The efficient operation of the wood burning stove will depend on the condition of the chimney structure. Every owner of a private house should be able to clean the chimney.
Figure 1. Chimney cleaning tools: metal brush, metal bristle brush, holders, scraper.
Professional stove-makers believe that a properly installed and equipped chimney can be clean for many years if it is operated in accordance with all existing rules.
If the stove is fired with dry wood without a high resin content, the blower is regularly cleaned of ash, various garbage will not be burned in the stove, then it will only be necessary to periodically remove soot from the cleaning holes that are located in the room.
You should know that 2 times a year, an audit of the chimney structure is mandatory. This must be done in order to find out the condition of the chimney structure. You will need to remove not only soot, but also debris that has flown from the street, cobwebs, bird nests, and so on. Speaking about how and when to properly clean the chimney, you need to know that this task must be solved depending on how much the chimney is overgrown with soot.
Reasons to clean your chimney:
Figure 2. Scheme of the cleaning principle.
- Providing good traction. The soot that settles on the walls of the chimney will partially reduce its clearance. For this reason, smoke will not be able to freely pass through the chimney. A thick layer of soot deposits will not allow the walls to warm up well. This leads to smoke entering the private house, reducing traction and efficiency of the stove. If there is poor traction, then you can easily get poisoned with carbon monoxide.
- Safe use of the oven. At high temperatures, soot can ignite and cause cracking of the walls of the chimney structure, and this leads to its destruction. Sparks from hot soot that jump out of the chimney can start a fire.
How to clean a chimney?
First of all, you need to figure out what tools to buy. The main device of the chimney sweep is a metal brush, which has a large diameter. For square designs, it is more convenient to use a brush with hard metal bristles.
If during the cleaning process the brush will fall down on a rope, the brush should be equipped with several flexible holders that will be interconnected.
You will need to purchase a scraper and a bucket.
Figure 3. Scheme of cleaning with a ball.
Elements required for work:
- metal brush;
- brush with metal bristles;
- ruff holders;
- scraper;
- heavy bucket of a round shape;
- additional cleaning products.
A standard set of cleaning tools can be seen in Fig.1.
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Chimney pipe cleaning using folk methods
Many stove makers use folk cleaning methods, because cleaning work is dangerous.
- The most common method is to sprinkle rock salt on the wood while it is burning. You should know that this salt is most often used to prevent the appearance of soot.
- Potato peelings can help remove plaque on the walls of the chimney. The fireplace will need to be heated well, and then put a lot of potato skins on the fire. The steam that will be released will be able to decompose the soot that enters the chimney. Heavy pieces will then fall into the stove, which needs to be cleaned. It is worth noting that cleaning with potatoes is not complete, but only as a tool that helps soften the soot and make it easily lag behind the pipe walls. After such preparatory work, you will need to clean the pipe in the usual manual way.
- If there is aspen firewood, then cleaning the chimney is quite simple. To do this, you need to burn a certain amount of armfuls. This method is unsafe, because cleaning is carried out due to the high temperature in the chimney structure, at which soot begins to burn. If you plan to use this method, you should make sure that the chimney can withstand heavy loads and not be damaged after that. If there is a large layer of soot deposits in the pipe, it is recommended to play it safe and use a safer and simpler method.
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How can I clean the chimney manually?
A chimney sweep, who has extensive experience, will be able to clean the chimney pipe with high quality, as well as inspect the structure for cracks, evaluate the operation of the heating device and the presence of traction.
Today there are many people who are able to take care of the oven themselves. Be sure to know how to clean the pipe so that the operation of the stove does not disturb those present.
The sequence of work on cleaning the stove is as follows:
- First you need to close all the cleaning holes in the house. This must be done so that soot does not fly into the room. The oven door also closes. If the stove is open, it is recommended to hang a wet cloth on the firebox.
- Chimney cleaning is carried out only in dry weather, and there should be no wind. Be sure to use insurance.
- If the stove has not been used for a long time, the first step is to make sure that there are no bird nests in the design. If you can’t get the nest or debris from the top of the structure, you will need to push it down with improvised means.
- The chimney must be cleaned if the soot layer on its walls is more than 2 mm. If there is a smaller layer, full cleaning can be omitted. In this case, you will need to use alternative methods.
- If the soot layer is thick enough, you will need to first clean it off with a scraper. Only after that a brush or ruff is used.
