Causes of contamination of chimneys and methods of making brushes for cleaning them. What type of chimney brush is used, and how to make one yourself? Do-it-yourself steel brush for cleaning the chimney

Stove soot is removed from chimneys as follows:

• burning off carbon-rich deposits using rather complex technology and expensive tools;
• dissolving the settled crust using chemicals introduced into the furnace during fuel combustion;
• scraping from the inner surface and removing from the outlet channel through pre-arranged hatches for cleaning.

Moreover, the first method of combating is extremely dangerous and is practiced only in the case of cleaning chimneys of industrial heat-generating units. The second method involves the destruction of the body of the outlet pipe, which has survived the effects of chemically active drugs.

Third technology - mechanical cleaning– guarantees high level safety, while ensuring the safety of the chimney itself. Therefore, most household stove gas exhaust ducts are cleaned only with your own hands. mechanically.

Why do you need a brush and how is it used?

This tool works like a scraper or brush, destroying the soot crust and “sweeping” combustion products to the cleaning hatch, for subsequent removal of collected deposits. That is, mechanical cleaning of the canal is carried out precisely with its help.

The chimney sweep inserts the brush into the drainage channel from the roof side and, making reciprocating movements, knocks soot off the inner walls.

Having finished processing the vertical channel, the chimney sweep proceeds to cleaning the horizontal sections, inserting the brush into special hatches and making reciprocating movements in the horizontal plane.

The mass accumulated at the hatch is removed from the channel using a scraper and scoop.

How does a chimney sweep's main tool work?

Typical stove brush consists of such structural elements How:

• flexible cable - a spring with a minimum gap between turns;
• a spherical or cylindrical brush – a brush – with “working elements” protruding 360°;
• suspension - a removable weight at the end of the cable located behind the brush.

When working in a horizontal plane, the suspension is dismantled - in this case we need the flexibility of the spring cable. Cleaning a vertical channel with your own hands involves working with a rigid structure. Therefore, in in this case a suspension is fixed at the end of the cable, which neutralizes the flexibility of the spring due to the influence of gravity.

In addition, at professional tool the brush is removed by twisting it from the cable, because the diameters of the chimneys can be different.

How to make a brush for cleaning with your own hands?

To do this we will need the following tools and consumables:

• The plumbing cable is the basis for the future brush. However, if only a vertical channel is intended to be processed, then the spring cable can be replaced with a wire analogue or a fine-mesh chain.
• Skein soft wire- They will make a cleaning attachment out of it. If there is no wire, then you can use tire cord after burning out the rubber. Another option for “construction” material for the nozzle is a plastic bottle.
• Any small-sized load - a heavy nut, a cast lead blank. A coffee can filled with sand or shot.
• Steel stud 8-10 millimeters, two nuts, two carabiner fasteners, copper tube.
• Two tiles measuring 5x5 centimeters made of plywood or metal with a thickness of at least 2 mm

The process of making a pipe cleaner with your own hands is as follows:

1. At the point of intersection of the diagonals of the 5-centimeter tiles, we drill a through hole with a diameter similar to that of a hairpin.
2. We cut the cord or wire into measured pieces, the length of which is equal to 2-2.5 times the diameter of the chimney.
3. We take the pin, fix it in a vice and bend the free end into a loop or weld washers with a large internal diameter to it.
4. Next, turn the pin over in the vice with the threaded end up, screw on the first nut on this side and put on the first tile.
5. We bend measured pieces of cord or wire in half, around the pin, forming a ruff. In this case, the wire bristles should be located evenly around the entire circumference for maximum cleaning area.
6. We put the second tile on the stud and screw on the second nut, fixing the wire sticking out in different directions.
7. Using welding, we attach a second washer to the free end of the pin or make a loop.
8. We pass the carabiner fasteners through the loops or vertically fixed washers, obtaining a removable attachment for the brush for cleaning.
9. We weld or solder the mounting ring to the load. If a nut is chosen as a suspension, then this operation can be abandoned.
10. We attach the weight to one of the carabiners of the assembled attachment.
11. We put it on the free end of the spring or weeding cable copper tube 4-5 centimeters long. The diameter of the tube is equal to 2-2.5 times the diameter of the cable.
12. We form a loop at the end of the cable, passing the free section into the tube.
13. We rivet the copper tube, fixing a loop for hanging the nozzle with a weight.
14. We fix the cleaning head on the loop using a free carabiner.

