Chimney Brushes And Fireplace Safety Tips

The warmth of a fireplace adds comfort to any space of a household, especially during chilly winter months. Traditionally fireplaces have provided a location for family and friends to collect about and for pets to curl up in front of. Even some households who reside in warm, southern locations pick out to incorporate fireplaces in their décor solely for the aesthetic appeal.

Although website  there are many advantages of wood stoves and fireplaces, you can find also essential safety precautions to think about. Particularly for property owners who heat exclusively using a wood or solid fuel-burning stove, the threat of a chimney fire persists when the proper security measures are usually not followed.

Most chimney fires originate from the build-up of creosote on the interior of chimneys and flues. To stop the accumulation of creosote, it is encouraged that you simply inspect and clean your chimney a minimum of annually, according to your fireplace use. Other residence fire security tips might be located on the U.S. Fire Administration site.

Selecting A Chimney Brush

Professional chimney sweeps should be hired for the annual cleaning and inspection of one's chimney, but possessing a household chimney brush can also be a fantastic thought. When buying a chimney brush, it is best to match the size and shape from the brush as closely as you possibly can for the size and shape in the chimney or flue. Using the wide assortment of chimney brushes obtainable for sale, this must not be a hard process. Most chimney and fireplace upkeep retailers supply rectangular, square and round chimney brushes of all unique sizes.

The very first step to picking a chimney brush will be to measure the interior dimensions of the chimney. When the chimney is round, measure the interior diameter and match that dimension to the diameter of a round brush. Constantly use caution when taking measurements from a roof.

In case your chimney is oval or irregular in shape, it is possible to acquire a chimney brush which is larger than the chimney's dimensions and trim it to match your needs. A chimney brush that's too substantial will make a cleaning job extra challenging but will still adequately protect against creosote build-up. A chimney brush that may be too compact, nevertheless, won't sufficiently reach all of the sides of a chimney.

Soon after determining the acceptable size and shape for the chimney brush, you should pick out a material and style. Chimney brushes are normally classified into "homeowner" and "professional" categories. Homeowner cleaning tools are normally meant for light maintenance even though professional chimney brushes are made for maximum efficiency and durability.

Wire bristle chimney brushes are advised for common chimney cleaning requires, as well as the flat wire bristle style is advised for its scraping capability when the glaze from creosote accumulation is noticeable. No type of wire bristle brushes ought to be utilized for metal chimney flues. Rather pick involving the solutions of brushes with polypropylene bristles. For chimneys with turns or offsets, you may also choose to consider acquiring versatile chimney brushes and chimney rods.

Chimney cleaning and fireplace maintenance is an critical matter, so if you're ever concerned or have questions about chimney brushes, it is best to seek advice from a professional.