How to clean the chimney from soot. How to clean the chimney of the furnace from soot: folk methods and new technologies. Option #3 - mechanical cleaning

06.11.2019

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If you heat your house with coal, firewood or all kinds of briquettes, you probably wondered how you can clean the chimney in a private house? In the presented article, we will analyze all possible methods, as well as the reasons why clogging occurs?

There are several reasons why the draft in the stove at home may disappear and it will stop functioning properly.

Before the heating season, the owner of the house did not clean the stove from soot and dust accumulated during the warm season.
The vortex “fracture” has not been cleared.
The pipe itself in the house is not airtight; it drags in a cold stream along with street dirt.
There is no "umbrella" on the house.
Birds or wind-blown debris.

Do not forget that the most ordinary firewood on the walls of the chimney leaves soot many times greater than from coal. That is why it is recommended to periodically “throw” a chimney sweep log into the light, which allows you to slightly, but clean the pipe in the house. After the firewood, a significant layer of soot can collect, so do not be too zealous with the firewood.

How do you know if your chimney needs to be cleaned?

It is easy to understand that cleaning the chimneys of stoves and fireplaces from soot is about to be required if you notice that the draft has disappeared or combustible gases enter the house. It will also clearly make it clear that enough burning has accumulated on the walls of the chimney channel after the burning of the fuel that particles of debris brought by the wind appeared on the walls inside the house and in the bathrooms adjacent to the channel. This is due to the blockage of the output channel.

How to properly clean a chimney?

In the old days, people cleaned stoves with sodium chloride or table salt - these are the so-called folk remedies. Now you rarely see that in the village, thus, someone was cleaning the "wells".
To know how to properly clean and which method will be most effective, you need to determine the cause of the blockage, the density and size of the soot layer (or the presence of an object). It will depend on this, which of the methods will be correct and expedient to clean it?

Manual mechanical cleaning

Of the advantages of this particular cleaning method, it is worth noting completely environmental safety. Various chemistry is not used, and the whole lack of work comes down only to the fact that there is a danger of falling from a height during work.

Chimney cleaning tool - rope with a core and a brush

Cleaning the chimney with your own hands will require you to have a certain tool. So, mechanical cleaning of chimneys can be performed using the following devices:

Giri. Due to the large weight, it breaks through large layers of soot. It is recommended to additionally attach some scratching devices to it in order to increase the efficiency of pipe cleaning.
Hard brushes. Additionally, take care of the long handle so that you can penetrate into remote corners.
Ruff. By the way, you can make it yourself. Sold special stainless fixtures with weighting compound and chain. Of course, it will not replace a professional “adapt” from a plastic bottle, but it will be possible to achieve even an insignificant result.
When using a ruff or brush, do not forget about protective equipment. Get:
- Respirator.
- Glasses.
- Gloves.
- Safety rope.

Folk chimney cleaning methods

Potato peelings - a folk way to clean the chimney

They learned to clean the chimney with their own hands in ancient times, using various folk methods. You can clean the "well" yourself using:

Aspen firewood. Peculiarities:
- a lot of energy is released;
- temperature perfectly cleans brick and stainless chimneys.
Potato peels.
Prepare about one bucket of cleanings, dry them thoroughly. Flood the stove with a high-calorie agent, put dried cleanings on top. Subsequently, hot steam containing starch will soften the soot, heavy briquettes will fall, and light ones will fly away.
Salt.
Pour a couple of glasses of salt on the fire, when interconnected with air, an environment is formed in which soot will not accumulate.
Chainsaws.
This method of cleaning with a chainsaw is not recommended due to its danger. You need to climb onto the roof and insert the intake valve into the chimney and start the saw motor. It is better to attach a special outlet pipe to stay clean and direct the soot to a specific area.

How to clean the chimney using chemicals?

First on the list, consider the drug PCA, a fairly strong remedy.

NOTE: It is not necessary to unpack the packaging, it is burned entirely.
The second means of popular use. Includes the composition of copper sulfate, saltpeter and crushed coal. This powder must be sprinkled on red coals, in the process a reaction is formed, due to which soot will “slide” from the walls of the chimney.

It closes the top three chemical reagents capable of exfoliating soot from the walls. As in the first case, it is not necessary to unpack the package. It is necessary to put it in the fire in this form, during combustion, active substances are released that perfectly fight soot growths.

Chimney blockage prevention

Pipes, chimney wells need to be cleaned periodically, despite good draft. After the winter season, it is advised to do a complete revision of the stove using any of the listed methods. The presented chemicals will allow you to exfoliate the soot, after which its large fractions can be easily removed during preventive cleaning.
Salt solutions can also be used for prevention, especially if you have a solid fuel stove. It also allows you to easily get rid of a small layer of soot, which is divided into small and large particles that settle at the bottom of the chimney.

With your own hands, it often causes difficulties. On the other hand, a poorly functioning chimney in a bathhouse or residential buildings reduces household comfort - the stove begins to smoke, the heating boiler produces less heat.