- During the cleaning process, a blockage may be detected in the chimney structure, which will prevent the tool from moving further. It can be any debris or brick that has collapsed from the masonry. If the chimney has not been serviced for a long time, then the probability of finding garbage in it is quite high. The jam will need to be broken through with a heavy steel core, which is secured with a carabiner on a rope. He rushes to the center of the hole in the chimney structure, while trying not to touch the walls of the pipe.
A brush with a load is lowered into the chimney, it rips off the soot and removes foreign objects.
It is necessary to choose a core diameter that can cover at least 2/3 of the chimney section.
The core can be used not only to eliminate blockages, but also as a weighting agent for a brush or brush. The cable, the brush and the core must be connected to each other with carabiners, which allow you to change the design by removing any section from it. The cleaning scheme is shown in fig. 3.
Instead of the core, it is not allowed to use kettlebells for sports or any other items that are heavy and have a displaced center of gravity. Such objects can roll over and get stuck in the chimney for a long time. To remove jammed objects, you will need to dismantle the structure.
Open stoves with a direct chimney can be cleaned not from the roof, but from the side of the firebox. To do this, you will need to use metal brushes on an extendable handle.
After cleaning the oven, you will need to carefully open all the cleaning holes and remove any existing dirt with a brush and a soot scoop or spoon. Soot residue can be removed by using a household vacuum cleaner.
At the end, the fireplace insert and blower are opened and cleaned.
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How to clean the chimney using chemicals?
When dry cleaning the chimney, the bag with the agent is placed in the fire of the firebox, after which the door closes tightly.
From time to time it is recommended to use means for prevention. This allows you not to think in the future about the need to clean the chimney. These products are chemicals that come in liquid form. It will need to be added to the firebox in the process of burning firewood. When burning, it will emit gases that do not cause any harm to humans. These gases will shower deposits from the chimney walls.
The most effective and common chemicals are:
- Composition against soot. This powder is intended for cleaning the chimney structure. It will need to be burned in the package along with the fuel. The consumption of funds is normalized: for 1 ton of fuel, you will need to use 100-160 g of powder.
- Kominichek. In 1 package there are 5 bags of 15 g each. This amount is enough for 3 months of preventive work. Kominichek is recommended if there is a small layer of soot. The maximum layer thickness is 2 mm. The tool will remove soot and soot. With its help, a reaction will be caused in which the soot will turn into an oxide that can burn at low temperatures.
- Using the product is quite simple: 1 bag is placed in the furnace on burning fuel, after which the door is closed. Due to the influence of high temperatures, the granules will release substances that can dissolve soot on the walls of the furnace and in the chimney structure.
- Log. A tool that is a briquette or bar of small sizes. During combustion, volatile substances are released, which can reduce the thickness of creosote deposits on the walls of the pipe. The deposits will dry out and crumble into the furnace. The principle of cleaning can be seen in Fig. 2.
The log is the most popular chemical remedy. The tool allows you to reduce the risk of creosote deposits, extends the life of the chimney. The timber can be used in stoves and fireplaces of any type.
If the stove is heated several times a week, then it will be enough to burn a log once every six months. If the stove is used daily, 2 bars will need to be burned in 1 season. If you need to clean a wood stove that is used during the heating season, you will need to burn a log in it once every few months.
In order to be able to achieve maximum cleaning efficiency, you need to put a log on the hot coals that are left over from the previous firebox. If the beam does not burn, the wrapper from 2 sides should be set on fire with a match.
The additives that are part of the timber remain active for several weeks. During this time, soot will enter the furnace, breaking away from the walls of the pipe. After 2 weeks, you will need to clean the firebox, inspect the elbow and pipe, and then clean them of the waste that has fallen out. The smoke damper also needs cleaning. For cleaning, use a vacuum cleaner or a fireplace brush.
Before purchasing any chemical, it is important to carefully read the instructions for use and the manufacturer's advice regarding the use of the product in various types of heating devices. Not all products are universal, some can only be used in closed fireboxes or wood-burning stoves.
Stove heating is still popular in country houses. But along with the use of stoves, the problem of cleaning the chimney riser from soot and other deposits also arises. You can use the services of professional chimney sweeps, or you can save money and clean the chimney yourself. The main thing is to know how and with what to do it.
