Despite the variety of modern heating systems, stove heating in Russia is still in demand. Plus, in many cottages they now put wood burning fireplaces, bringing to the home a unique comfort. However, the owners of such foci sooner or later have to decide how to clean the chimney in their home. After all, it gradually becomes clogged, which inevitably affects the quality of burning firewood.

What causes clogged chimneys

Chimney clogging occurs due to:

• the use of raw and/or tar firewood;
• insufficient draft in the chimney and furnace;
• burning in the furnace of garbage.

Chimney before and after cleaning

In the ideal case, the firewood in the furnace burns out completely, and only carbon dioxide, water vapor and a minimum amount of fine ash go into the chimney. But with incomplete combustion of wood, resins and large amounts of soot also enter the pipe. Moreover, together with the condensate, all this mixture settles on the walls of the chimney channel and gradually narrows it. It is these layers that have to be removed regularly by cleaning the chimney.

Why is a chimney clogged?

It does not matter if the chimney is made of metal (stainless steel or ordinary steel), brick or asbestos cement. Even if it is so fashionable now a sandwich option, the soot inside will settle anyway.

You still need to clean your chimney. The material of its manufacture affects only the frequency of these cleaning operations. On brick, soot deposits accumulate faster than on a smoother surface made of of stainless steel. But sooner or later, cleaning of any chimney in a private house will need to be done.

Consequences of overheating the chimney

If the chimney is not cleaned in time, it will narrow too much in diameter. And this threatens with a decrease in thrust with its possible fall down and smoke in the room with the furnace, an increase in condensate in the pipe and a decrease in the efficiency of the furnace. Plus, unburned particles often remain in the soot, which, when large cluster can ignite in the chimney and lead to burning of its walls. A fire in such a situation is inevitable.

How often to clean the pipe

Chimney pipes should be cleaned of soot at the first sign of their narrowing. For this, constant checks of channels are carried out. Depending on the purpose of the furnace and the material of the chimney, it is necessary to check them to a minimum:

• for heating boilers - once a year;
• for cooking and heating furnaces - three times a year;
• from brick - quarterly;
• from asbestos cement - once a year.

Ready tools for cleaning the chimney

It is recommended to carry out one of the chimney checks just before the heating season. Plus, one more extra will not hurt during this, with intensive use of the furnace in very coldy. In this, smoke removal is similar to ventilation and air conditioning. The same split system will be subject to a similar regular check with cleaning. Moreover, it is also recommended to check and clean it before the season of use and during it with a high intensity of operation of the equipment.

The design of the chimney brush

How to clean a chimney

If problems are identified, you can clean the chimneys yourself using how professional ways, and folk. To do this, it is enough to use mechanical devices, special chemistry and just household salt or starch. But much here depends on the degree of clogging and the amount of soot inside. Often, with such a cleaning, you have to resort to several methods at once.

How to properly clean your chimney

Mechanical methods

by the most effective way chimney cleaning is mechanical. Chimney sweeps have been using it for more than a century, the entire technology of this process has been worked out to the smallest detail during this time. You can clean the chimney using this method both from the bottom of the stove (fireplace hearth) and from the top from the roof. But there are nuances.

From above, in this way it will be possible to clean only the vertical section of the chimney channel.

How to clean a chimney with a telescopic brush

The places where the pipe turns should be cleaned of soot from the inside of the house through the firebox or special doors (holes) in the stove masonry.

As a tool for mechanical cleaning is used:

1. Ruff on a stick or rope with a sinker below.
2. Ruff on a flexible cable (similar analogues are used by plumbers).
3. Metal scraper for particularly stubborn soot stains.

How to clean the chimney from below

The ruff can be metal or plastic. It is recommended to clean stainless steel chimneys with the plastic option. And it is better to scrape off soot from a brick with a brush with “villi” made of iron.

How to make a chimney brush from plastic bottles

Chemical methods

If you don’t want to try on the role of a chimney sweep on the roof, then you can use specialized chemistry. Now there are a lot of products based on copper chloride and ammonium sulfate with phosphorus oxide. At first glance, just like choosing an air conditioner for an apartment, it is difficult to understand the range of such chemicals. But everything is quite simple - it is allowed to take any option.