Safety requirements mean that the chimney of a heating boiler or stove in a bath must always be maintained in good condition. Otherwise, the risk of carbon monoxide returning into the room, smoke in the room or ignition of soot and foreign objects in the pipe increases.

Why you need a chimney cleaning

There are many constructive answers to the question of how to clean the chimney at home. It should be borne in mind that it is necessary to clean the pipe systematically, and not just on an emergency basis.

With a weak draft, the fuel will not burn out completely, the rotation of smoke and carbon monoxide is broken, it's time to clean the chimney. Experts advise not to wait until the chimney in the house or bath is clogged thoroughly - do preventive cleaning regularly.

Prevention will provide good, stable traction. The frequency of prevention depends on the intensity of use (how much soot is emitted and how often).
Also, do not forget about the difference between gas burners of heating boilers and burning solid fuels. In the first case, the pipe clogs rather slowly. But the cause of the violation of patency may be the ingress of a foreign object or the “collapse” of the chimney (the stainless steel pipe was flattened, the clearance disappeared). If you have a low-quality heating boiler pipe installed, it makes no sense to fix the defect. Contact the supplier, insist on dismantling the low-quality part.

Combustion of gas and liquid fuels

Boilers for gas or liquid fuels do not leave thick smoke. As a result of combustion, transparent carbon monoxide is formed, which cannot be visually recognized (diesel fuel also leaves a little soot, which after some time turns into soot on the walls of the chimney).

However, difficult combustion is a clear sign of weak draft and a signal that it is time to clean the chimney. In addition, there is always the possibility of deformation of the outlet pipe, which also requires measures to restore the patency of the chimney.

Combustion of solid fuel

In wood or coal fired systems, smoke is a warning sign. If it is not brought out and accumulates in the room, again, the whole point is the narrowing of the passage of the outlet pipe due to the formation of soot inside the pipe.

So it's time to remove this soot. In solid fuel systems, it accumulates quite quickly, and especially with frequent use or a coal stove in the house (heat is consumed not only for heating the room, but also for cooking).

Take the problem seriously. Negligent attitude - the threat of ignition of large soot formations in the chimney.

Causes of blockages

non-compliance with the rules of operation;
ingress of small birds, insects, foreign objects (garbage blown by the wind - plastic bags, crumpled newspapers, etc.) into the pipe;
incorrect technology for laying a brick oven or fireplace, installing a heating boiler in the house, proportions and connecting structural units;
the absence of a protective "umbrella" at the end of the chimney from the side of the street (rain and snow penetrate the chimney, turn soot masses into dense slurry and lumps).

All these circumstances lead to the fact that the combustion products of the fuel of the fireplace, stove or boiler do not have time to be brought out. They settle on the walls of the chimney in the form of soot - sometimes it is a “fluffy” light mass, and sometimes in the form of fairly large flakes (typical for stoves and).

Each individual case is individual. First, find out the nature of the blockage, the density of soot and the size of the layer on the walls of the chimney (or the presence of a foreign object in the pipe). The choice of tool and method of cleaning will depend on this.

Methods for cleaning folk remedies

firewood with a high combustion temperature (birch, aspen);
table salt or naphthalene (naphthalene is used less and less today, because it leaves an unpleasant long-lasting smell in the premises);
potato peelings.

Birch or aspen wood

these types of wood emit a lot of thermal energy;
high temperature well cleans stainless steel or brick chimneys;
old soot formations literally break off from the walls in patches and are carried out with force;
the method is also recommended for the prevention of pipe blockages in a house or bath (at high temperatures, the chimney overgrows with soot extremely slowly).

When using this method, clean the firewood from the bark. The peeled wood burns completely, and flaky particles remain from the bark.

Potato peels

prepare potato peelings in advance in a volume of about ½ bucket (the amount depends on the size of the firebox and the power of the chimney);
dry them so that there is no rot;
flood the stove in the bathhouse or in the house with high-calorie coal, putting dry potato peelings on top - the resulting hot steam contains a lot of starch, it will help soften the soot in the pipe. It will subsequently peel off, heavy fractions will fall down (you will remove them when you clean the firebox as planned), and light flakes will fly up under the action of traction.

table salt

pour 1.5 cups of ordinary table salt onto hot fuel;
when interacting with oxygen, the salt forms an environment in which the formation of soot and soot deposits is minimal.

This method is not recommended if the furnace is actively operated and runs on solid fuels in large quantities. Salt method is more effective as prevention.

Chemical methods

Opponents of chemistry should remember that it is used quite often to clean sewers in houses and apartments. Unlike sewerage, cleaning agents are supplied from below through steam (it would have to be poured into the sewer pipe from above).

Do not forget to follow the safety precautions correctly - following the indicated dosages, ventilation from fumes, protection from contact with eyes, skin and mucous membranes.

