney will prevent this from happening. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is also increased when there is too much soot and creosote in the chimney. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is produced by burning materials. The reason why cleaning the chimney is important is because the fireplace is responsible for about 80% of the indoor carbon monoxide levels in the home during the winter.
3 Easy Ways To Know If Your Chimney Needs To Be Cleaned
If you light your fireplace quite often, you need to schedule chimney cleaning annually or biannually. You can tell if you need to have your chimney cleaned by observing if there is soot or creosote build-up in the flue. This is one of the ways you can tell if your chimney needs cleaning. Soot is created when the wood in your fireplace burns. It is just like the soot that comes out of your car’s exhaust pipe. Creosote, on the other hand, is a waxy substance that is formed when combustible materials burn. Creosote is dangerous because it is highly combustible and can easily catch fire. If you notice that the flue of your fireplace is covered in soot and creosote, it means that your chimney needs cleaning. You may also see dead critters in the flue. This is another sign that you need to get your chimney cleaned. Lastly, you should consider having your chimney cleaned if you hear strange sounds coming from it. This can be a sign that your flue is bent or the damper has stopped working properly.
How Much Does It Cost To Have A Chimney Cleaned?
The cost of having your chimney cleaned will vary based on a few factors like location, the company you hire, the materials they use and whether you have the chimney cleaned annually or biannually. You can expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $500 for annual cleaning. Having the chimney cleaned biannually will cost you more because of the additional work and materials used. Monthly and quarterly chimney cleaning is ideal for commercial buildings.
DIY Chimney Cleaning
If you want to clean your chimney on your own, you’re in luck. There are a few DIY methods you can use. Here are some of the easiest ones: To start, you can use a stiff brush and a garden hose to remove the loose creosote and soot in the flue. In fact, this is often done during the initial cleaning to get as much out as possible. You can also use a rope with a coat-hanger to dislodge debris, a strong vacuum to suck it out or a water sprayer to flush it out. If you want to go the more advanced route, you can purchase a chimney cleaning tool set. The set will come with all the tools you need to clean your chimney including a telescopic cleaning rod, creosote brushes and a brush for the flue tiles.
Professional Chimney Cleaning
As mentioned above, having a professional clean your chimney will be more expensive than doing it yourself. Professional chimney cleaners will charge you anywhere between $130 and $500. They use a special set of tools, ladders, protective gear, cleaning chemicals and vacuums to get the job done. They will inspect your flue, remove loose creosote and soot, clean the flue, install a spark arrestor and a damper and finally apply a sealant. Having a professional clean your chimney will ensure that the job is done correctly and thoroughly.
Conclusion
Cleaning your chimney is important for a lot of reasons. It not only makes your home look better but it can also prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Having your chimney cleaned once a year is recommended so that you don’t have to worry about creosote and soot buildup. There are a few ways you can tell if your chimney needs cleaning and you can do it yourself or hire a professional. Having your chimney cleaned annually will cost between $100 and $500 while biannual cleaning will cost more.