Professional chimney cleaning
Causes and dangers of clogging stove chimneys
When fuel is burned, soot and soot are always formed. Most of it is carried out by thrust. But a certain amount settles on the inner surface of the chimney. The main causes of clogged chimneys:
- Weak traction in the riser. Incomplete combustion of fuel leads to abundant soot formation.
- The use of resinous firewood. Resins are mixed with soot, forming a dense, hard-to-remove mixture.
- Burning household waste and plastics in an oven. The substances released during this also contribute to the deposition of soot on the inner walls.
If you do not clean the chimney from soot in time, then its abundant layers will not only worsen the operation of the stove, but can also become a source of danger for people living in the house. Here is what happens when large deposits form in the furnace chimney:
- The traction is reduced. This leads not only to possible smoke, but also to the accelerated formation of new soot.
- Under adverse weather conditions, "thrust rollover" can occur. In this case, the smoke from the furnace will go inside the room. There is a risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Soot fire in the chimney. This will lead to the destruction of the inner walls of the pipe from overheating, and with a large amount of soot - to a fire.
Soot fire in the chimney Beyond these real dangers, long breaks in chimney cleaning will allow deposits to coke. After that, removing them from the walls will be much more difficult.
Folk remedies for soot removal
For a long time using stoves, methods have been developed to help remove small layers of soot in the pipe and prevent their further growth. The use of these tools will make it possible to clean the chimney in the stove of a private house on your own without much effort and expense. Under their influence, soot lags behind the walls of the pipe and either flies away with the smoke to the outside, or crumbles into the furnace.
How do chemical chimney cleaners work? Rock salt
It is useful to pour a few tablespoons on prepared firewood before lighting the stove. The vapors of burnt salt soften the soot that has already settled on the pipe walls and do not allow new layers to be fixed.
Potato peelings
Potatoes are rich in starch, which, when burned, also releases substances that help separate soot from the walls of the chimney. For one kindling, you can burn up to 5 kg of this product. It is not necessary to use just cleaning, spoiled tubers will do. But it is better to dry all the material in advance so that excess moisture does not worsen the combustion process. Instead of potatoes, you can use legumes - peas, soybeans - or buckwheat and rice grains. They also contain starch.
walnut shell
It has the same effect on soot deposits. The only problem is that it is difficult to stock up on a large amount of this tool.
Naphthalene
It must be used in a well-heated oven. The powder is thrown into a red-hot furnace, but the unpleasant odor emitted during combustion can enter the heated room. For this reason, it cannot be used to clean the pipes coming from the fireplace.
Aspen firewood
Their action is based on a different principle. Aspen has a high combustion temperature. Hot air from them does not soften the soot, but burns it. But the use of high-temperature firewood with abundant overgrowth of the pipe is dangerous, since the ignition of a large amount of soot can cause a fire.
But for a fresh thin layer and as a prophylactic, aspen cleaning is quite effective.
Alder and birch firewood also have a similar effect. But birch, and especially its birch bark, emit a large amount of soot when burned. Therefore, aspen is preferable.
Modern chemistry for soot removal
The action of various reagents is based on the same principle as folk remedies - the transformation of soot into a structure that is unable to adhere to the walls of the chimney. But an industrial cleaner for stove chimneys contains a whole set of pre-prepared substances that act on soot. Therefore, its action is especially effective. Of the numerous reagents of this kind, the following can be noted.
PHC
This abbreviation stands for anti-scale chemical composition. Produced in the form of a powder packaged in paper bags. It is not required to pour it on firewood prepared for kindling, you can throw an unopened package on them. The consumption of funds is minimal - 200 g is enough for 1 ton of firewood.
Kominichek
Czech means for removing soot and soot layers of small thickness. Also available in sachets. The manufacturer recommends using it at least 1-2 times a month.
log chimney sweep
It is a pressed briquette made of sawdust and wax with the addition of several chemicals. It is produced in the standard version - 25 cm long and shortened - 15 cm for small-sized stoves. It burns without the formation of soot, and loosens the soot already on the walls until it falls down. For preventive cleaning of the chimney, it is recommended to use 2 - 3 logs per heating season.
Briquettes "Log-chimney sweep" Hansa
A powder agent that acts not only on soot and soot, but also allows you to clean the walls of tar and other dense soot. Under its action, the solid layers are transformed into small crystals, which crumble down from the movement of air.
Powder chemicals for cleaning chimneys Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand that only folk remedies and industrial chemicals are not able to completely clean the chimney from large accumulations of soot. They are good against fresh, thin layers, useful for preventing grime from setting on walls, and as a pre-treatment before a thorough cleaning of the entire chimney.
