Using a Wood Burning Fireplace : How to Clean a Chimney for Wood-Burning Fireplaces

[ChimneyMann65]

One more thing, there's nothing wrong with DIY. Except when you have no real clue on how to clean a chimney. Did you know that creosote is a cancer causing material that is .005 micros fine. This is 10x's finer than house dust. Now are you going to use a shopvac to pick it up? Better think about it. A filter on this vac is good down to house dirt, not chimney dust. Are you going to buy and use a respirator? Remember the cancer? All this so you can save a few bucks? No even worth it.

[ChimneyMann65]

1st, hire a professional. 2nd, never use a WIRE brush on a metal chimney. The pipe is only snapped together in some cases they can come apart when the brush is reversed in the flue. A brush is 8.25" for a 8" round flue. Use a poly brush. Or call a pro.

[neolexington]

Gonna do this on Friday, thanks for the tips!

[spymaine89]

I agree you do not need a ‘’so called pro’’ but research your chimney’s construction, and research all methods and hints.

You will learn by trial and error but why not research the ‘trials’’ of others.

If you are afraid to climb a ladder get someone that is not, and explain what they should do. Times are tough ‘’do it yourself’’.

[Stuntmanshawnee]

The rope with the rock attached to it is something that I have never used.A poly brush or plastic brush,Viper, flexible brush is best. Homeowners and the do-it-yourselfer come up with all kinds of ways to service their chimneys. It would appear that this man's brush is small enough so that it will not put a lot of pressure on the sections of pipe that make up the pre fab chimney flue.I know a guy that would lower a chain down his metal stove pipe and swing it around in the pipe to clean it.

[kenfo0]

There is a little more to cleaning a chimney than what is shown here. For one, you need to "plug" the outlet at the other end, lest you end up with creosote and creosote dust all over your house.You need to clean/vacuum out the bottom of the chimney after the dust settles. wear old clothes....creosote is messy and stinky (railroad ties are coated in creosote). You need to measure your flue size to get the right shape and size brush. You can use screw-together poles instead of rope/brick. etc

[mikem19682003]

Why so many people insisting that everyone should "hire a professional" ?? Oh yeah, probably the "chimney sweeping union LOCAL 1234" chiming in. Look, you'll still get the women and the elderly to pay you to do it for them, but some people actually do care about saving a buck. I think this guys method is pretty genius myself, I could have saved tons on those chimney sweeping poles they sell.

[Stuntmanshawnee]

A brush like that will damage the flue and may cause the chimney flue pipe sections to come apart inside.

[kenfo0]

@Stuntmanshawnee LOL...uh, no.

[yuske05]

how effective are fireplaces for chilling winters?

[neolexington]

@yuske05 Very effective if burned properly.

[masconite]

Standing on the top of his roof........very short house indeed! Amateurs teaching amateurs....not a good idea!

[kenfo0]

@masconite if his house is not particularly tall, one can't learn how to use a brush in a chimney? Where do you idiots come from?

[josiahezra]

THank you! I don't want to hire a professional to do something I can do!!

[Fleed992]

LOL

Don't do like he does.

Greetings from Finland. =))

[CaffeineBuzz]

wooohooo....get er dun!!!

lol...you need a synthetic brush for a metal chimney otherwise you destroy the flue...stay away from advice from this hack...he hasn't a clue...a DIY'er can do it himself but it has to be done right

[procommenter]

Jesus! How stupid do you think we are? I store the ashes from our family's wood-burning stove in the many pockets of my pajamas. It' the safe way to say NO to needless human savagery!

[bentsynth]

HAHA try a zero clearance brush if you want it done right.

[aridio]

dude thos day's are over cleaning chimney's like that thats from over a 100 year's ago 2 clean chimney like that call me ill show you how 2 clean a chimney the best in ny

[josephdupont]

can't hear the audio.

[stroupii]

yeah this is not how you clean a chimney and it is "very non-professiona" that guy should stay off roof's and a way from chimney's lev it to me the professiona

[COBALTGRUV]

It may not seem nice... but man... this is not how you clean a chimney... very non-professional! People should call a pro to come out and clean as well as inspect on a yearly basis, if the chimney is used...  p.s. you didn't even tell the people how to remove the build up you've swept!!!