How do you clean a chimney and when?

Answer 1

Will depend on type and quantity of wood you burn, and the type of stove. Some woods produce more creosote than others, and airtight stoves tend to burn cooler, with more buildup of creosote in the flue. Flues should be cleaned at LEAST at the start of the season- and checked throughout the year, and cleaned as needed. I try to get mine cleaned at the END of the heating season- start the year the next year with a clean flue.

Answer 2

If you regularly burn wood or coal your chimney will need cleaning more often than if you are burning wood briquettes which produce less smoke and ash. Generally it is recommended that you clean your chimney annually as this stops the build up of flammable material and reduces house fires. You can either employ a chimney sweep or do this yourself with brushes, rods and ropes. This is an arduous task as it can take a lot of strength to get the rods up the chimney. A great deal of soot may come down so it is important to put down dust sheets and to catch as much of this in the hearth as possible in a vacuum cleaner. Weighing the cost of the equipment against the cost of a professional suggests it is better to get some one in to do it for you.