That's all. You have made a brush with your own hands for cleaning the vertical channel of a stove or fireplace pipe, and it is ready for use.

But to process horizontal or inclined channels you will need a completely different attachment, which you can also make with your own hands:

• Take a 1.5-2 liter plastic bottle and cut off the bottom of this container.
• Spread the body of the bottle into strips 3-4 millimeters wide, cutting them lengthwise vertical axis from the distant bottom to the neck of the container.
• Punch a hole in the cover, the diameter of which coincides with the diameter of the cable.

After this, you will have to string a perforated lid onto the cable and, having first removed the “vertical” nozzle from the loop, screw the bottle turned into a scraper onto it. Moreover, to firmly fix the nozzle on the brush, it is necessary to pierce the neck and plug with a self-tapping screw, passing it through the loop on the cable.

When making parts with your own hands, you should consider:

• The diameter of the brush is 0.8-1.2 times the diameter of the chimney.
• The diameter of the load is 0.3-0.35 of the diameter of the channel being cleaned.
• Length of spring or wire rope = length of channel being cleaned + 10-15 percent.

A chimney brush is the main tool for stove hygiene. Its design is similar to a bottle brush - between two twisted thick wires that form a central rod, bristles of thin wire. The bristles create several round layers (2-3). The length of the bristles determines the diameter of the pipe that this tool will clean effectively. The central rod has an eye at one end and a thread at the other. The eyelet and thread allow you to attach extensions to the brush, which allow you to pull this tool inside the pipe to scrape soot from the walls.

Plastic brush

Some suggest making ruffs with your own hands from plastic bottles. Unfortunately, such a device containing plastic will in most cases be ineffective, since soot deposits on the walls of chimneys can be harder than the plastic tool itself. Soot deposits are especially strong after repeated heating firewood from pine and other coniferous species.

Not only the hardness of the cleaning element of the brush is required, but also the strength of the fastening of this element. The significant forces generated when dragging the brush inside the chimney will quickly destroy the plastic elements of its structure.

The same applies to devices with plastic bristles. Such brushes are cheaper than all-metal ones, but in terms of cleaning quality and service life they are noticeably inferior to all-metal ones. Brushes with plastic bristles are only suitable for cleaning chimneys after using products chemical cleaning from soot. Since under the influence of such agents soot becomes brittle and is much easier to remove from the walls, a brush with plastic bristles may be quite sufficient.

If you have repeatedly used chemicals, and you are sure that the strength of soot deposits is low, you can make a brush with your own hands and clean the chimney with it.

Made from plastic

To make a ruff with your own hands you will need:

• thin steel cable, longer than the chimney, 2-3 mm thick;
• two plastic bottles of 1-2 liters, depending on the diameter of the chimney that needs to be cleaned;
• wire with a diameter of 1-2 mm;
• used or damaged welding electrode with a diameter of 3-5 mm or a piece of straightened wire of the same diameter and length;
• two covers from plastic bottle;
• a load weighing 2-5 kg, such that it can easily pass suspended into the pipe that needs to be cleaned;
• cut the wall of each bottle from the bottom to the neck in increments of 1.5-2 cm, like a Chinese lantern;
• make a hole in the center of each bottle cap so that an electrode or the same piece of wire can be inserted into it;
• Screw the caps onto the bottles tightly;
• insert one bottle into another with the caps in one direction;
• attach an electrode or a piece of wire at one end to the load so that, by grasping the electrode, you can lift the load;
• make a hole in the center of the bottoms of both bottles with a piece of wire or a heated electrode;
• pass an electrode or similar piece of wire attached to the load through the holes in the bottoms and caps of the bottles;
• bring the caps and bottoms of the bottles as close as possible and fix their position by bending the free end of a piece of wire or electrode into a ring;
• straighten the cut walls of the bottles, pulling them out;
• attach the cable to the ring on the electrode or the same piece of wire using a clamp;
• We attach any handle that is convenient to hold the cable to the free end of the cable.