Mechanical methods for removing soot
Traditional cleaning of the chimney from the side of the roof and using simple tools is still the best way to free the entire smoke channel from a variety of soot, and in case of serious blockages in the chimney, the only effective method.
Chimney sweeper on the roof Do-it-yourself cleaning of the stove chimney is impossible without a few tools that can be purchased at specialized stores. But some of them are easy to do with your own hands. These include:
- chains or strong ropes for lowering cleaning devices into the chimney channel;
- heavy weights for breaking through thick layers of soot;
- a variety of ruffs with weights for cleaning the chimney from the roof;
- the same ruffs, but fixed on a flexible cable for work from inside the house;
- Scrapers and brushes with a hard bristle on a long handle for removing particularly stubborn dirt.
Forms and methods of fastening chimney brushes Before carrying out direct cleaning of the chimney, preparatory measures are necessary:
- it is advisable to heat the stove using a folk or chemical agent to soften soot,
- after cooling, cover the stove cloth with a damp cloth to prevent soot falling from the chimney from escaping through the cracks,
- close the firebox and blower doors tightly,
- gate open fully.
To carry out cleaning work, it is necessary to climb onto the roof along with the necessary devices. Further actions depend on the degree of overgrowth of the chimney with soot:
- With thick layers of soot on the inner walls, primary collapse is carried out. To do this, use a weight without additional cleaners. In this case, it must not be allowed to sway, as a heavy object can damage the pipe walls.
- The main cleaning is carried out using metal ruffs attached to a rope or chain along with a weighting agent.
- Protrusions, outgrowths and areas with dense layers of soot are processed with scrapers on long handles.
- Fine cleaning is carried out with brushes with long pile.
After carrying out these actions, it is necessary to remove the soot that has fallen down from the furnace furnace.
In this way, straight chimneys are easily cleaned. But if there are curved sections in the chimneys, they can be cleaned from below from the side of the firebox or through special doors in the riser. It is especially convenient to do this in a fireplace chimney.
Cleaning the chimney from below with a ruff on a flexible cable There are alternative ways to remove soot. One of them - vacuum cleaning - is based on creating a powerful thrust at the upper end of the pipe. For this, special installations or improvised mechanisms are used to replace them - vacuum cleaners, fans, chainsaws. Under their action, soot is blown out of the chimney.
Vacuum cleaning the chimney with a chainsaw Some craftsmen use firecrackers that explode inside the chimney to collapse a large layer of soot.
Particular attention should be paid to the smoothness of the inner surface of the chimney. It will be difficult for soot to catch on it, and it will either fly out or fall down.
At the design stage of the furnace, you can consider the option of using a sleeved chimney. In it, brickwork creates a pipe frame, and a separate sleeve made of galvanized steel, stainless steel or ceramics is inserted into the inside.
For an already built chimney, it is useful to do the following:
- if possible, hardwood firewood;
- do not put polyethylene, plastic and household waste in the furnace;
- do not use raw firewood;
- at the end of each firebox, burn 2 - 3 aspen or alder logs for the prompt destruction of fresh soot;
- carry out mechanical cleaning before the start of each heating season;
- If the oven is used continuously, use chemicals every month.
If there are signs of clogging of the chimney, it is important not to postpone cleaning, but to immediately call a chimney sweep or start independent work. Removing old soot will be both more difficult and more expensive.
Until recently, both in cities and in rural areas there was only one type of heating - stove. Their technical condition was monitored by specially trained people - chimney sweeps. They checked the chimneys for cracks, monitored the draft in the furnace and cleaned the soot. Today, private houses are equipped with a variety of stoves, stoves, fireplaces. You have to serve them with your own hands - clean the chimney and monitor the technical condition.
The device of the chimney, what is its cleaning and how often should it be carried out
The first cleaning of the chimney should be carried out 1.5–2 years after the start of operation of the stove. During this time, a soot layer of more than 2 mm accumulates in the pipe, which is a guideline for cleaning. In the future, the chimney should be cleaned 1-2 times a season. This is best done in spring and autumn. In order to facilitate this process, it is necessary to apply preventive measures, which will be discussed below.
The chimney is covered with soot during the combustion process. It appears gradually from the products of combustion and layer by layer is deposited on the walls of the pipe, gradually narrowing the passage. And since soot is a very good thermal insulator, the stove channel heats up much weaker and a much larger amount of firewood is required for heating.