PHC preparation

This potent substance is sold in hardware and building stores. Suitable for solid fuel boiler and residential building brick wood stoves. Act strictly in accordance with the attached instructions.

There is no need to unpack the PCC - burn it directly in the package.

Copper sulfate with saltpeter

the substance is a mixture of copper sulphate, saltpeter and powdered coke coal;
more than 200 g of the substance cannot be used at a time;
the powder is scattered on top of the fuel burned to the stage of red coals;
a chemical reaction will lead to shedding of soot growths from the walls of the chimney.

Kominchek made in the Czech Republic

the tool is very effective, but only if the soot layer is not thicker than 2 mm;
one dose is 14 g, but it is enough to keep the chimney of the furnace or boiler clean and maintain high permeability for the next 3 months.

It is enough to clean the chimney with this tool once every six months, and then keep the pipe in a clean condition due to preventive measures.

Chemical log-chimney sweep

buy in the store and carefully read the recommendations;
put in the furnace of the furnace when burning firewood;
the released active substances exfoliate soot growths well.

Based on the results of using such a simple tool, you will see that traction has improved significantly. Detachment of flakes will be observed for another 1.5-2 weeks after cleaning.

In the composition of the log:

urea;
ammonium sulfate;
zinc chloride;
coal dust;
carbon wax;
amorphous silica;
sawdust;
phosphorus oxide;
anhydrous sodium sulfate.

During the cleaning work, all harmful components disappear with draft through the chimney to the street. Therefore, poisoning does not threaten you.

mechanical cleaning

For this type of cleaning work - the widest possibilities. Of the advantages, one can note the availability and absolute ecological cleanliness (without chemistry). The disadvantage is the moment of danger of working at height.

Instruments

weight on the chain. With its heavy weight, it falls into the chimney, breaking through thick creosote layers (the weight is held by a strong cable, to which it is additionally recommended to attach various scratching devices);
hard brushes of various sizes and shapes (of course, you need to take care of the sufficient length of the handles so that they penetrate into remote places);
ramrod, pole or long hook;
all kinds of stainless steel ruffs on a long cable - by analogy with how they clean the sewer system mechanically.

You will also need a ladder to get to the top.

Designing a device is based on understanding the essence of the method. The tool should scrape, scratch, peel off soot growths.

Protective and auxiliary means

respirator;
gloves;
protective glasses;
overalls;
do not neglect safety ropes for work on the roof.

For details on how to work with a cable with a ruff, watch the video - everything is painted there step by step. This advice is especially for beginners.

Operating procedure

If cleaning the chimney from above:

climb to the desired height;
lower the cable with a ruff into the chimney shaft and reciprocate (this is well shown in the training video);
sometimes it is useful to make rotational movements on the principle of a gimlet.

Many people in their lives had to clean the sewer pipe with a special twisted cable - now it's time to repeat the familiar steps exactly.

Unlike sewerage, there is no moisture in stove chimneys. But inevitably a large amount of mechanical dust and particles flying out of the pipe. Be sure to use a respirator and goggles.

If cleaning the chimney from below:

such a path is typical for cleaning fireplaces - the chimney hole is very close (while in heating stoves it is practically impossible to get through the firebox);
first work with a ruff on a long handle, hooks, brushes;
then apply the rotational technique (as if there is a sewer pipe in front of you - twist the springy cable first in one direction, then in the other direction).

If it is possible to work together:

ideal option - cleaning with a ruff on both sides. The mechanical device is pulled through the chimney completely, from the side of the street to the very firebox;
several intensive movements are made both vertically and with rotation.

A large amount of creosote debris will rain down. Cover the surface with dense technical material (eg tarpaulin). At the end of the work, you can easily remove the waste from the furnace.

Complex furnace structures
Often in large private houses, instead of a modern heating boiler, complex configurations are often laid out.

turns at an angle of 90 degrees - an insurmountable obstacle for ruffs, brushes and gaffs;
find special cleaning holes (miniature doors) through which you can penetrate into hard-to-reach places;
if a “walking” brick is installed instead of a door, it is best to invite a specialist who knows all the intricacies of oven masonry. It is very difficult to install a removable brick in place without special skills.

in hot summer, the stove is not heated, so it is difficult to determine the degree of patency and effectiveness of the cleaning;
in winter, the heating system should work properly, without any technical "breaks". In addition, there is snow on the roof, slippery and dangerous.

There is nothing better than conscientious prevention. It will protect the chimney from premature wear and prolong its service life. Regularly heat the stove for 2-3 days in a row with birch or aspen firewood, peeled from the bark. Do this at least 3-5 times a quarter, monitor the quality of traction.

Any fireplace requires maintenance, regardless of its size and design. One of the main ways to care is to clean the chimney from soot. The question of how to clean the chimney with folk remedies worries many owners of fireplaces and stoves, and most turn to specialized services. However, you can perform such an event as cleaning the chimney in the bath yourself in various ways.