Living in a private home means having necessary tools, which must be at hand at any time to carry out repair work. Especially when it comes to such an issue as the removal of waste gases from stove or gas heating.

Causes of clogged chimneys

The main cause of clogging is the deposition of soot and soot on internal walls pipes. Soot is formed from combustion products - waste flue gases. As a result, the traction becomes weaker, exhaust ventilation starts to work poorly, combustion products are not removed outside, but remain indoors, which can lead to poisoning of the body.

Untimely maintenance of the chimney pipe can lead not only to its complete blockage, but also to failure home system smoke removal

To avoid this, it is recommended to clean the chimney at least once every six months - and this applies not only stove heating, but also country houses with a fireplace inside. You can entrust the cleaning to professionals, or you can try to remove the soot on your own. To do this, you will need a very ordinary brush for cleaning chimneys, which you can make yourself.

How is the brush used?

Its function is to scrape off soot build-up from the walls of the chimney pipe. The principle of operation of any brush is quite simple: the scraper is inserted into the chimney opening, then deposits are scraped off with its help - combustion products are swept down to the hatch to collect contaminants.

When cleaning work on the roof it is necessary to use insurance

Simplest stove brush is a structure made of a cable (or rod), brushes and a suspension (or weight). A suspension is required only in cases where vertical pipe cleaning is intended - to adjust the gravity of the cleaning element. For work in a horizontal position, the sinker suspension may not be used.

A long rod with bristles at the end is simplest design brush

Technology for using a brush in in general terms is as follows:

As weights, you can use ordinary weights that are compact in size and have sufficient weight for cleaning.

Materials for the brush

Cleaning brushes can be made of steel or plastic, and you can make both with your own hands.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of metal and plastic brushes

Neither material can be used simultaneously for vertical and horizontal method cleaning deposits. Therefore, experts recommend using both metal and plastic brushes for both methods, respectively.

Making your own brush for cleaning the chimney

Two options are being considered: metal (metal rod) and plastic, each of which has its own nuances.

Made of plastic

The set of necessary tools and materials includes:

• steel cable (the length of which must be greater than the length of the chimney);
• a pair of plastic bottles with caps with a volume of 1 to 2 liters;
• steel wire with a cross section of 1–2 mm;
• load - it is recommended to select a load of such mass that it would easily pass into the chimney opening when suspended from a cable.

Manufacturing technology

1. Remove the bottom of plastic bottles.
2. Cut the walls of the bottles vertically up to the neck from the bottom into strips like Chinese lanterns. The width of one strip is 3–5 mm.
3. Punch a hole in the covers, the size is the same as the diameter of the cable.
4. String the resulting caps with holes onto a cable, and screw the bottles cut into slices onto them. The cut bottles are inserted into one another with the caps in one direction and open in the manner of a hedgehog. To securely attach the homemade brush, the lid is fixed to the bottom with a self-tapping screw.
5. The free end of the cable can be attached to a large handle - one that will be convenient to operate in the chimney.

Step-by-step images will help you make your own light brush for cleaning the chimney; the brush is attached not to the lids, but with a wire

The tool is ready, now you can begin the cleaning procedure.

Made of metal

Some owners of private houses use disc brushes for grinders as cleaning tools. This method is much simpler - you don’t need to make the brush itself, you just need to secure the load well to the cable.

However, this option is not suitable for those who use an angle grinder constantly. In this case, you can try to make a metal brush yourself.

For it you will need:

• a coil of steel wire;
• a large bolt for the rod and a washer for fixing the brush;
• pliers.

Manufacturing technology

Making a metal brush is even simpler than a plastic one, and consists of the following:

1. First, a coil of wire is taken and unwound (or uncoiled) into individual threads.

   The rolled wire is cut into equal pieces

2. Steel threads are cut into equal lengths. The length of one segment should be such that the future brush fits into the chimney hole.

