The warmth of a fireplace adds comfort to any room of a home, especially during chilly winter months. Traditionally fireplaces have provided a place for friends and family to gather around and for pets to curl up in front of. Even some families who live in warm, southern locations choose to incorporate fireplaces in their décor solely for the aesthetic appeal.
While there are many benefits of wood stoves and fireplaces, there are also important safety precautions to consider. Particularly for homeowners who heat exclusively with a wood or solid fuel-burning stove, the risk of a chimney fire persists if the appropriate safety measures are not followed.
Most chimney fires originate from the build-up of creosote on the interior of chimneys and flues. To prevent the accumulation of creosote, it is recommended that you inspect and clean your chimney at least annually, depending on your fireplace use. Other home fire safety tips can be found on the U.S. Fire Administration website.
Choosing A Chimney Brush
Professional chimney sweeps should be hired for the annual cleaning and inspection of your chimney, but having a household chimney brush is also a good idea. When purchasing a chimney brush, you should match the size and shape of the brush as closely as possible to the size and shape of the chimney or flue. With the wide variety of chimney brushes available for sale, this should not be a difficult task. Most chimney and fireplace maintenance retailers offer rectangular, square and round chimney brushes of all different sizes.
The first step to choosing a chimney brush is to measure the interior dimensions of your chimney. If the chimney is round, measure the interior diameter and match that dimension to the diameter of a round brush. Always use caution when taking measurements from a roof.
If your chimney is oval or irregular in shape, you can purchase a chimney brush that is larger than the chimney's dimensions and trim it to fit your needs. A chimney brush that is too large will make a cleaning job more difficult but will still adequately prevent creosote build-up. A chimney brush that is too small, however, will not sufficiently reach all the sides of a chimney.
After determining the appropriate size and shape for your chimney brush, you must choose a material and style. Chimney brushes are often classified into "homeowner" and "professional" categories. Homeowner cleaning tools are generally meant for light maintenance while professional chimney brushes are designed for maximum efficiency and durability.
Wire bristle chimney brushes are recommended for general chimney cleaning needs, and the flat wire bristle style is recommended for its scraping capability when the glaze from creosote accumulation is noticeable. No type of wire bristle brushes should be used for metal chimney flues. Instead choose between the options of brushes with polypropylene bristles. For chimneys with turns or offsets, you may also want to consider purchasing flexible chimney brushes and chimney rods.
Chimney cleaning and fireplace maintenance is an important matter, so if you are ever concerned or have questions about chimney brushes, you should consult a professional.
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