What to heat to avoid the appearance of soot? And how to determine that it is necessary to clean the chimney?

The degree, speed of clogging and the need to perform such an action as cleaning the chimney with your own hands depend primarily on the fuel being burned. The better the fuel and the higher the quality of the fireplace or stove construction technology, the less often cleaning is required. It is better to refrain from burning synthetic materials, plastic and polyethylene elements (garbage, bags) in the hearth. Firewood for fuel, regardless of the breed, must be dry. It is better to refrain from using softwoods as fuel. They usually contain a large amount of resinous substances, which settle on the walls of the chimney with each furnace fire. You can stop your attention on hardwoods - this is the most suitable fuel. Colored paper and cardboard boxes should also be avoided - they also leave a lot of soot behind. The same applies to low-quality coal.

Chimney sweep cleans the chimney from soot and soot

High-quality fireplaces, if maintained properly, can bypass cleaning procedures for the first few years. However, even if the fireplace is relatively new, but the following symptoms have been noticed, it is better not to delay the cleaning.

Symptoms of a clogged chimney:

traction deterioration;
the fireplace (or stove) has become worse to heat the room. As a result, an increase in the required amount of fuel;
the occurrence of smoke in the room;
smoke color change. A normally functioning heating device should have white or light gray smoke. The darker the smoke, the worse, and the sooner you need to start clearing the chimney from soot;
flame color change. With a normally functioning stove, the flame has a light orange color, and with a large amount of accumulated soot, it becomes dark red;
the appearance of sparks flying out of the pipe.

The best time of the year for the event is considered to be the beginning of autumn and the end of spring, but any cloudy, non-hot day will do. It is necessary to clean the chimney about twice a year, even if there is no obvious reason for this.

Chimney cleaning methods

How can you clean the chimney - a question that causes a stupor for most stove owners. There are three main cleaning methods:

Cleaning by folk methods. How to clean the chimney from soot with folk remedies? It is quite simple, but it would be more correct to call this method not cleaning, but preventing chimney blockage. Some folk methods will be available to everyone, and some of them are risky, so they should be treated with caution;
Mechanical cleaning is a sure way to get rid of solid layers of soot, which you can do yourself. Requires special equipment, time and effort;
Chimney cleaning with chemicals. Similar to folk methods, chemical will be an excellent option for preventing soot accumulation. However, some preparations will be able to cope with small (a few millimeters) layers and save the owner of the furnace from the hassle associated with mechanical cleaning.

Cleaning the chimney with a brush and handle extensions

What happens if you don't clean your chimney?

Consequences of neglecting cleaning:

the likelihood of a fire. No matter how incredible it may sound, but in some cases it is the neglect of the timely cleaning of the chimney that causes a fire. In large quantities, soot on the walls of the chimney can ignite under the influence of high temperatures. Even if a fire can be avoided, smoking soot will cause the chimney to crack, and over time it will begin to collapse;
poor draft and smoke penetration into the room. An obvious consequence of a poorly cleaned chimney. The settling soot, which becomes more and more with each use of the fireplace or stove, gradually fills the chimney and the place intended for the passage of smoke narrows.

Ways to clean the chimney: folk methods

If it is obvious that it is time to clean the chimney, then you can try folk methods - it is inexpensive and accessible to everyone. So, about how to clean the chimney in simple ways:

rock salt. Unexpected, but popular nonetheless. Rock salt is generously sprinkled on fuel during combustion. Salt should be sprinkled regularly, with each firebox. During combustion, a chemical reaction will form, due to which the soot that has settled on the walls of the chimney will be destroyed. This method is not suitable for long-uncleaned chimneys, but it is a good and inexpensive way to prevent pollution;
naphthalene. Quite an effective option, but in a certain sense risky. Before you start cleaning the chimney with naphthalene, check that the pipe is intact, does not have obvious cracks on the outside and inside. If there are any defects, then they must be patched and the insulating materials allowed to dry. In the event that any defects are missed or the chimney cannot withstand high temperatures, then its complete destruction and / or fire may occur. In addition, there should not be any foreign objects in the chimney, and the soot layer should not exceed ten centimeters. After the precautions are taken, you can throw naphthalene into the melted hearth. Important: Do not use more than one tablet at a time! Naphthalene is an explosive substance and you need to be very careful when using it. When cleaning with naphthalene, soot will fly out of the pipe in the form of white particles, and the fuel will emit a characteristic unpleasant odor when burned. Perhaps cleaning the chimney with mothballs is the most unsafe option, but quite effective;
using aspen or alder as fuel. The difference between the types of fuel is small: alder burns a little hotter, the flame flares up brighter, the draft works better, but it will also be more difficult to cope with such a fire. It is also important to observe safety precautions here: not every pipe will withstand cleaning from soot by aspen or alder. Before applying the method, it is necessary to verify the endurance of the pipe at very high temperatures. The consequences of non-observance of precautionary measures are unpleasant: a destroyed pipe and a fire. It is worth noting that although soot burns well, and this method is considered one of the most effective, it is fraught with a fire at home and neighboring buildings. Therefore, before kindling, it is worth closing the valves;
the use of potatoes or potato peels is an original method known since ancient times. You will need about a bucket of potatoes (or potato peels). Potatoes or cleanings are poured into a well-burning flame: the steam emitted will clean the chimney well, while soot residues will fall into the hearth itself - cleaning may be required after the procedure. Like rock salt, potato peelings are more of a preventive remedy, but relatively safe. In addition, it is convenient not to throw away potato peelings after each cooking of potatoes, but to use them - a kind of waste-free production; and the chimney will be fine;
walnut shells. In large families, such shells can accumulate in bags, and now there is a way to use it. The shell burns beautifully, but it is important not to overdo it in this matter: it is better not to use the husk as the main fuel, but toss no more than one and a half liters at a time to the burning firewood;
birch logs. Less effective than aspen, and more suitable for preventing chimney clogging. To get the desired result, you will have to remove the bark and throw the logs only in the "naked" form;
aluminum cans. Nowhere to put the cans? No problem. Now they can also be used for preventive work.

