Our top tips for cleaning your chimney efficiently

If you use a home fireplace, cleaning your chimney is super important. To help you out, we introduce you to our top tips for cleaning your chimney efficiently and explain when you need to think about calling in an expert. 

Know when to call a professional 

There are three degrees of creosote build-up in a chimney: 

Level 1: The creosote in your flue appears as a light powder or soot. You can easily remove this yourself with the right equipment. 
Level 2: You will notice that the creosote is shiny, hard, and consists of black flakes, making it more difficult to remove. 
Level 3: This is the most difficult type of creosote to remove, and it will look similar to tar. It’s a fire hazard and needs to be removed before lighting your fire.

We’d recommend calling a professional chimney sweep if your flue has level 2 or 3 creosote, but if you’re at level 1, you can proceed with the tips below.

Invest in the right brush 

While many people choose to hire a professional chimney sweep to do the job, it is possible to clean the chimney yourself, but you need the right tools. First and foremost, you will need to buy a chimney brush that is shaped to fit your chimney. They come in different lengths and sizes (usually 4, 5, and 6ft), so make sure you consider the right length before ordering one. If you have a masonry flue, you should opt for a stainless steel brush, while owners of a stainless steel flue should use a poly brush.

Prepare the area and brush your chimney 

Now that you’ve got a brush, begin by covering your carpets and surrounding areas with dust mats. It’s always best to clean a chimney from above, so head safely up onto the roof and remove the chimney cap. Then, working from above, insert the brush into the flue and push it down, scrubbing up and down the chimney as you go. After brushing, check if you have removed all of the creosote from the flue. You will then need to return to the fireplace and clean the area, vacuuming up the soot that has fallen around the area.

Consider what you can burn

If you’re wondering what to burn to clean a chimney, the key is to burn good hardwood. Hardwood that has been dried reduces the build-up of soot and creosote, which typically cause a blockage in a chimney. Other options include the burning of potato peels and acorns, which are also known to remove creosote from your chimney. This being said, you should still clean your chimney at least once a year to ensure it is clean and safe for burning. 

Avoid burning wet wood 

Furthermore, it’s important to use dry firewood in your fireplace. Burning wet wood will increase the build-up of soot in your chimney, as it emits more smoke and creates more smoke. Our kiln-dried firewood is the perfect choice for your home fireplace, and it minimises the build-up of creosote within your flue.

While it’s super important to keep your chimney clean and to sweep it at least once a year, make sure you’re burning the right type of wood to keep your chimney as clean as possible. As well as our kiln-dried firewood, our Shimada heat logs and smokeless coal are excellent fuel sources for your home fire and will prevent an extensive build-up of creosote in your chimney.