Imagine a cold winter night when winds are blowing, dried leaves are scattered around and fog clouds are on your window. You are sitting in your house which is cozy and warm, in front of a chimney. Isn't this relaxing?

Ever thought how miserable winters could be in the absence of a fireplace? Or how much you will have to suffer if your chimney is not cleaned properly? Your house can freeze in extreme winters without a chimney. While a poorly cleaned flue can cause hazardous smoke, this smoke can fill in your house and can cause several problems, including severe suffocation.

Over the years, because of soot and rust, your chimney cap may also face corrosion. This will allow dust and dried leaves to enter your house. Sometimes environmental conditions and a change in the flow of air can reverse the function of flue. This can be avoided by cleaning your chimney after an extreme winter season.

Cleaning the chimney:

Step#1: Remove the ashes:
Cleaning the flue is not a difficult job and you can do it easily. During the winter seasons, make sure that ashes do not accumulate more than two inches on the chimney. Once the season is over, you can get rid of these ashes by using a flat fireplace shovel to remove stubborn ashes while a high pressure vacuum cleaner can be used to remove dust.

Step#2: Remove Soot:
Spray some soapy water on the firebox or place it is soap water for about 30 minutes. When the residue starts leaving the surface of the fireplace, scrub it with a brush. Removing stains and soot from flue is difficult and time consuming.

Step##: 3 Removal of Stubborn Stains:
For stains that are not easily removed, use something stronger than soap. This can be done by using detergent or diluted chemicals such as muriatic acid. But make sure you follow all the precautionary measures while using chemicals.

Mix the chemical with water to make it dilute. Now apply this mixture on stains and leave it for at least half an hour. When the stains start leaving the surface of the fireplace, use a brush to remove it completely. Dust on damper can also be removed with the help of a brush.

Step#4: Replacing
When replacing the chimney, examine the smoke pipes for any holes and if found, repair them. Ensure that all the joints are assembled properly before installing and then seal the flue with cement.
To ensure the safety of your house, it is necessary to clean your chimney at least once a year. You can easily do this cleaning by yourself. However, the services of professionals can be rendered for intensive cleaning.

The Author John Allexandar is a freelance writer in local newspaper and magazines covering topics like chimney

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