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| Cleaning Chimneys |
| Get rid of that soot! Sweep into spring with a clean chimney. |
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Spring is the ideal time to have your chimney swept, as it costs less and the waiting period is not as long. Mark Alexander, from the AAA Classic Chimney Sweep Company, has been working in the business for 17 years.
His grandfather was a London chimney sweep and his uncle, who used to dress in a top hat and tails while he worked, started teaching him the trade at the age of 15.
There are two main reasons why you should clean your chimney:
For safety reasons: When wood is burnt, carbon (soot) builds up on the inside of the flue. The carbon can catch alight and the result is a flue fire. Cleaning your chimney regularly will stop this happening.
For efficiency: A cleaner flue will burn more efficiently as well as give off more heat, especially in slow-combustion heaters. If the chimney is not cleaned, the fire will not draw properly, will burn slower and may smoke.
How often should you clean your chimney? Mark recommends that you clean your slow-combustion fireplace every 12 months. An open fireplace should be swept annually if it is used every night in winter and every two years if used only at weekends.
The method of cleaning is as follows:
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Mark arrives in his van, which contains a number of rods, brushes, tin snips, steel bucket, gloves, vacuum cleaner, shovel and dust mask.
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He checks the location of the chimney and arranges drop sheets in front of the fire.
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A cloth screen is placed in front of the fireplace and Mark starts up his industrial vacuum cleaner.
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Mark then begins using his traditional brushes and rods from England to clean the chimney. His brush collection includes wire (the most abrasive), nylon and bristle (the softest) brushes. Cleaning takes him around an hour on average.
Burning tips
Use hardwood that has been well seasoned for firewood. To season wood, leave it to dry for at least 12 months. If it is not well seasoned, the wood will leave more resin and soot, and your chimney will become clogged more quickly.
Non-seasoned wood (green wood) creates a lot of smoke pollution. Generally, if the timber still has bark on it, it is not seasoned.
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Cost
Single-storey house: $85
Double-storey house: $105
(Note: prices are cheaper in the off-season. Phone for a quote.)
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More Info
Contact the AAA Classic Chimney Sweep Company, ph: (02) 9742 3266.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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