A thick layer of soot reduces traction, which means that the amount of condensate increases, which, in turn, contributes to the rapid formation of new layers. Unburned solid particles accumulate in the pipe, which can easily ignite when gas flows rise. This leads to the fastest burning of the pipe walls and increases the risk of fire. Especially in severe frosts, when a large amount of firewood is used to heat the house and the temperature in the furnace is very high, sparks and even small lights fly out of the chimney clogged with soot. And this threatens to fire outbuildings and even neighboring houses.
In the event of a strong blockage, the likelihood of a reverse draft increases - the smoke will partially or completely go into the room and the likelihood of being poisoned by combustion products increases.
Cleaning the chimney consists, first of all, in freeing the surfaces of the chimney from soot, debris (after the summer season there may be small branches, dry leaves, and even bird nests). At the same time, all elements of the furnace are checked and cleaned. Lastly, the firebox and ash pan are cleaned.
With timely cleaning of the chimney, you will significantly reduce the consumption of firewood, you will be sure of your own safety, and the chimney will not need emergency repairs.
Methods and devices for cleaning the chimney with your own hands
There are three main ways to clean the chimney: chemical, biological and mechanical. Biological and chemical methods are rather preventive, preventing the formation of too thick a layer of soot. All these methods can be carried out independently, without resorting to the help of specialists, following certain rules.
Biological (potato peeling, starch, firewood, etc.)
One of the simplest and most common methods, widely used by the people because of the ease of use and the availability of the necessary funds. To a greater extent, it is preventive - it prevents the appearance of a thick layer of soot. For this method, aspen wood, salt, potato peelings, walnut shells, naphthalene, blue mixture are used.
Potato peelings need to be pre-prepared. It will take about half a bucket of well-dried cleanings. They need to be poured directly onto the heat so that they burn out immediately. During combustion, a large amount of starch is formed, which softens the soot. You can apply this method before proceeding with mechanical cleaning - it will be much easier to remove the soot layer.
Rock salt is more of a soot preventative. A small handful is poured on firewood until kindling. Vapors of sodium chloride destroy viscous deposits in the pipe.
Aspen firewood is the most effective remedy. Since aspen has a high combustion temperature, firewood must be used at the end of the firebox. The fumes generated during combustion peel off the soot from the walls of the chimney and, during intense heat, it burns out. Therefore, when using aspen, you need to ensure that sparks do not fly from the chimney. An alternative is birch firewood, previously peeled of bark. The effect will be about the same.
Walnut shells are an excellent chimney cleaner. It has a very high combustion temperature, so you can not use more than two liters in one go. An alternative to aspen wood.
Naphthalene is a good prophylactic. It is enough to throw one tablet into the fire, as the soot will begin to flake off and come out with the smoke. But the smell of naphthalene is very persistent and then it is very difficult to get rid of it.
Blue mixture - easy to make yourself if you have the right ingredients. 5 parts of copper sulphate, 7 parts of saltpeter and 2 parts of coal (coke) are mixed. About 20 grams of the mixture is poured into a preheated oven and the door is tightly closed. This mixture should not be used to clean open lesions.
Chemical method
Like biological, it does not solve the issue of complete cleaning of the chimney and is preventive. The stores sell a large number of a wide variety of compositions for cleaning the chimney: logs, briquettes, tablets, solutions. Principle of operation - the harmless gas released during combustion decomposes combustion products and their components, which could later turn into soot.
In almost all cases, there are detailed instructions for use, dosage. Portion packs are very convenient. As a rule, together with the packaging, they are placed in an oven and burned either separately or together with firewood. If the chimney is heavily clogged, use either several packages at the same time, or several times in a row.
"Log - chimney sweep" - a small bar or briquette, consists of ammonium sulfate, coal wax, phosphorus oxide and several other components. Prevents the formation of carbon deposits and the removal of previously accumulated soot. With constant operation of the furnace for the season, you need to burn only 2 logs. If the stove is heated 1-2 times a week, then one bar is enough.
"Cominichek" - is used only if the soot layer is up to 2 mm. The package contains 5 bags of 15 grams. The active substance is copper chloride. Converts soot to oxide, allowing it to burn at a lower temperature without causing a fire. Since chlorine is included in the composition, it cannot be used for open stoves. When using, close the door tightly and, at the end of the firebox, ventilate the room with a “comic cut”.
