What's the best way to clean a chimney in a fire place?

Question

Our fire place was working fine an now it is clogging up.

So im wondering if there is anything on the market that works or if putting like kerosene or petrol in there would give it a clean out?
Thanks

Yeah i know clogged ones a a fire hazard, It may be a birds nest because yesterday it was fine an now its really smokey an just dosent want to run properly?

Answer 1

employ a chimney sweep...t

Answer 2

I agree, hire a professional. But.....if for some reason you think you can do this yourself. Hardware type stores often have the large brushes and extender poles you need. Make sure you tape plastic all the way around your fireplace opening in the house. Do a real good job on that or you are going to have soot all over the house. Slowly work your way down the chimney brushing each and every corner. If you do run into a birds nest try not to kill the babies. maybe gently push the nest down then transfer it to someplace safe for them. Finish brushing your fireplace, get a good shop vac and clean the soot in the bottom of the fireplace. Sometimes shoveling it is a better solution as your vac may spew the soot into the room anyway. Good luck on this one. Hiring a pro is the best way to go though.

Answer 3

you could call a chimney sweep. usually found in the yellow pages. you can also get creosote logs, i guess they burn the soot in your chimney so it stays clear. if it was a bird nest it might catch fire and clear the chimney, but it will create more smoke in your home, probably the same thing with a tree branch (if youve recently had a storm). Try checking to see if the door at the top of the fire place is open, it might have closed and te smoke will not leave if it is.......

Answer 4

WOW do not put kerosene or petrol in it! There are fire logs that you can burn to clean kreosote out, but first you need to have professionally done. If it is that clogged up, there may be something in it. Do you have a screen over the top to keep birds out? that is very important.

Answer 5

A dirty chimney can be a fire hazard, and I know of nothing short of professional chimney sweeps that can do an adequate job. It is not a task I would undertake myself.

Answer 6

if you use the wrong kind of wood or burn garbage - you will get a build up of creosote. This can cause a chimney fire - i had a bout 3 of them . Very dangerous.get it cleaned and burn only dry seasoned hard wood.

Answer 7

you can get a chimney cleaning kit from home depot,you have to see how big the chimney opening is and they sell a brush to match that size,if you are not afraid of heights, go up on a ladder they have the extension rods for it,done it myself.

Answer 8

Hire a professional chimney sweep company

Answer 9

There are special logs you can buy that are supposed to burn off all the creosote that has accumulated in the interior of the chimney.
Lot's of house fires start from a fireplace, so you should get that fixed ASAP.

Answer 10

ring a chimney sweep.Doing it yourself with brushes is way too messy.I wouldn't reccomend setting fire to it to clean it,unless your doing an insurance scam