   For good cleaning, it is required that the brush occupies at least 80% of the internal volume of the chimney

3. The wire is wound onto the bolt and secured with washers. The wire sections are wound along almost the entire length of the bolt.

   The open end of the bolt is designed to attach a cable of the required length to it

During manufacturing, it is advisable to take into account the following points:

1. It will be better if several brushes are used to clean the chimney. So, the average diameter should be 80–120% of the internal diameter of the chimney pipe. In the first case, it will be convenient to use a brush to break through thick layers of growths and deposits, in the second - to scrape off small dirt.
2. The size of the load can be within 0.3 - 0.35 of the chimney diameter. This value is average; loads with this diameter are well suited for both punching and cleaning work.
3. The length of the cable should be 10–15% greater than the length of the chimney. This is necessary so that if solid deposits break through the walls of the pipe, the cable passes to the hatch, collecting all contaminants along its path.

Video: how to quickly make a brush for cleaning a chimney with your own hands

A chimney brush is a tool needed in every home. With its help, the condition of the walls of the chimney pipe is significantly improved, and this automatically increases the draft for removing exhaust gases. Self-made brushes are in no way inferior to store-bought counterparts - in manufacturing technology it is important to follow the recommendations in order to obtain high-quality material that will last for many years.

Periodic cleaning of the chimney is important point in service heating equipment. It is needed even when using high-quality, expensive firewood and modern stove installations. Small particles of combustion products gradually accumulate on the walls of the smokers and impair the operation of the system. Even a person who does not have special skills and experience in such a matter can clean the chimney.

The main tool to help will be a cleaning brush, which you can make yourself. This tool helps keep the smoke exhaust system clean and, accordingly, maintain draft for quick removal gases, and provide effective work furnace device.

Application solid fuel for stove heating has a lot of advantages, such as efficiency, autonomy, heat transfer.

However, if not correct operation, the efficiency of the heating system may deteriorate significantly. It is recommended to clean chimneys at least once every six months. But first you need to identify the main causes of clogging and try to reduce them to a minimum.

Interesting! When wood burns, gas and smoke are produced. The smoke released may be white or black. The first is a consequence of water vapor evaporating from wood or coal, and black comes from coal and soot. It is the second type of smoke that leads to the settling of the smallest soot particles and contamination of the chimney.

In addition to this natural process, the following can lead to pipe clogging:

• Burning in a furnace of various waste containing a large number of hydrocarbons (plastic, polyethylene, polystyrene foam, rigid paper, cardboard).
• Use of wet and resin-containing firewood or briquettes.
• Incorrect placement of firewood in the firebox.
• Rare cleaning of pipes from ash.
• Malfunction of the heating boiler.

The accumulation of soot and ash inside the outlet pipe leads to the following consequences:

• The passage for smoke narrows, which can cause reverse thrust, When carbon monoxide will go to the apartment.
• Large soot particles fly out of the chimney, creating a fire hazard.

Stove heating not only does not lose ground, but is also experiencing its rebirth. For this reason, issues of proper operation and maintenance of solid fuel units are no less pressing than they were several centuries ago. Owners of private households do not have any difficulties with how to light a stove and what kind of firewood is best to use. Problems begin when the draft disappears and smoke begins to flow into the room. And the reason for this is that it is clogged with soot and soot. smoke channel. It is difficult to find a chimney sweep today, so you will have to carry out the maintenance of the chimney yourself. All you need for this is a chimney brush, which you can make yourself.

What causes clogged chimney pipes?

The advantages of stove heating, such as efficiency, autonomy and the ability to create a special, homely atmosphere, cannot be surpassed by any modern heating device. Thanks to this, stoves and fireplaces are still widely used both in rural areas, and in cities. However, the use of solid fuel has many disadvantages, one of which is the need to regularly clean the smoke channels. But the frequency of their maintenance can be significantly reduced if you know where so much soot and soot comes from.