How does a chemical chimney cleaner work?

These chemicals emit smoke when burned, which travels up the chimney and loosens the soot, causing it to fall down. Then it only needs to be collected with a scoop from the bends of the chimney and the stove or fireplace.

Similar chemistry is produced in the form of powders in bags and briquette logs. The main nuance their use - the need for thorough ventilation of housing during cleaning and immediately after.

The patency of smoke channels is of decisive importance for the normal operation of heating systems. This is especially important for solid fuel thermal units. Chimneys tend to become clogged with combustion products, which reduces fuel efficiency and increases the likelihood of situations that threaten not only the integrity of property, but also the lives of people living in the house.

How and how to clean the chimney from soot

Heating in a private house is vital important system, on which not only comfortable living depends, but often the property and life of residents. A special role is played by the system for removing fuel combustion products from the room - the chimney. Its inner surface is gradually contaminated with condensate and soot, while the cross-section of the chimney channel decreases, the draft decreases, and the complete removal of smoke from the room is disturbed.

Over time, the chimney becomes clogged with soot, and its ability to remove combustion products decreases.

Why does the chimney get dirty

Clogging of the smoke channel occurs during the combustion of fuel, when vaporous and solid products are released from it, carried out by the flow of furnace gases. But under certain conditions, they do not completely fly out into the pipe. This happens under the following circumstances:

1. Burning raw wood. Fuel with a moisture content above 24% contains an increased amount of intracellular moisture, which actively evaporates as it burns. These vapors rise along with the furnace gases into the chimney. In a cold or insufficiently heated channel, they mix with cooled air, as a result of which condensate settles on its walls. And this is not just some water, because the vapor contains oxidation products, so the precipitate is an acid. They do not just flow down the walls of the pipe, a significant part of them lingers on the walls, depositing solid combustion products from the smoke, while carbon deposits form on the walls, reducing the cross section of the smoke channel.

   When raw wood is burned, it releases excess moisture, which eventually settles on the walls of the chimney and becomes a source of soot

2. Use of prohibited fuel. Of course, there are no direct contraindications, but woodworking waste consisting of wood with fillers in the form of binders cannot be used to fire the furnace. Such materials include waste plywood, chipboard and fiberboard. This fuel emits a large number of tar in the smoke, which intensively settle on the walls of the chimney. Resinous wood - pine or spruce - has a similar effect.
3. Cold chimney. Moisture condensation on the walls occurs at a certain temperature in the channel. This state of gases is called the "dew point". If such conditions are created inside the smoke channel, condensate settles on its walls in an active mode, provoking the accumulation of soot. To get rid of this phenomenon, it is necessary to reliably insulate the pipe, reducing its heat transfer to the surrounding space. After that, the chimney warms up, and the dew point rises higher, leaving the space inside the pipe.
4. The presence of horizontal sections of the pipe. The greatest amount of soot is formed on the bends of the chimney, therefore, without special need, it is better not to use this method of laying. If no other solution is possible, shims should be installed on the pivoting elbows, which can be opened and free the knee from soot buildup.

   If you need to make a horizontal section on the chimney, the transition to it must be done using a branch with a special cleaning hole (revision)

5. Rough walls of the smoke channel. When constructing a chimney, it is necessary to mop the channel to improve the quality of its surface. Soot is deposited primarily on the irregularities of the chimney.
6. Furnace furnace with household waste. Such fuel is even more detrimental to the chimney than the use of plywood and other scraps. It always contains remnants of plastic or polyethylene packaging, which releases a lot of chemicals when burned. In this case, the chimney is guaranteed to grow soot faster than the end of the heating season.

Signs of a clogged chimney

When the flue gas duct becomes clogged, it will be immediately visible. The main signs of a clogged channel will be the following phenomena:

What to do if the chimney is clogged

Before the start of the heating season, it is imperative to inspect the chimney from the inside for blockages. In the warm season, birds with a nest can settle in it or debris blown into the chimney by the wind can appear. To avoid this, the chimney must be equipped with a mesh cap at the installation stage to prevent such situations.

