
Chimneys should be cleaned regularly, says Jamie Payne, to reduce the chance of fires

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With Christmas behind us and no risk of disturbing the work of the man in red, it’s time to start thinking about chimney maintenance.
The National Fire Code of Canada recommends cleaning your chimney at least once a year, regardless of how dry your firewood is, says Jamie Payne.
And if you use your fireplace frequently, you may need to clean it more often — a recommendation that goes for all wood-burning appliances, he added.
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Payne — a WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) certified chimney sweep, a SITE Basic Inspector (which means he can perform a visual inspection) and installer — has more than 25 years of experience in the industry and works for The Woodshed in St. John’s, NL. He says the most critical reason for regular chimney cleaning is to prevent chimney fires.

Chimney fires can occur if you allow the build-up of creosote, Payne explains. The smoke produced by a fire has tiny, un-burned but flammable solid particles and oils from the wood called soot that adhere to the walls of a chimney flue. Over time, the soot in your chimney is refined by heat and becomes an extremely flammable material called creosote, he says.
“A lot of people don’t realize the creosote in their chimney is flammable, and all it takes is a tiny spark or ember to ignite the creosote and start a chimney fire, where the actual walls of your chimney flue are on fire,” says Payne.
Chimney fires burn at over 2,000 degrees and can easily spread to the rest of your house, he cautions.

Two methods
There are two ways to clean a chimney, says Payne.
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“You can clean a chimney top-down from the roof or from the bottom up, inside the house,” he says.
“If you’re not experienced working on the roof of a house or if your roof is particularly steep, hire a professional or consider the bottom-up method of cleaning the chimney from the fireplace.”
With the bottom-up method, you won’t have to go on the roof, but the job will be messier, he notes.

How do you clean your fireplace?
Get started by measuring the diametre of your flue liner so you can get the correct brush size. The brush should be about one-quarter to one-half inch larger than the chimney diameter.
“A brush that’s too small won’t be effective, while one that’s too large will be difficult to use and may get stuck in the flue,” he adds.
Make sure the brush is suitable for your type of chimney.
“You’ll connect the brush to several rods to clean the entire chimney. Determine the height of the chimney to ensure you have enough,” he says.
Make sure the rod and brush connectors are compatible, Payne adds.

If you’re cleaning from inside the house, you’ll need access to the fireplace; you won’t be able to cover it. Protect yourself, floor and furnishings from falling dust, soot and debris.
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Tape a tarp down around the fireplace to protect your floor from soot, ash and any other debris. Remove the andirons and grate as well as any other accessories as needed to access the firebox and clean any ashes and pieces of wood from the fireplace.
Open a window or an exterior door for several minutes to let the air pressure of the room balance with the pressure outside. This step can prevent a larger mess when you open the damper, he adds.
Open the damper and wait a couple of minutes for the room to equalize with the outside. Shine a flashlight or work light up into the smoke chamber, just above the firebox, and up into the chimney. Payne suggests that using a mirror may be helpful.
Then, he says, scrape a poker or metal rod along the surface of the firebox and the flue to check for buildup. An accumulation of material that is one-eighth of an inch or more, or buildup with a shiny surface, needs to be cleaned before using the fireplace again.
Push the brush up the chimney, cleaning with an up-and-down motion. As you push the brush farther up, add additional rods until you’ve cleaned the length of the chimney. Then remove the brush, disassembling the rods as you go, said Payne.
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Cleaning from the roof
If you’re cleaning from the roof, cover the fireplace opening with heavy-duty plastic sheeting and duct tape to contain the soot and debris from the chimney. Make sure there aren’t any gaps or tears, Payne cautions.
On the roof, you may need to remove a chimney cap or other type of fitting covering the chimney. Attach a rod to the brush and insert the brush down the chimney, moving it up and down to clean the flue.
Expect some resistance if the brush is the correct size, he says. Add more rods as you lower the brush to clean farther down the flue. Scrub the interior of the flue thoroughly. Remove the brush, disassembling the rods as you take them from the flue. Reattach the chimney cap or other fitting as necessary.
After removing the brush, it’s a good idea to shine a light into the flue and make sure you’ve done a thorough cleaning.
Allow time for the dust and debris to settle, then carefully remove enough of the cover to clean the areas you couldn’t reach with the chimney brush. You can use a small chimney brush or a wire brush. Clean the smoke shelf thoroughly. A long, bendable brush will be helpful to reach it. Cover the fireplace again and wait a few minutes for everything to settle.
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Carefully remove the cover again and brush or vacuum off the smoke shelf. Shovel or vacuum up the debris from the fireplace. Dispose of the debris properly. Check the regulations for your area that govern the disposal of creosote.
Besides cleaning out the chimney, there are other chimney maintenance things to look out for, he says. They include:
- Chimney lining repairs – Your chimney has a lining inside of it that prevents fires and corrosion. Taking care of your liner means a safe and long-lasting chimney. They’re typically made of clay, ceramic, or metal, all of which will deteriorate over time and eventually need replacing.
- Cap and crown repairs – The chimney’s cap and crown are crucial to keeping your chimney functional. They protect your chimney from the elements, ensure proper airflow and prevent critters from getting inside. It’s hard to spot when they need repairing, so annual chimney inspections are recommended.
- Mortar repair – Mortar is the sealant that keeps the masonry of your chimney together. Without it, water can enter both the brick and the chimney itself, which can damage it severely.
- Damper and flue repair – The flue and damper are critical to fire safety. The flue draws smoke and sparks up through your chimney and away from your home, while the damper is essentially a lid for the flue that is opened while the fire is burning and closed when it’s not. If your damper doesn’t close, then anything from the outside can go through the flue and into your home.
- Brick, block, and stone rebuilding and repair – Brick does weaken over time. Considering it’s the key to your chimney’s integrity, your chimney’s brick or stone is another aspect that makes your chimney vulnerable to the elements when it’s in need of repairs.
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Cautionary signs
Payne says if you notice any of the following signs, it’s time to call a WETT-certified professional chimney sweep:
- Soot buildup: Visible soot or creosote on the chimney walls, rain cap or around the appliance.
- Smoke issues: Smoke entering your home when you light a fire.
- Strange smells: Unpleasant odours coming from the fireplace.
- Poor draft: Difficulty getting a fire to start or stay lit.
If you’re not comfortable with the idea of cleaning the chimney yourself or if you find evidence of chimney damage, like finding one-eighth of an inch of buildup or more or see indications of a serious accumulation of creosote, the chimney cleaning is a job for a professional, says Payne.
“As you can see, it can be an advanced project for a homeowner, so hiring a properly trained and WETT-certified chimney sweep does have its advantages,” advises Payne.
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