PHC - anti-stain chemical composition. The powder is burned together with paper packaging, together with firewood or separately from them. Powder consumption per ton of firewood is 150–200 g.
Since there are a lot of funds and they are produced both in our country and abroad, you can always choose the best option by trying several types.
mechanical method
It is used in cases where the chimney is very heavily clogged. The soot layer, as mentioned earlier, is more than 2 mm. Before proceeding with this type of work, the furnace should be prepared. Preheat using potato peels, aspen wood or walnut shells to soften the soot and peel it off the chimney walls. This will greatly facilitate further work.
Required tools:
- Ruff for cleaning the chimney with a diameter 1.2–1.3 times larger than the diameter of a pipe made of plastic or metal;
- A flexible cable with a handle (similar to plumbing) or a strong rope;
- Hard brush with a long handle (or with the ability to build it up);
- A metal weight or core that can be attached to a brush. Must be centered so as not to damage the chimney, and with a diameter 2 times smaller than the diameter of the pipe;
- Metal scraper with handle.
The chimney can be cleaned both from above, from the side of the pipe, and from below - if it is a fireplace or an open stove. To perform pipe cleaning work from above, prepare a small ladder that can be mounted on the roof. To prevent falling from the roof, use a safety rope. All tools that may be required, lift to the roof immediately, so as not to go down again.
- Shoes should be non-slip, protect your hands with gloves.
- Use a respirator to prevent combustion products from entering the respiratory tract.
- Start work only in dry calm weather.
- Before starting work, do not take drugs that reduce the reaction, and alcohol.
The oven must be completely cool before starting work. The combustion chamber is completely free from unburned logs and ash. Close the furnace, cleaning and ash doors beforehand so that soot cannot enter the room through them. Curtain open fireboxes with a dense, damp cloth, which you will not be sorry to throw away later. The dampers must be opened completely, otherwise soot will fall on them and may lead to a new blockage.
Remove the cap from the chimney pipe to provide access. Carefully inspect the pipe and proceed to cleaning. Begin work with the core attached to the cable. This will help to immediately eliminate large blockages and will show the distance that the chimney can be cleared. If the layer of soot is very large, it is better to immediately use a long-handled scraper to clean the walls and work with it, and then clean the walls using a brush with a core attached to it. Make sure that the core is in the center of the chimney and cannot damage the pipe.
If the stove is with an open firebox, after cleaning from above, proceed to clean the chimney from below. Use a ruff or brush with a long, flexible handle that can be extended.
The combustion chamber is cleaned last. Collect soot with a special vacuum cleaner or sweep with a special brush.
If it so happens that you do not have the opportunity to purchase a special brush, you can make it yourself from a plastic bottle.
Video: how to make a plastic bottle brush
In some regions, it is common to clean the chimney with a chainsaw or a leaf blower (a leaf blower). Of course, in this way it is quite simple to clean the chimney using a special snail nozzle with an air duct. Of course, from the point of view of ecology, this method cannot be called correct.
Video: how to clean a chimney with a chainsaw
Technological elements for cleaning the chimney
In many ways, chimney maintenance can be simplified if cleaning methods are provided at the design stage. As a rule, now chimneys are made of sandwich pipes or metal. It is not always installed strictly vertically, and sometimes serves several stoves in the house at the same time. In this case, cleaning from soot will become more complicated due to the corners. And if a horizontal pipe section comes from the furnace, it is better to use a tee for connection. One of its sides opens with a threaded lid. Through the hole, you can both remove moisture and clean the riser. In some cases, a special removable glass may be provided.
In ovens made of bricks, hatches for cleaning are necessarily provided. In some stoves, there may be several hatches.
Prevention of clogging of the chimney pipe
What needs to be done so that the chimney does not clog so quickly? Proper use of the oven. The rules are simple, but if you follow them, it will simplify care and help you use firewood more economically.
- Coniferous wood should not be used for the firebox - they contain a lot of resin, which will remain on the walls of the chimney. Give preference to hardwoods. At the end of the firebox, add aspen logs or any other folk remedies.
- Heat the stove only with dry wood - wet ones give a lot of soot.
- There must be a cap on the pipe. It will not only protect the pipe from debris, but also from precipitation.
- To reduce the accumulation of condensate, the pipe must be insulated.