The most popular and effective folk way is to clean the chimney with potato peels.

Self-manual cleaning of the chimney: tools and technology

Manual cleaning of the chimney is a complex but effective method. Devices that will allow you to clean the chimney are very diverse and can be found in every home. Among them:

scrapers;
chimney brush (sandwich type);
brushes and ruff for cleaning the chimney of large sizes;
weights on ropes - can be used for especially dense blockages to clear the chimney pipe that cannot be cleared with anything else. When using, care must be taken not to damage the integrity of the pipe.

It is worth noting that it is better to buy any tool for cleaning the chimney (brush, special firewood) in special stores. To make, for example, a brush or a chimney brush with your own hands is not easy. How to clean the chimney to remove soot and how to clean it will be discussed below.

Cleaning the chimney from soot, the main steps and how to properly clean the chimney in the bath:

Before direct work, you must make sure that the position of the stairs on the roof is stable and that insurance is available. Do not neglect eye and respiratory protection: a respirator will do, or at least it is worth arming yourself with gauze. The most suitable weather is a cool cloudless day. It is not safe to be on the roof in the rain, and in hot weather you can get heat or sunstroke;
The doors of the stove or fireplace close tightly, but the dampers, on the contrary, should be as open as possible. Otherwise, some of the soot will accumulate on the shutters, while the rest of its volume will stain the room, and getting rid of it is not easy. The hearth of the fireplace is curtained with a thick cloth, which is pre-soaked in water (it will be impossible to clean the cloth after use). This will maximize the protection of the space around the fireplace from soot. The head of the chimney is removed while the chimney is being cleaned;
Cleaning chimneys is where to start. Soot is removed from the chimneys from top to bottom: starting from the end of the pipe, gradually moving down. Soot is first scraped off with available chimney cleaning tools, then the space is cleared with brushes and brushes.
If the tool is stuck, you can use a chimney weight. It must be sharply, but carefully, lowered so as not to touch the walls of the chimney of the furnace;
Similarly to cleaning the pipe, they begin to clean the chimney through the oven doors to remove soot from the chimney;
Lastly, the hearth of the fireplace or chimney is cleaned. If possible, it is convenient to use a suitable vacuum cleaner - this will allow you to get rid of soot as quickly as possible;
Cleaning the chimney from soot is over, now you can check the draft. If the draft is still not very good during combustion, and the room is filled with smoke, then the fire must be immediately extinguished and an experienced specialist should be contacted - here one cannot do without his help.

Chimney cleaning with chemicals

A more convenient and practical way than a mechanical one is a chemical chimney cleaner. These can be chimney cleaning powders and liquids, which are usually used during fuel combustion. Often, if you use a chemical type soot cleaner, the flame takes on an unusual color - green or blue. This is normal. Such a change in the color of the flame is evidence of an ongoing chemical reaction.

Before proceeding with cleaning the chimney with chemicals, it is necessary to check the absence of foreign objects in the pipe and hearth.

How to clean the chimney with chemicals? The most popular and effective chemicals:

cleaning logs. Such firewood is simply thrown to the main fuel, with which it burns. When burning, the log releases substances that provoke a chemical reaction. Burnt soot is not thrown out into the street with smoke, but falls into the hearth. When using such a chemical composition, the fireplace or stove is heated for several hours to get the desired effect. Chemical firewood is used mainly to prevent blockages in chimneys; they will not clear a serious layer of soot exceeding two millimeters. For prevention, it is enough to burn one piece of such a log every six months. Ideal for brick stoves and fireplaces;
PHC - anti-scale chemical composition - perhaps the most popular chemical composition for cleaning pipes. It is a powder mass that can be burned both separately and together with firewood. It has strict indications for dosage, which are usually indicated on the package;
Kominichek powder is a Czech-made chemical pipe cleaner with a charming name. One package of the product is enough for a long time of use.

