Keep your fireplace in peak condition with regular cleaning and inspection.
Wear safety goggles, gloves, and a dust mask or respirator.
Cover surrounding furniture and surfaces with dropcloths or plastic sheeting.
Credit: Stacy Goldberg
For occasional use, a monthly or bi-monthly fireplace cleaning will likely suffice.
Deep cleaning can be done annually or as you notice stains and buildup.
Remove Ash and Debris
Discard any remaining chunks of burnt wood.
Credit: Dane Tashima
Remove the andirons and grate and set aside.
Using a fireplace shovel, scoop out ash and debris into a small, lined trash can or bucket.
Wearing rubber gloves, mix 6 Tbsp.
of TSP, 1 cup of bleach, and 1 gallon of warm water in a large bucket.
Let sit for five minutes.
Dip a stiff-bristled brush into the remaining mixture and scrub the walls and floor of your fireplace until clean.
Rinse with clean water and let dry.
Dip a damp paper towel into your bucket of ash and scrub the doors until clean.
Wipe away any remaining residue with clean paper towels.
Alternatively, clean the doors with a fireplaceglass cleaning productfollowing the manufacturer’s instructions.
To avoid making a mess indoors, consider cleaning fireplace accessories outside.
Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub any stubborn stains.
Rinse and let dry before replacing the andirons and grates inside the fireplace.
Working on a roof is inherently dangerous, so take every precaution to protect yourself and ensure safety.
Regardless, it’s helpful to know whatchimney cleaningentails to ensure the work done on your home is thorough.
Have a heavy-duty shop vacuum ready to remove the debris loosened by the cleaning.
Have chimney cleaning brushes with stiff wire or plastic bristles ready.
Then add a length of rod to reach further and continue cleaning.
Although inspecting a fireplace isn’t a particularly difficult job, it is a dirty one.
Wear old clothes (including a hat).
Put on a dust mask or respirator and safety goggles.
Step 1: Check for Cracks and Repair.Check the firebox for cracks and loosening joints.
In a masonry fireplace, you should also check for damage to bricks and mortar.
Step 2: Check the Damper.initiate the damper completely.
It should move freely and sit snugly against the throat.
confirm the metal is solid with no cracks, severe pitting, or rusted-through sections.
Metal flue liners should be clean and the joints well aligned.
Tile or masonry flue liners should be solid and free of cracks.
All repairs should be done by a certified professional.
If you might’t see the entire flue from below, you’ll have to check from the roof.
You should also verify the chimney is unobstructed by leaves and other debris that have fallen into the chimney.
Ideally, all these are swept up the flue and out the chimney.
When enough creosote builds up in a flue, it can catch fire.
Although new flue liners must be rated to withstand 1,700-degree temperatures, a flue fire can reach 2,500 degrees.
Plus, flue fires can be insidious events.
A small hot spot can smolder for hours after the fire in the firebox has been safely extinguished.
Hidden in the chimney, a fire can build and spread throughout the flue undetected.
Having your chimney professionally cleaned is often the best way to remove creosote.