- Do not turn the stove into a place for burning garbage. Plastic, polyethylene, rubber melt and remain in the oven and on its walls. It is better to throw garbage in a container or burn it on the street.
- Do not use flammable liquids for ignition.
- In severe frost, sometimes a fire occurs due to the fact that the stove is hot. Try not to overheat it.
- Timely carry out preventive work, carefully monitor the condition of deposits on the walls.
With proper cleaning and constant adherence to the rules of the firebox, the stove and chimney will last a long time and will not require special care, and sometimes unforeseen repairs.
Soot and soot are among the final combustion products. Traces from them can be both dry and sticky or greasy, so removing them is not so easy. In order to get rid of trouble, carefully study the various methods of materials, information about which we will provide you.
Soot and soot are the final products of combustion.
Ordinary cleaning items will not help you here. If you just wash the cinder with a rag or sweep with a broom, it can be smeared, stains will remain on things. Cleaning often requires special methods and tremendous patience.
To remove such an unpleasant plaque, for example, in a house with a stove or fireplace, follow your steps step by step:
- clean the chimney first;
- then wash off the soot after cleaning the pipes;
- in conclusion, remove the cinder from the ceiling, and then from everything else.
It can be both planned (preferably 2 times a year) and unscheduled (changing the color of smoke and flames). In the event that the smoke becomes more saturated dark in color, and the flame in the furnace is also very dark, then there are all signs for cleaning the chimney.
Routine cleaning of the chimney is carried out 2 times a year
With your own hands, special tools and methods can help you to free the pipe from soot. These can be safely attributed to:
- chemicals;
- folk recipes;
- mechanical cleaning.
Chemicals
Some of the best substances for getting rid of burning can be modern chemicals. Applying them at home, you will ideally get rid of the problem. Such substances are available in the form of liquids, creams or powders.
Cleaning Cream Muscle is one of the most effective products in the fight against plaque and pollution. The dissimilation formula of this drug penetrates into the fat, breaks it down, and then removes it. Thanks to the "muscle", you can get rid of even the most stubborn dirt.
Cleaning Cream Muscle is one of the most effective products in the fight against plaque and pollution.
Mr. Muscle has the following abilities:
- breaks down dirt from the inside;
- easily dissolves fat, soot, soot;
- does not scratch surfaces.
When cleaning the chimney, you can also use folk recipes that your grandmothers and mothers used. These include the following tools and methods:
- the use of salt;
- the use of potato peelings;
- burning soot with aspen firewood.
In ancient times, salt was thrown along with fuel to clean pipes. This method is effective if the soot has accumulated a little. In general, it is more suitable for prevention.
Salt 
Potato peelings 
Aspen firewood
The following simple recipe includes such an effective method. Take a bucket of potato peels and burn them. During the combustion process, starch will be released, which will settle on the walls of the chimney and stick to the soot. Burning out, he will burn and soot. So you can clean the chimney.
There is another excellent method of getting rid of burning. Stuff the stove with aspen wood and set it on fire, as a result of which the chimney will heat up and the soot in it will burn out. But it is suitable for a strong chimney without flaws and cracks. From such a load, a faulty chimney can collapse.
Mechanical cleaning of the pipe will help to cope with the problem
For mechanical cleaning of the pipe, use a special tool ruff. This method is great if plaque accumulations exceed more than 2mm. Clean up step by step:
- close the firebox and all possible openings in the chimney;
- climbing to the roof, remove foreign objects from the pipe;
- use a scraper to clean the soot from the chimney;
- then work with a ruff, removing fumes and soot;
- remove crumbling debris, clean the firebox and blower;
- wash off everything that has got soot.
For mechanical cleaning of the pipe, use a special tool ruff
If you don't have a ruff, use any suitable heavy object. Tie a rope to it, wrap it with a rag or sponge, you can even strengthen two brushes on the sides. By lowering and raising this tool, you can easily remove carbon deposits. But this method is effective if there are no 90 0 elbows in the chimney.
These cleaning methods are great for brick pipes. At present, people mainly use gas and therefore galvanized, ceramic and other chimneys are used. It is much easier and more convenient to clean them, it is easy to monitor the condition of the pipes.
But during their release from soot, or if you accidentally touch a pipe that is not tightly inserted when cleaning the room, the fumes fall on the laminate, tile, brick. And you have a natural question, how to wash the soot after cleaning.