In such a case, the house should always have a backup heating unit in the form of a heater or an electric heater built into the heating system.

Having provided yourself with warmth with its help in the cold season, you can thoroughly consider the situation and think about options for getting out of it.

The presence of draft in the furnace must be checked every time the furnace is ignited - the flame must deviate towards the chimney

How to clean a chimney

The meaning of this operation is to timely clean the walls from soot deposits and debris that has got inside (during the off-season period). When cleaning, you need to check all sections of the chimney and the stove itself. AT last turn the ash pan and furnace are cleaned. Timely cleaning of the chimney reduces fuel consumption and makes the operation of the furnace safe.

In practice, three main cleaning methods are used, two of which are preventive:

1. Chemical and biological methods. They are used as a preventive measure using compounds that soften soot and lead to its partial removal from the smoke channel.
2. Mechanical. It is produced by direct impact on the soot layer with various tools in order to remove it.

If you use such tools correctly and in a timely manner, you can avoid involving a third-party specialist in cleaning the chimney.

Biological methods of cleaning the chimney

All biological methods are based on adding some substances to a burning furnace. Common products include the following:

• potato peelings. This is an old folk remedy for the prevention of soot deposits, the simplest and always available. The peel must be prepared in advance, accumulating at least half a bucket. It must be dried and brought into the furnace at the end of the burning of the bookmark. When burned, potatoes release starch, which softens the soot layer well. It happens that it simply falls down in layers or pieces, part of it is carried out along with the furnace gases. This operation is also recommended before mechanical cleaning;
• rock salt. The method is used when igniting the furnace. The compound formed when the salt is heated softens the soot layer well. A tablespoon of salt should be poured over the fuel tab;
• aspen wood. Firewood from a tree of this breed has a high calorific value, so they are laid at the end of the firebox. Hot furnace gases simply burn soot directly on the walls of the chimney. The danger of the method lies in the fact that large deposits of soot during combustion at a high intrinsic temperature can destroy the chimney and cause a serious fire. Therefore, this method should be used regularly, laying aspen firewood in small portions. For the same purpose, you can use birch firewood peeled from the bark;
• walnut shell. The use of this tool is also associated with a high temperature of their combustion. Therefore, they can serve as an alternative to aspen firewood. But the shell can be used in an amount of no more than two liters at a time. Otherwise, overheating of the chimney is possible with predictable consequences.

Photo gallery: folk remedies for cleaning the chimney

Walnut shells cannot be burned in large quantities - it can overheat the chimney Burning dried cleanings destroys the soot layer due to the release of starch Rock salt, when heated, releases substances that soften soot on the walls of the chimney Aspen wood burns soot on the walls of the chimney due to very high temperature burning

Soot removal chemicals

There are several such funds, and they can be divided into two groups: household products and special chemicals. The first group includes:

1. Naphthalene. This is an effective and quite reliable tool. Under its influence, soot exfoliates and is taken out into the furnace. It is placed in the oven on the burning firewood. A significant drawback is the acrid unpleasant odor remaining in the room. Therefore, it is not used in open hearths and fireplaces.
2. Blue blend. It's easy to make your own if you have a few common ingredients on hand. Need to mix:
   • five parts of copper sulfate;
   • seven parts of saltpeter;
   • two parts of medium fraction coke.

Special chemicals are used to clean chimneys also for preventive purposes. Given the existing demand, the industry produces a variety of formulations designed specifically to combat soot. The release form can be briquettes, like logs, powders or solutions. Their action is based on the decomposition of smoke even in the furnace into components that do not form soot.

The convenience is that the methods of their use are described in detail in the instructions for use, and they are divided into portions. You can burn these products together with the packaging, which is also very convenient. The following products are popular:

There are quite a few remedies for soot on the market, so by testing you can choose the best option for yourself.