So, it is obvious that you can clean the chimney with folk remedies yourself. The main thing to remember is that the better you take care of the stove or fireplace, the less often it will require radical cleaning, which will take a lot of effort, time and money. Properly maintained stoves with regular clog prevention (twice a year) may not require cleaning for several years, and their owners do not have to think about how to clean the pipe and why it became clogged at the last moment.

Many people who live in private homes are interested in a way to clean the chimney using folk remedies. Due to the accumulation of soot, smoke does not come out well, and this can lead to poisoning of people. That is why pipes need to be cleaned of burning. There are many store-bought products that can help you deal with this problem. But you can also use proven folk remedies, and there are a lot of them. The safest method is conventional mechanical cleaning using special tools.

Many people who live in private homes are interested in a way to clean the chimney using folk remedies.

store funds

There are constantly new store-bought chemicals that are used to clean the chimney. One of the most common is a special log. Sazhinet and Chimney Sweep are well suited. Cleaning the chimney with their help will be very simple and fast. Certain chemical compounds are added to the combustible mass, and then briquettes are formed. In funds of this type, the compositions do not differ much. It is recommended to use a log as a preventive measure, then you will have to use brushes much less often.

The next group of agents are special chemicals with anti-scale properties. Thanks to them, cleansing will be not only fast, but also effective. These products are available in the form of powders. They are packaged in buckets, jars and bags. Measuring spoons are included. They need to be rationed strictly according to the amount of firewood. It is forbidden to increase the dosage.

There are constantly new store-bought chemicals that are used to clean the chimney

Folk remedies

You can always use folk remedies that have been tested for centuries.

You can clean the pipe in the bath with ordinary rock salt. It should be sprinkled with fuel. A small amount is enough. This method is the simplest and most popular. In addition, it is available to everyone. But it is suitable only if there is little carbon deposits, or as a preventive treatment to clean the heating systems. Salt prevents the formation of soot in the chimney.

To get rid of soot, you must perform the following algorithm of actions:

Take ordinary potato peelings and dry them thoroughly beforehand. It should be about 5 kg (this is the simplest remedy).
Warm up the heater thoroughly.
Pour cleaning into the firebox. During their combustion, starch is released, which has a destructive effect on soot and soot.
Wait a few days after cleaning the oven. During this time, plaque from the walls will disappear.
It is recommended to use a special ruff, which has a curved handle, to clean the pipe walls.

Oddly enough, aluminum cans also help. This is a non-standard method, but its effectiveness has already been proven by time. They just need to be burned. The procedure is carried out 1 time for 10 fireboxes. This technique is only suitable for those devices that operate on solid-type fuel.

You can clean the pipe in the bath with ordinary rock salt

To clean the pipes, you must first remove the glass, which is located in the lower zone of the chimney, then put the water pressure device as high as possible. To do this, you can use a tight type hose or wire connections. Strong water pressure is required to remove soot. Burning plaque will simply wash off the walls.

The efficiency of a wood-burning stove or fireplace has a certain dependence on the cleanliness, serviceability and general condition of the chimney. Every owner must know how to clean the chimney, even if he prefers to use the services of third-party specialists and organizations.

According to experts, if the chimney is properly arranged and equipped, it will be able to keep clean for a long time with careful use of the device for heating.

For example, if you use dry wood that does not contain a large amount of resins for the fireplace, clean the ash from the blower, do not burn household waste in the fireplace, then the care will consist only in cleaning the cleaning holes located in the room from soot.

However, even with this option, the general condition of the chimney should be checked every 6 months to ensure that it remains good. After all, pipes and chimneys are cleaned not only from soot, but also from debris, cobwebs and other blockages that accidentally get there. As for the question of when and how to clean the chimney pipe, it must be decided upon the fact of its partial clogging with soot, the remains of firewood and other types of fuel, and all kinds of blockages.

Why clean your chimney?

To improve traction

Settling on the walls of the chimney, soot narrows the existing gap over time and interferes with the free passage of smoke. In addition, a dense coating of soot does not allow the walls of the chimney to fully warm up, which is fraught with a decrease in traction, a decrease in the efficiency of the fireplace, and the penetration of smoke into the room.

For safety when using the fireplace

There is a risk of soot burning in the chimney due to high temperatures. Such a development of events is fraught with the onset of cracking of the walls of the chimney, which will gradually lead to its complete destruction. But that's not all. Sparks that will fly out of the chimney can become a source of fire, which is extremely serious. Poor traction performance can also have bad consequences. For example, they can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Ways to clean the chimney

Folk ways

Many owners are looking for ways to clean the chimney with folk remedies at home.

Cleaning the chimney pipe is quite unsafe (to carry out such cleaning you need to climb onto the roof) and very dirty (cleaning the pipe from soot will definitely leave marks on both clothes and body).

