When you burn wood you have three different types of debris that you get from it depending on how hot you burn it in a fireplace or on a wood stove. The first type is basically soft soot that initially builds up when burning the wood. The second type is a stubborn type of soot and when you see that, that’s an indication that you’ve had a chimney fire and the third one is creosote. If you don’t clean your chimneys, a material called creosote builds up inside your chimneys which is a very flammable carbon compound that catches fire and burns at temperatures of over 2,000 degrees. So make sure you clean your chimneys regularly. They should be cleaned a couple of times a year especially if you are using wood stoves. 

Is Cleaning the Fireplace a DIY Project?

Over time, soot and creosote build up inside the chimneys which catch fire in the smoke chamber. Since that chamber is hard to clean, you can check if you can easily reach that area and clean all the material gathered up there. As it’s a risky job, so this is not a do-it-yourself project. If you have a steep roof or a high chimney, consider calling professional chimney cleaning services like AusTex who can take care of your chimneys by using the most advanced tools on the market. 

Chimney Cleaning Tools

• Chimney brush
• Noodle brush
• Octopus web
• Long rods
• Vacuum
• Dust mask
• Safety glasses
• Safety harness
• Flashlight
• High ladder

Chimney Cleaning Process

To start the chimney cleaning process, the technicians set up a ladder on top of the chimney, climb up there and then drop the chimney cleaner down from the top.  The chimney brush is used in cleaning and comes in different shapes and sizes. You can choose one according to your chimneys so that it fits perfectly inside your chimney. But the octopus web with eight fingers made of a plastic string is used in chimney cleaning too. It is hooked up with a cordless drill and then you can run it up through the chimney. This process is mostly used if you have a tall chimney or a steep roof. So, you are supposed to be able to clean it from the bottom. Before starting the process, make sure you close the wood stove or close the glass doors on the fireplace so that the soot or creosote doesn’t get in your house.  The octopus web comes with a little attachment that goes into the drill, the long white pieces of the rod can clip into that drill and you can tighten it up. Then the spider-looking web is attached to the end of this white rod which can be made longer by adding more pieces. They are made pretty flexible to go right up the chimney and then you can run your drill and anything that’s up inside of there is cleaned as it spins around. While pushing it up the chimney, just be careful not to push it too much so that it goes out of the chimney cap, it might stuck up there and then you have to twist it from the bottom or go up there to release it from the top. 

Why choose AusTex for Chimney Sweep?

AusTex is a professional company providing services of air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, attic insulation, and HVAC ultraviolet light in Austin and surrounding areas like Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Kyle, and Round Rock.  Our team uses special types of equipment to completely remove all three degrees of debris that build up in chimneys. We show before and after images of the process and get the full satisfaction of the customer by providing high-quality services. If you have any questions regarding chimney sweeps, feel free to call us at (512)-522-0569 or schedule an appointment with us onlin