Photo gallery: chemicals for cleaning the chimney

Cheerful chimney sweep tablets will help get rid of soot in the chimney no worse than a professional chimney sweeper The blue mixture must be prepared independently from three not the most common components This tool is recommended to be used only in closed cells combustion Naphthalene leaves behind an unpleasant odor that will disappear within a few days

Video: chimney cleaning with special chemicals

Mechanical cleaning methods

Mechanical methods are radical and are recommended for use at least twice a year. They are produced from the top of the pipe with various brushes or nozzles for power tools, and the final cleaning is performed from below from the hearth, fireplace or furnace furnace.

Chimney sweeps use special ruffs on a long cable

As preparatory measures, before cleaning a thick (from two millimeters) layer of soot, potato peelings or other listed means are burned.

In this case, the following materials and tools may be needed:

To clean the pipe from above, you need to use a roof ladder, well fixed on the roof . Under any conditions, you need a reliable safety rope.

Work at height can only be carried out in dry, calm weather. Before climbing to the roof, you should not take drugs that reduce the reaction, and even more so alcoholic beverages.

Before starting work, the oven must be cooled down. Clean the furnace space from unburned fuel residues and ash. Close the firebox door, blower, and hob covers tightly and hang with a wet rag to prevent soot from entering the room. The gate must be opened completely to avoid re-clogging of the channel with crumbling soot.

The chimney pipe must be freed from the head, after which:

Video: cleaning the chimney from the side of the room

Ruff with your own hands

If for some reason there was no brush at hand, it can be made “on the go” from a plastic bottle. To do this, you need to cut several tiers of strips up to 12-15 millimeters wide on the body so that they bend vertically. To make the device heavier, sand can be poured to the bottom.

A good chimney brush can be made from a plastic bottle

Stainless steel pipe cleaning

A feature of the product is the high quality of the inner surface of the chimney. This prevents a significant amount of soot from settling on the walls. Naturally, this is true for a properly made chimney, subject to the rules for firing a furnace. If a stable soot has formed, it is urgent to clean it. To do this, use the following methods:

In order not to conduct additional "experiments", you need to heat the stove only with suitable fuel - well-dried firewood hardwood. At the end of each firebox, you need to add one aspen log for prevention.

Video: stainless steel pipe cleaning

Soot removal from stainless steel sandwich pipes

Cleaning the inner sandwich tube when it correct operation very rarely needed. Nevertheless, if such a need arises, you can use an elongated brush made of thin pile. The flexible compound hose is rotated by an electric drill, cleaning is done through a tee from below. Fine bristles of the ruff do not damage the surface of the pipe, effectively cleaning the surface.

Such a chimney is easy to dismantle and clean each pipe individually.

Special cases of cleaning the chimney

Some chimney cleaning situations require separate consideration.

How to clean a chimney pipe in a private house

Briefly, the entire process of cleaning the chimney has already been described above. To what has been said, it is only necessary to add that with a strong clogging of the smoke channel, the first operation is to break through the soot with a core without additional devices. Only then are brushes of different sizes and designs consistently used.

When performing work, care should be taken to create safe conditions for work.

When working at height, be sure to buckle up with a safety cable.

Video: how to clean a chimney in a private house

Bath chimney cleaning

The chimney in the bath is usually simpler. And most often it is made from stainless pipes, which requires special attention to its cleaning. In order not to nullify its main advantage - the high quality of the inner surface - it should be cleaned only with soft plastic or made of natural materials brushes. It is easiest to manage with straight pipelines, and if there are knees - we recall that there should be no more than two of them - you may have to dismantle the chimney if it does not provide for special windows for cleaning.

Otherwise, preventive measures and cleaning are carried out in the same way.

Cleaning the chimney pipe from tar

Considering the composition of flue gases, you need to pay attention to two main components - this is water vapor from the fuel and a vapor of difficult-to-ignite creosote. Mixing and settling on the walls of the smoke channel, they form a resin that is difficult to remove due to its viscosity and good adhesion to various types of surfaces.

The only effective way to deal with tar deposits is to prevent its formation. For this, various means are used that are produced specifically for this case.