The most popular way to resolve the issue is to sprinkle firewood during burning with rock salt. This action is preventive and is used to reduce soot deposits.

To remove existing plaque on the walls of chimneys, you can use potato peels. First you need to heat the fireplace well, then pour potato skins into the fire in large quantities. You can also use potatoes, cut into small pieces (you will need half a bucket-bucket of potatoes). The steam that is released as a result of this action will decompose the soot flying into the pipe. Large accumulations of soot will then fall into the furnace, which must be cleaned after the cleaning process is completed.

It should be noted that such a tool as potato peels is not a full-fledged chimney cleaner, but is one of the tools that help soften soot, contributing to its lagging behind the pipe walls. After the above procedure, it will be necessary to mechanically clean the pipe.

If the farm has aspen firewood, then the question of how to clean the chimney from soot with folk remedies will disappear by itself. It is necessary to take a few armfuls of such firewood and simply burn them. It is worth noting that this method is not absolutely safe. Cleaning the chimney from soot occurs due to a significant increase in temperature in the chimney pipe. Under such conditions, the soot ignites, as a result of which white flakes fly out of the chimney, which cover the roof and the surrounding area near the house. Before you clean the chimney in this way, you should make sure that it will withstand such a temperature load and will not collapse. If there is a large amount of soot in the stove pipe, then it is better to clean it in a way that is safer.

Pipe cleaning mechanically

Meeting a chimney sweep on the streets of the city is a rarity, but this does not mean that the number of representatives of this profession has significantly decreased.

The profession of a chimney sweep in our time is quite in demand. Not every owner has the tool necessary for cleaning the pipe, and even more so, not everyone agrees to do this difficult and unpleasant work on their own. Yes, and only a small percentage of owners of fireplaces, stoves, and boilers have theoretical knowledge on how to clean a chimney pipe.

The chimney sweep is a professional in his field. He will not only perform such work in an excellent way, but will additionally inspect the chimney, identifying possible damage and cracks in it. In addition, only a specialist will be able to adequately assess the level of functioning of the heating device and check the draft.

However, many owners of heating appliances prefer to take care of them on their own. It is extremely important to know how the pipe is cleaned from soot and various contaminants. After all, the work of the fireplace should not be accompanied by constant anxiety and inconvenience.

What to consider when cleaning a chimney

It is important to close all cleaning holes in the room before climbing onto the roof. This is necessary so that soot does not get inside the premises (houses, baths, etc.). The fireplace / stove door, the boiler outlet should also be closed or curtained with a damp cloth.

The chimney pipe should be cleaned only in dry weather with no wind at all. This condition must be observed to ensure your own safety. It is mandatory to use insurance when working on the roof.

If the fireplace or stove has not been used for a long time, then you need to make sure that there are no bird nests. If they are present, then they must be removed through the top of the pipe, and if this is not possible, then pushed down with a stick.

Major cleaning of the chimney is carried out only if the soot layer on its walls is more than 2 mm. If the layer is thinner, then it is recommended to use other cleaning methods described below.

Special attention should be paid to those devices and tools that will be needed to clean the pipe.

The main tool of a chimney sweep is a metal brush, with its diameter exceeding the diameter of the chimney by approximately 20%. It is also possible to use a brush with hard metal bristles designed for cleaning the chimney. It is advisable to use such a brush when working with structures that have a rectangular or square section.

If during operation the ruff is attached to the cable and falls down on it, then the brush is attached to strong and flexible holders, which are connected to each other as the brush is lowered down.

As an additional tool for cleaning pipes, a scraper and a heavy ball-shaped core are used.

If a dense layer of soot is formed in the chimney, it is initially necessary to clean it off with a scraper, and only after that use a special ruff or brush.

It is likely that during the cleaning process, a blockage will be found in the chimney, making it difficult for the tool to pass further. The role of such an obstacle can be an accumulation of debris or a collapsed piece of brickwork. Such a blockage is removed by punching with a heavy shot of steel attached to the cable with a carabiner. The core must be carefully thrown in the center of the chimney hole so as not to touch the walls with it.

An important clarification: previously, a core with a diameter of 85 mm was used as standard, but today the circumstances have changed. Due to the fact that chimneys can have a fairly large cross-sectional area, it is recommended to use a core with a diameter that will cover more than 2/3 of the chimney cross-section.

Also, when cleaning the chimney, the core can be used not only as a chimney blockage remover, but also as a load for a ruff or brush. The core, ruff and cable can be connected using durable carabiners that have the ability to change the design by removing an unnecessary section from it.

It is worth remembering that the use of sports weights and similar items as the core is strongly discouraged. The fact is that they have a displaced center of gravity. They can get stuck in the chimney, turning over while flying. And to remove such items from the chimney channel is an additional cost of time and effort.
Vlad Zhitin, expert

Open-type fireplaces with straight chimneys should be cleaned from below - from the side of the firebox. For this purpose, metal brushes on an extendable (composite) handle are used.