To clean the room, you need to free it
At the initial stage:
- Take out carpets, pictures, things. Cover heavy ones with something.
- In order not to stain the curtains and curtains, remove them in advance.
- Collect spilled soot with a dustpan and a broom. For a more thorough collection, use a vacuum cleaner.
- Next, do a wet cleaning. Pour hot water into a bucket, then take a microfiber cloth or sponge and apply a little dishwashing detergent and powder or gel to clean sinks and toilets. This will help degrease the soot and get rid of it wonderfully.
- After wiping the soot stains, rinse the cloth in water. Then apply this composition again on it and clean it further. During cleaning, you will need to change the water several times.
The following methods will help you clean the soiled floor and walls:
- If the soot has penetrated deep into the plastic or laminate, you can remove it with a sponge soaked in alcohol, thinner or gasoline.
- The cinder that got on the whitewash is best removed with alcohol, unless the pollution is insignificant. Therefore, cleaning of chimneys is recommended before repair.
- If combustion waste gets on the carpet, treat it with a special cleaner, let it dry, and then vacuum it.
- To remove soot from a brick, ordinary vinegar can help you. At the very beginning, moisten the brick wall, and then treat with this substance. After a while, brush well.
Instead of vinegar, you can use ammonia, which must be mixed with water, scrub the wall with a brush, and then rinse. It is advisable to ventilate the room so that the unpleasant smell disappears.
If you have a fire, then later the question arises of how to wash the soot after a fire. Know that there are several ways to get rid of trouble.
Put on protective clothing before cleaning. Put on a scarf on your head, a respirator or gas mask on your face, gloves on your hands, old clothes with long sleeves on your body.
After a fire, you need to ventilate the room well.
At the very beginning of work, open the windows to remove the unpleasant smell of burning with a draft, then free the room from debris (burnt objects). Perform dry cleaning in the following order:
- clean the walls and ceiling of blackened wallpaper or paint;
- using a broom or a stiff brush, sweep the dirt onto the floor;
- remove residues from the entire surface with a vacuum cleaner;
- clean with special washcloths that perfectly wash off scale.
How and how to wash soot soot you will learn below. In order to clean the room well after a fire, you will need:
- water tanks;
- rags;
- special detergents.
With a bucket of hot water, rags, and your own homemade detergent, you'll be up to the task. Such a washing solution includes (2 tablespoons of soda for 2 full glasses of water 100 0).
Basin with water 
Rags 
Detergents
At the end of wet cleaning, use a sealant to neutralize stubborn soot, and after it dries, apply a primer to the surface.
To purify the air (after a fire), use an ozonator purchased at a store, or prepare a special solution at home:
- Take a strong glass container, 40g. baking soda, 40 ml. HCL and ammonia (10%).
- Pour soda into a container and add ammonia.
- Then stir and carefully add hydrochloric acid.
Soon, white smoke will pour out of the container, which will eliminate the unpleasant smell from the room.
Many are interested in how to wash plastic windows from soot. This process is best done in stages:
- immediately dry clean the soot;
- then wet cleaning;
- at the end of the final processing.
Remove soot from glass and plastic with a dry cloth or napkin. In no case do not rub, it is better to drop everything in one direction, and then remove it.
Chemical solvents, gasoline and alcohol will help you clean windows
Chemical solvents, gasoline and alcohol will help you do it. Plastic double-glazed windows are well washed with a glass cleaner. It contains alcohol, which perfectly dissolves soot.
At the final stage, rinse the windows well with clean water and wipe dry. Rub the glass with paper using napkins.
Experts can answer you how and how to wash soot from metal. In rural areas, grated bricks or river sand are used to remove soot. But these abrasive substances can damage the surface of modern furnaces, leaving scratches and bumps on them.
Therefore, one of the best methods for removing burnt from metal products is to use high-quality chemicals specifically designed for this purpose:
- take a highly concentrated wash MAZBIT +;
- dilute a small amount of it in water and apply to the surface;
- rinse with water after a while.
Cleanliness on metal will only please you. There will be no streaks or scratches left. MAZBIT+ is a concentrated water-based cleaner that effectively removes soot from various surfaces, including metal. You can buy it at a household chemicals store.
If you are going to get rid of soot and soot, you can use the suggested tips. Choose one of them, which seemed to you the most interesting and simple. If you have suffered such a disaster as a fire, do not be discouraged, patience and desire will help overcome the problem.
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 common 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.