HANSA effectively protects the walls of the chimney from the formation of tar

For example, the known composition of HANSA is a fine crystalline substance. Part of it turns wood into resin and water vapor, and the second, reacting with the substance of the resin, contributes to its decomposition and combustion at the temperature in the furnace. Remains of resin on the walls turn into a brittle crystalline composition, crumbling into the furnace.

This composition is placed inside the burning furnace. The frequency of use at the beginning of the operation of the thermal unit is daily, then you can switch to use once a week.

Curved chimney cleaning

The bends of the smoke channel are always a forced measure caused by the structural features of the building. However, they need to be cleaned periodically. For this purpose, elements are provided in the design of the pipeline, using which this operation can be performed easily and simply. These are special hatches, when opened, it becomes possible to access the straight section of the bend. The length of the inclined sections is not recommended to be made larger than a meter. The number of bends on one pipe should not exceed two.

If there is no window for cleaning on the outlet elbow, then the chimney will have to be disassembled

How to clean a gas stove chimney

The reason for cleaning the chimney of the gas column is its banal clogging with a deterioration in draft. In a city apartment, this is all the more dangerous because the threat arises for many people at the same time. One of the signs of traction deterioration is the “popping” of the column igniter.

Exhaust pipe cleaning process gas unit practically no different from such an operation with conventional chimneys. The same ruff is used. AT recent times Vacuum cleaners of a special design are often used, which reliably clean the surface of the pipe and collect pollution products. In difficult cases, when the layers cannot be removed with a brush or vacuum cleaner, special chemicals are used to soften and remove them. Considering that the use of prophylactic agents on the column pipe is impossible, urgent measures should be taken if signs of clogging are found.

It must be admitted that the success of using solid fuel furnace equipment to the greatest extent depends on the correct operation of the units and the careful selection of fuel for it. In addition, it is necessary to regularly use preventive measures and know how to get rid of problems with clogged chimneys. Then stoves and fireplaces will delight you with fertile warmth in the house for a long time. I wish you success!

Owners of stoves and fireplaces are well aware of the need for regular maintenance of their heating boilers. No matter how perfect the design is, cleaning the chimney will definitely be required. Various factors influence its clogging rate: operating conditions, device design, quality and type of fuel, etc. However, even in the most ideal conditions, at least once a year, the chimney must be cleaned. Often this operation is carried out by employees of special companies, but if you wish, you can handle it yourself.

Why is it necessary to clean the chimney at all?

When fuel burns in the heater, soot is released. Warm air lifts it up, where it settles on the walls of the chimney. Over time, soot accumulates, its layer becomes more and more powerful. This leads to unpleasant consequences:

• The channel for the removal of smoke is narrowed, which gives a reduction in traction.
• The wear of the walls of the chimney is accelerated.
• The efficiency of the heating device decreases.
• Increases the likelihood of fire inside the chimney.

Trouble can be prevented only by timely cleaning of the chimney from accumulated soot.

You may also find this article on how to make a brick chimney the right way:

Chimney cleaning methods

All options for cleaning the smoke channel can be divided into three groups.

Option # 1 - folk remedies

The most common remedy for the accumulation of soot in the chimney is rock salt. It is usually sprinkled on the fuel during combustion. However, this option can be considered, rather, as the prevention of soot formation. It will not help to radically clean the pipe.

A more effective chimney cleaner is potato peelings or just chopped potatoes. Their number is determined by the size of the heater, but on average it usually leaves about a bucket. Cleanings are poured directly into the fire. The starch released along with the steam softens the soot and it exits the pipe. After the procedure, it is necessary to clean the oven. Sometimes this operation is performed before mechanical cleaning which is much easier.

Another remedy is aspen firewood. Several armfuls of such fuel are burned in a furnace. However, it must be immediately noted that this is sufficient dangerous way. It involves heating the chimney to very high temperatures, as a result of which the soot begins to burn out. Before using this method, you should make sure that the chimney is strong. In addition, soot deposits must be small, otherwise even the most durable pipe will not withstand the loads and collapse.

