How to clean the chimney soot
Regardless of the design of the stove or fireplace, their chimneys must be periodically cleaned. From the fuel, no matter how high quality it is, combustion products are always deposited on the walls of the discharge pipe. There are many different options for cleaning soot from the chimney.
Why do you need to do this
If a fireplace or a stove is built according to all the rules, and it is carefully and carefully managed with them, then the chimney can do without cleaning for several years without losing quality indicators. In order for the exhaust pipe to be in a relatively clean condition for a long time, it is necessary to monitor the fuel quality.
Note! It is not necessary to put household garbage, plastic bags or bottles made of plastic into the firebox, as they emit a lot of soot when burned.
The amount of soot produced is affected by the quality of the logs. It is not recommended to heat the furnace with wood of resinous wood, such as spruce and pine. It is necessary to avoid the use of raw material. The best fuel will be dry logs, dried for over a year.
Chimney fouling is easy to diagnose. This refers to the color of the smoke coming out of the chimney. White and transparent smoke indicates that everything is clean. If the smoke is dark with high density, it means that a significant amount of soot has accumulated in the channel. Clogging in the furnace can be determined by the shade of the flame. If everything is in order, it will be slightly orange; if the shade becomes more saturated - this is a sign that it is time to clean.
Note! The above signs that indicate obstruction of the canal are not determinative. According to the recommendations of experts, the inspection of the chimney should be carried out approximately 2 times a year. It is necessary to take into account not only the presence of soot, but also the possibility of ordinary clogging, the appearance of cobwebs or bird nests. Methods for cleaning the chimney are different. It is necessary to choose the most suitable method, based on the current situation, which can be assessed after revision of the discharge pipe.
Folk remedies
There are many ways to clean chimneys, but simple, time-tested methods are popular with people. How often to clean, we have already noted above - at least 2 times a year. We list the most practical methods:
- At the household level, rock salt is often used, a handful of which is added to burning firewood. Due to this, the accumulation of soot in the chimney is not so intense. Although, the burning of salt rather gives preventive results, and does not relieve the pipe from internal pollution. In this way, it is impossible to completely remove sediment.
- The best result comes from sliced potatoes or husks. The amount of this natural remedy is taken depending on the dimensions of the furnace. As a rule, a bucket of cleanings is added to a fire in one go. Potatoes contain a lot of starch, the products of combustion of which, rising through the pipe, soften the soot, and it comes out with a stream of smoke. Usually such an event is carried out before the "big" cleaning. This applies to mechanical cleaning, after this procedure it is much easier to carry out.
- Aspen wood can also be used as a means of removing deposits. A certain number of such logs are thrown into the furnace and burned. You need to know that this cleaning is quite dangerous. When burning aspen, the temperature of the brick rises strongly, and soot simply burns. This method can only be used in a chimney, of which you are sure of its reliability and durability, otherwise it can simply fall apart with "aspen roasting".
Mechanical cleaning
The mechanical method of cleaning is essential when the chimney of the furnace is clogged with soot. In carrying out such work must adhere to the order.
- To prevent soot from entering the premises, all openings of the system are tightly closed. The firebox door is not an exception, it should be closed. If the same procedure is required to expose an open fireplace, it is necessary to hang a damp cloth on it.
- Mechanical cleaning проводится со стороны крыши, поэтому важно соблюдать все правила безопасности для высотных работ.
- Thoroughly inspected discharge flue. If the build-up of deposits on the walls does not exceed 2 mm, it is desirable to postpone the mechanical cleaning to a later date, and apply one of the above methods. Be sure to check the pipe to the garbage or other contaminating objects. If there is to be removed or pushed them down to extract from the flue compartment.
- If the soot layer is dense (compacted), the walls of the chimney are first cleaned with a scraper. And only after that - with a brush or ruff.
- When an obstacle is detected in the channel (clogging, traffic jams), a special core is used, which is a heavy metal ball fixed on the cable. It is necessary to work carefully with the core - when throwing down the ball should not touch the brick walls. The core, as a sinker, can be attached to a brush or ruff - so it will be easier to work.
Note! It is forbidden to use a dumbbell or dumbbell as a core. For these objects, the center of gravity is not fixed in the center, they can change coordination during the descent and get stuck in the pipe. Removing them will be problematic.
After cleaning the chimney, the blower and the firebox, all openings are opened, mud and soot are collected from them. Open fireplaces, the flues of which are straight, can be cleaned simultaneously from both sides, both from above and below. If the operation is carried out from the side of the firebox, a special brush attached to the expandable telescopic handle is used.
Dry cleaning
The chemical industry produces a great deal of chimney cleaning products — briquettes, liquid formulations, and dry mixes. These substances are added to the burning furnace, when burning, they do not produce toxic substances. The released ingredients break down deposits that fall down on the pipe walls. The anti-joint chemical composition in the form of a dry mix for firewood is quite demanded - up to 200 g of PCC are used for 1000 kg of wood.
Большую популярность у владельцев домов с печами имеет средство «Log Chimney sweep», применяемое в котлах, работающих как на твердом, так и на жидком топливе. Для проведения чистки достаточно сжечь брикет в топке или подбросить к горящим дровам. Лучше всего «Полено-трубочист» осаждает сажу при его сжигании на углях. Работа активного ингредиента продолжается на протяжении 14-ти дней.
Note powder "Kominichek", characterized by high efficiency.