Deposits in the chimney can completely block the smoke exit channel

So, the main factors that contribute to chimney clogging are:

• burning of waste, which consists of high-carbon materials (all types of plastic, polyethylene, polystyrene foam, cardboard, etc.);
• use of wet firewood;
• violation of operating hours heating device;
• heating with wood that contains a large amount of resin (pine, spruce, fir, etc.);
• ash is rarely removed from the working chambers of the furnace;
• violation of the fuel supply mode;
• ingress of third-party debris.

Besides, rapid pollution chimney damage can be caused by increased roughness of the walls of the flues and their incorrect configuration. For this reason, it is better to entrust the construction of the furnace to an experienced master.

Dangers of soot accumulation

It is impossible not to notice problems with the chimney. Most often they will be indicated by the following signs:

• craving decreases;
• firewood does not light well when kindled;
• smoke is coming into the room;
• reduction in the thermal efficiency of the furnace.

All these factors indicate that the gas duct is so clogged that only a narrow hole remains for the combustion products to escape. Using a heating device in such conditions is prohibited, as this often leads to tragic consequences:

Chimney cleaning equipment

Deposits can be removed from the chimney using chemical and mechanical methods. The first involves burning substances in a furnace, the combustion products of which soften soot deposits and promote their combustion and removal naturally. The second is to remove soot from the walls of the chimney using various scrapers, brushes, etc.

Chemicals to clean the chimney, you can do without mechanical devices but have enough high cost

Practice shows that mechanical cleaning is best done with a hard brush, like the one used for washing dishes with a narrow neck. A wide variety of materials are suitable for the manufacture of such a tool:

• steel rope;
• plastic bottles;
• pieces of steel wire;
• thick fishing line or plastic rods;
• springs;
• thick rubber;
• metal chain or strong rope;
• various weights and sinkers.

The choice of a particular material for making a brush for cleaning chimneys depends on how persistent soot deposits will have to be removed. For regularly maintained chimneys made of steel or asbestos cement pipes a tool with soft bristles is suitable, whereas brick flues with many years of soot deposits can only be cleaned with a metal wire brush. It is best to have in your arsenal several devices of varying degrees of rigidity or make one combined tool.

How to make a stove maker's tool

Before you start making a device for removing soot deposits, you need to consider its design and dimensions. In this case, it is necessary to take into account:

• length of the chimney;
• flue diameter;
• quantity and persistence of deposits.

Based on the input data, conclusions are drawn about the length of the cable, the mass of the load, the size of the brush and its rigidity.

Design of a device for removing soot mechanically

The length of the rope or cable used to hold the brush is taken with a margin of 2–2.5 meters. This will allow you to hold the device more firmly in your hands, and, if necessary, make a loop around the chimney so as not to drop the tool into the chimney. Any weight can be used as a weight - from a specially cast lead blank to some heavy nut or a worn-out automobile part.

Making a plastic brush

A budget brush for removing soot from a chimney can easily be made from available materials. To make a plastic brush you will need:

• broom made of polypropylene rods;
• plumbing cable the required length;
• metal pin 8 mm in diameter with eye;
• nut with a diameter of 8 mm with an eye;
• washer with a diameter of at least 50 mm with a hole of 8 mm;
• 2 carbines;
• load 0.5–2 kg.

If you can't find a stud and lug nut, don't despair - a regular bolt will do. Loops for attaching the cable and load can be made of steel wire.

Materials needed to make a plastic chimney brush

Diameter of brush from plastic elements should be slightly larger than the cross-section of the smoke channel. This will provide increased pressure on the individual rods on the walls of the chimney and increase the cleaning speed.

The work is performed in the following order:

1. The stem of a synthetic broom is cut off or unscrewed - it will not be needed in the future. To make it more convenient to work, the remaining part is clamped in a vice.
2. The bristles of the round broom are bent to the sides. To make the material more pliable, the brush is dipped in boiling water or heated construction hairdryer.

   
   The rods of the plastic broom must be straightened

3. If there is no hole inside the holder, then drilling with a diameter of 8 mm should be made.
4. On the side where the handle is attached, a steel pin with an eye is inserted into the hole.

