Cleaning the chimney with your own hands. Means for cleaning the chimney

To date, the issue of cleaning chimneys in many high-rise buildings is almost irrelevant, but most dacha owners and owners of country houses still face this problem. If there is no desire to attract specialists, then you can try to do on your own. However, cleaning the chimney - the lesson is not so simple, so you first need to gain theoretical knowledge, and then begin to practice.

General information

Regardless of the novelty of modular heating systems, soot deposits on the chimneys. Of course, if you use an ordinary old wood-burning stove, it is advisable to clean the pipe before each winter. If modern boilers are used, then it can be done less often. Today, in fact, there is no longer a profession of chimney sweep, but you can often see ads that offer professional cleaning. But if earlier only an experienced specialist could cope with this task, today any summer resident, even without experience, will be able to perform all necessary work. All that is needed is a good brush for cleaning the chimney or something similar to it, and also a little patience and strength. Let's take a closer look at this process.

Why should the chimney be cleaned?

Quite a legitimate question: "Why is the pipe clogged?" The fact is that when burning wood, white smoke forms. When coal burns, black smoke is released, which partially settles on the pipes. It is interesting that the amount of soot settles in many respects depends on how good the surface of the pipe is. The more rough it is, the more precipitation, the smoother - the less.

As a result, the thrust deteriorates, and the fuel does not burn completely. It is difficult to talk about what will happen if you do not clean it at all. At best, the smoke just will not pass and the fuel will not burn, at worst - a fire may start or the person may suffocate. It would seem that you will need a professional chimney sweep for cleaning chimneys. Nevertheless, there are a lot of ways, or rather, adaptations, that will help you in this task.

Required Tools

You can think up some of your devices if you do not have the tools you need at hand, or use those that are designed specifically for cleaning chimneys. Suitable brushes, brushes and chemicals. But there are also so-called folk variants that cope with the task posed nothing worse.

One of the simplest methods is to use a brush. It can be performed cleaning of fireplaces, chimneys, baths and the like. The main thing is to choose the necessary size of the product. Optimum option - nylon pile. This brush is good because it is quite flexible and can adapt to the shape of the pipe. At the same time, sufficient rigidity allows the soot to be completely removed. It should also be understood that too hard material, for example metal, will scratch the inside of the chimney and make the surface less smooth. In the future this will contribute to the fact that more and more soot will start to accumulate in the chimney.

Use of potato peelings

But this method can be attributed to the classic folk or antiquated. It appeared a long time ago, but it is still very often used. It is worthwhile to draw your attention to the fact that its effectiveness is not worse than the version with a brush or brush. The bottom line is that you need to take about a bucket of fresh potato skins, then it's good to warm the stove and throw those scraps into it. If the whole bucket is not included, it's okay - it will be enough and less. The essence of the method is that when burning from potato skins, starch is released, which contributes to the decomposition of soot. It is desirable to repeat the procedure several times, and after a few days the soot will partially fall off. Further cleaning chimneys with their own hands is extremely simple, as the product of combustion will fall off on its own.

Chimney cleaning log

This method is based on obtaining the necessary chemical reaction. Cleaner "log-chopper" is very simple to use and extremely effective. In most cases, it is used as an additive for firewood and is sold in small packs weighing one kilogram or more. This is a good way not only for the first or second cleaning of the structure, but also to maintain it in a normal state. A log for cleaning the chimney can be used for preventive purposes. During combustion, gases emitted from the active elements, which dry out the soot. As a result, it either falls into the fire, or disappears with smoke. Typically, this tool should be used for several days, but the result will meet all expectations. Many might have thought that under the logs there are birch or aspen wood, but this is somewhat wrong. In the packages there are special crystals, which must be scattered on burning pieces of wood. And now we will consider one more effective method.

Aspen wood cleaning

This method is considered one of the most ancient. Now it is used extremely rarely. This is due to the fact that for all the efficiency of such a cleaning chimney is not the safest. Nevertheless, let's consider this option.

You will need a small armful (or two) of aspen wood. They need to be put in the oven and ignited. These firewoods differ in that they achieve a very high temperature during combustion. By the way, do not forget to open all the doors and latches. It is extremely important to maintain the set temperature in the oven for some time. When it reaches the maximum values, you can hear the appropriate hum. Soot will begin to burn and escape. The danger of this method is that not every chimney can withstand a temperature of 1100 degrees. Nevertheless, this is a very effective cleaning of the chimney from soot. But there are several other, simpler options.