After cleaning the chimney, carefully open all the cleaning holes in the house and remove the dirt accumulated in them with a dustpan and brush. You can also do this with a special spoon for cleaning soot. It is advisable to remove soot residues with a vacuum cleaner.

The final and final touch is the cleaning of the firebox itself.

Chimney cleaning with chemicals

Periodic preventive maintenance is encouraged to prevent soot from settling on the chimney pipe. Such prevention is carried out with the help of chemicals added to the firebox at the time when firewood is burning there. The form of release of such funds is very different: briquettes, liquid, powder. The principle of their operation is quite simple. During combustion, gas is released from these substances (it is absolutely harmless to humans), which destroys the structure of blockages and deposits on the walls of the chimney and contributes to their shedding down already in crushed form.

Below is a brief description of the most common chimney cleaning chemicals.

Anti-scale chemical composition (PCC). Available in powder form. It is necessary to burn the product along with the packaging, adding it to the firewood during their combustion. It can also be burned separately from firewood. PHC has a clearly defined usage rate - 150-200 g per each ton of fuel.

"Comic". This is a chemical agent for cleaning chimney (stove, fireplace) pipes, developed by a Czech manufacturer. The form of sale is packages, each of which contains 5 bags weighing 14 g. One such package is enough for prophylaxis for three months. The tool demonstrates the greatest efficiency when cleaning small layers of soot (the layer thickness should be no more than 2 mm). The removal of soot and soot occurs due to the conversion of soot into an instantly combustible oxide (catalytic reaction and its consequences).

The method of application is quite simple. "Kominichek" (one bag) must be thrown on burning coals or firewood and the door closed. High temperature promotes the release of a chemical substance from the granules that dissolves soot in the furnace and chimney.

Log "Chimney sweep". The tool is a small briquette or bar, which, when burned, releases substances that dry out deposits on the walls of the chimney pipe. As a result of this impact, the deposits crumble into the furnace.

Chimney Cleaner Chimney Sweep is the most popular chemical chimney cleaner. Its main purpose is the regular cleaning of smoke channels for the purpose of prevention. The use of this product helps to reduce the risk of creosote deposits, reduces the risk of soot fire. Thanks to these effects, the service life of the chimney is significantly increased.

Log "Chimney sweep" can be used in any type of built-in heaters, stoves, boilers that operate on liquid and solid fuels. It is also possible to use it in fireplace inserts and stoves operating on coal and wood.

When using the fireplace up to two days a week for prevention, you will need to burn only one log every 6 months. With daily use, the number of logs will have to be doubled. When using a wood-burning stove for a long period of time, it is recommended to burn one Chimney Sweep log in it every two months.

In fireplaces and stoves that have serious dimensions, it is necessary to burn two logs in turn (before putting a new log, you need to wait until the previous one is completely burned).

This tool demonstrates the greatest efficiency in the fight against soot deposits in brick chimneys.

Before you start using the tool, you should make sure that the chimney is not clogged with various debris and third-party objects. It is best to burn the Chimney Sweep log in this way: take it out of the package (leave the wrapper) and put it on the coals left from the previous firebox. You can set fire to a log, or a wrapper. The essence of that will not change.

Active additives, which are components of the log, continue to act for one to two weeks after the log is burned. All this time, soot will continue to fall into the firebox without remaining on the walls of the chimney. Two weeks after using the log, it is necessary to clean the elements of the fireplace and separately the chimney.

When using any chemical product intended for cleaning the chimney, it is necessary to follow the instructions that come with the product exactly.

Cleaning quality control

Chemical methods for cleaning chimneys often do not inspire confidence in people. There is an understanding that the quality of such cleaning is noticeably inferior to the quality that a professional chimney sweep can provide. In addition, upon completion of his work, the specialist always conducts a quality control of his work and a general analysis of the state of the chimney. For this, special tools are used, for example, mirrors.

Serious companies working in this area (various service centers, etc.) use special video cameras with a backlight function to control quality. With their help, you can fully assess the quality of work and eliminate shortcomings, if any.

There are certain rules for using a stove or fireplace that help extend the period of their full operation.

Do not use firewood obtained from coniferous trees as fuel. The reason for this is the high content of resin in them, the deposits of which remain on the walls of the chimney.
Do not heat the stove or fireplace with damp wood or firewood from freshly felled trees. High humidity promotes increased deposits of soot and water vapor.
Do not burn garbage. This is especially true for products made of plastic and other synthetic materials. As fuel, objects intended for that purpose should be used.
Among all types of firewood, dry deciduous firewood is the best option for a firebox. After the firebox, it is desirable to additionally burn a small amount of aspen firewood. They help burn soot out of the chimney.

Now you know the basic options for cleaning chimney pipes. It should be remembered that additional inspection is necessary during such work. And don't forget about prevention.

How do you clean your chimney? In the ways described above or do you use something special? Leave your answers in the comments!