   
   The hairpin allows you to fix the bristles in in the right position

5. From the side of the rods, install a washer on the stud and press it with an eyelet nut.

   
   The eyelet nut allows you not only to fix the rods of the brush, but also to attach a load and a cable to it

6. The rods are cut based on the diameter of the chimney.

   
   Excessively long rods should be trimmed

7. A loop is made on one side of the cable, securing the metal edge with a knitting wire.
8. Using carabiners, a cable is attached to one eye and a load to the other.

   
   You can make a chimney brush yourself

In addition to a synthetic broom, good materials for making a soft brush are plastic containers from sparkling water. To make a “lush” brush, you will need 5–6 such vessels and sharp knife. It is necessary to cut off the bottom of all bottles and dissolve the walls into strips ranging from 3 to 10 mm wide. After this, the neck of all containers, except one, is cut off, leaving a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the neck. Assembly into a single structure is carried out by pushing the parts onto the remaining threaded part and securing them with a lid. After this, drilling is done for the pin and the brush is attached to the cable and weight in the manner described above.

To make the bristles from a plastic bottle more rigid, they are heated with a torch or a hair dryer. The same method can be used to give the brush the desired shape.

How to make a metal brush

To make a cleaning tool from metal, you can use pieces of steel wire (cable) or use a wire brush for an angle grinder. In the latter case, the angle grinder device is simply mounted on a cable with a load and secured with wire. If using a working tool for purposes other than its intended purpose is unacceptable to you, then you can make a metal brush with your own hands. For this you will need:

The technology for making a metal brush is not complicated:

The simplicity of this method makes it extremely popular among home craftsmen. And at the same time, there is another very interesting tool, which simultaneously combines a brush for removing soot and a load. In addition to the tools and materials described above, for its manufacture you will need:

• steel pipe with a diameter of more than 50 mm;
• electric drill;
• high carbon steel core;
• a metal drill whose diameter corresponds to the cross-section of the wire or cable;
• sand-cement mortar.

To make a brush, in exactly the same way as in the previous case, prepare required amount flexible elements. Then proceed like this:

1. In the walls steel pipe make through holes. The density and uniformity of the bristles depends on the accuracy of this work and the step between drillings, so this stage should be treated as responsibly as possible.
2. Wire elements are threaded into the holes, placing their edges symmetrically with respect to the pipe.
3. A steel bar is installed in the center, to which the holding cable will later be attached.
4. Inner surface pipes are filling mortar, which will ensure the fixation of flexible elements and make the device quite heavy.

The tool can only be used after cement-sand mixture will grab and acquire the necessary strength.

Video: how to make a brush to remove soot from a chimney

What you need to know before lowering the tool down the chimney

Chimney should not be cleaned at the end heating season, and at the very beginning. This will allow you to have complete confidence that there is no bird's nest, cobwebs, leaves or other debris in the chimney. The best time for this is one of the warm and windless days in early autumn.

When cleaning a chimney, you should take care of the appropriate equipment and insurance.

Before you change into a chimney sweep suit and begin chimney maintenance, you must close all stove dampers and doors. Soot is tiny particles that can seep into any cracks and pollute the room and objects that are in it. If you have to service a fireplace pipe with an open firebox, then it is sealed using polyethylene film and tape.

Cleaning process chimney is not difficult. The brush is lowered repeatedly into the smoke channel, knocking deposits off the walls. To enhance the effect, alternate reciprocating movements with twisting the cable in different sides. The soot falls down. You can remove it via inspection hatch, using a dustpan, poker and broom.

There are situations when a device encounters an insurmountable obstacle halfway through its journey. It can be any three-dimensional object - some kind of rag, bird's Nest or a piece of brick that has fallen out of the masonry. In this case, the brush is unfastened and the resulting jam is knocked out with just a weight, in the expectation that the cork will fall into the stove. After this, the brush is returned to its place and cleaning activities are resumed.

Regular soot removal will be required even where the latest, high-tech solid fuel equipment is used. The brush, which you can make with your own hands, will cope with even the most stubborn deposits with dignity. It’s just important not to put off the work of cleaning the chimney indefinitely - not only does it depend on thermal efficiency and the efficiency of the stove, but also the safety of your family.