Aluminum cans and hose

There are two more ways that even a beginner can master. For example, with aluminum, you can achieve a minimum amount of soot deposited on the chimney pipe. The essence of the method is that approximately once in eight to twelve furnaces it is necessary to burn several aluminum products. These can be banks or something similar. The main requirement is to create a sufficient temperature for the melting of the metal. If the bank will simply lie and change its color, then you will not achieve efficiency. If in five minutes one pot will melt, then you have reached the desired temperature, if not - then throw some coal.

In the event that none of the above at hand was not, you can try to find a hard hose and use it. To do this, it is necessary to remove the chimney glass and to put the hose into it. For greater efficiency, attach a brush or brush at its end. However, cleaning the chimney from soot by this method is not very effective, but if there is no other way out, then this method will do.

Types of cleaning tools

We have already figured out that it must be serviced regularly to maintain a working condition of the chimney. For this, a special tool is sold. For example, the ruff for cleaning the chimney, as well as the brush and scraper, is very popular. Often you can see a universal tool - that's it, it's better to buy. The fact is that such brushes and brushes are suitable not only for brick, but also for metal structures with complex bends. When choosing, it should be taken into account that the diameter of the ruff must exceed the chimney size by approximately 15-20 percent. If the design is not round, but square, then the ideal solution will be a brush for cleaning the chimney.

There is a method by which the kernel is used. It does not serve to complete cleaning, but to remove blockages. The essence of the method is that the core is attached to the rope and rushes into the chimney. Here you need to be afraid of blows against the wall, as they can lead to damage. In addition, the core can be used simply as a weighting agent. In most cases, it is sufficient to know how to choose the right brush for chimney cleaning. And now consider another interesting nuance.

How to understand that it is time to clean the chimney

Just so climb with ruff on the roof does not want anyone, which in principle, and understandable. It is extremely important to be able to determine that it is time to serve the chimney. It's quite easy to do this, and you will not need any special skills. If the heating equipment is used by all the rules, it is recommended to clean the pipes approximately once every two years. Whenever you throw into the furnace various objects, for example, plastic bottles, rubber or raw firewood, it is desirable to carry out maintenance annually. In addition, pay special attention to the color of the smoke. When burning wood, it should be almost white. If the color is closer to black, this indicates a large amount of soot. In any case, it is recommended to have a ruff or brush. If there is no desire to perform the cleansing annually, experts advise using chemical means to clean the chimney as a preventive measure.

Instructions for self-cleaning

You already know which tool to choose for this event. In the end, it is permissible to use an ordinary long stick, at the end of which a rag is wound. Further it is necessary to clean the chimney over the entire length. It is desirable to repeat the procedure several times. This is due to the fact that the carbon black completely removed from the first time is very difficult. With simple up and down movements, it will fall into the oven, and the other part will remain on rags or a brush. Do not forget to open and close the flap so that the soot completely falls into the stove. At the final stage, cleaning of the furnace wells should be carried out. Usually there are several, but it all depends on the type of stove. With a shovel or shovel, you need to select all the sediments. After that, cleaning the ovens and chimneys can be considered complete, but do not forget that all cracks and cracks should be smeared.

Non-contact cleansing

It is impossible not to say that industry does not stand still, and today there are simply a huge number of methods that allow to completely clean the chimney from the smoke. Usually such methods are used directly during the fire. For example, wood can be sprinkled with salt and watered with a little water. In addition, there are dangerous options. We considered one of them above. Others are more based on the fact that all soot is burned through the furnace openings. For old chimneys, this approach should not be used, as they can catch fire and fail.

Conclusion

We told about the main means for cleaning the chimney. As you can see, the choice is very wide, and everything depends on your preferences. The most effective are ruffs and brushes. But chemistry is more suitable for prevention than for full cleaning. In any case, you have to climb onto the roof and do manual work. Do not forget that much depends on how you use your oven. If you do not throw household rubbish into the furnace, do not fire coniferous tree species containing a large number of pitches there, then cleaning can be done less frequently. Do not forget about regular maintenance, because if the heating in the dacha refuses to frost, then you have to immediately climb to the roof and perform the necessary actions.

In principle, this is all that can be said about how to clean the chimneys with their own hands. By and large, there is nothing complicated, and it is not exactly necessary to call specialists for the sake of such a thing. The following cleansings will be made easier and faster, since you will already have experience.