It’s important to ensure that your chimney is always in good working condition. A clogged chimney poses a health hazard risk as it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. That’s why you must inspect your chimney on a regular basis and clean it out. This task requires the use of specialized equipment. If you need help with handyman Des Moines or in the repair of your chimney, you should hire certified contractors to do this job for you.
Inspect Regularly
Carry out regular inspections of your chimney to ensure that it’s always in perfect working condition. The best time to do inspections is at the start or at the end of the fireplace seasons. Regular handyman Des Moines iowa and repairs will help you catch any problems fast before they get worse. Repairing a crack or removing creosote is much easier than having to rebuild a whole chimney after it collapses.
Have the Required Equipment
To carry out a thorough chimney inspection, you will need the following equipment:
– Ladder
– Torch
– Wire extension
– Safety glasses
– Drop cloth
Know What to Look For
The line of your flue might be constructed using metal sheets, clay or concrete. If it has been constructed using concrete or clay, check if there are any cracks on the surface. If the liner is metallic, then check for indications that it’s bent out of shape. You need to scrutinize whether there are indications that smoke passes through liners or joints. You also need to check for creosote deposits. This should not be more than an eight inch thick. Creosote build-up can lead to a chimney fire if it’s not cleaned. If you notice that the creosote is puffy or it’s rainbow colored, this could be a sign that a chimney fire might have already happened. Otherwise, the creosote should be smooth black in color or brown. Black creosote is more dangerous than the brown one. Creosote usually builds up as a result of incomplete combustion.
Inspect All Angles
You need to inspect the chimney from both the top and the bottom. To climb to the top, you will need to have a ladder. Before examining the chimney, you need to put on your mask and goggles as well. Cover the fire pit first using a drop cloth. Check if the damper is working correctly when you operate it.
Clean if Possible
Use a wire brush and a vacuum to clean off the creosote. Inside the chimney, there’s usually a smoke shelf which is located above the hearth but inside the flue. When cleaning the creosote, chances are that some of it will fall on this smoke shelf. Your vacuum cleaner should be long enough to reach this smoke shelf.
Hire a Professional Chimney Sweep
Consider hiring a Des Moines handyman professional if you cannot do all the cleaning on your own. Professional chimney sweeps can handle any minor or major problems that your chimney has, including structural damage, gas leaks and fires.