Soot is deposited inside the chimney and closes the space of the outlet channel. Draft deteriorates, the efficiency of the heater decreases and the risk of fire increases

Option #2 - chemical compositions

The industry produces many products designed to clean the chimney. These are various powders, liquids and briquettes. They are added to the furnace during the combustion of fuel. They light up and emit substances harmless to humans, destroying deposits on the walls of the smoke channel, which crumble down. Among the popular means is PCA or anti-scale chemical composition. A special powder is put into the firebox along with firewood. Its quantity is strictly regulated: no more than 200 g per ton of fuel.

In search of how to clean your chimney from a small layer of soot, you should pay attention to the Czech tool Kominichek. This powder, when heated, causes a catalytic reaction, causing the soot to burn at a lower temperature. The most popular is the Chimney Sweep Log, which can be used in all types of appliances that run on liquid and solid fuels. You need to use the tool as deposits accumulate. On average, a fireplace that is lit once or twice a week will require one briquette for six months. But for a boiler that is constantly used, you will need one log every two months. In large fireplaces and stoves, two packages are burned at once.

Before using the Chimney Sweep for the first time in the heating season, you should inspect the chimney to be sure that it is not clogged with debris or foreign objects. The briquette can be burned with or without fuel. However, for maximum efficiency, it is placed on hot coals. Before this, the log is taken out of the package, but the wrapper is not removed. You should wait until the briquette flares up, if this does not happen, the wrapper is set on fire from both sides. The action of the active substance lasts for two weeks. All this time, soot is possible. After this period, the pipe should be inspected and the furnace cleaned.

An effective tool for cleaning the chimney is a special log. When burning, it releases volatile substances that destroy the soot deposited in the smoke channel.

However, it is worth saying a few words about safety (more in the video):

Although, there is an opinion that all this is written with a pitchfork on the water:

Whom to believe is up to you.

Option #3 - mechanical cleaning

No matter how advanced humanity is in matters of technology, mechanical cleaning of chimneys, just like hundreds of years ago, remains the simplest, most reliable and effective way to remove soot and soot. Depending on which gas ducts need to be cleaned - vertical or horizontal, a variety of scrapers, shovels, brushes and panicles are used. You can make a tool for servicing furnace channels with your own hands or buy it in specialized departments of building markets. Most often, a ruff brush is used to remove soot in vertical gas ducts, and a poker and a brush with hard bristles are used in horizontal gas ducts. If necessary, a handle of the desired length is attached to the tool.

A chimney brush can be easily made from improvised materials

Previously, to clean the chimney, you could turn to a chimney sweep. Since today people in this profession are extremely rare, we will talk in detail about how to properly clean the stove or fireplace from soot:

1. Clean the firebox of ash and unburned residues solid fuel.
2. Close the blower, firebox and all cleaning doors tightly - remember that soot consists of microscopic particles that can penetrate into the narrowest gaps. An open fireplace should be curtained with a thick cloth, which should be moistened with plenty of water.
3. Climb to the roof following the safety rules. You should have a ruff brush tied to a long rope with you.
4. Inspect the vertical flue for debris contamination. If large third-party objects got into the chimney, or if a broken half of a brick blocked the smoke channel, then it can be released using a cable with a heavy ball-shaped weight. Use items for this purpose complex shape(with a displaced center of gravity) is not recommended. Often they turn and get stuck in the furnace channels, requiring additional effort and time to remove.
5. After removing the blockage, lower a bristly brush into the chimney and clean the walls along the entire height of the pipe with translational movements up and down. If the chimney has not been cleaned for a long time, or raw wood with a high resin content was used for the firebox, then a thick layer of deposits can only be removed with a metal scraper.
6. Check the result of your work and go down. Your next target is the remaining vertical and horizontal channels. They can be accessed through the cleaning doors. Opening them one by one in the direction from the chimney to the mouth of the furnace, remove carbon deposits with scrapers and hard whisks and rake them out of the channels with a poker.
7. Furnaces with a wide firebox, as well as fireplaces, are also cleaned from the side of the firebox. Lastly, the soot is scraped off the walls of the fuel chamber and the blower, after which the soot is removed and the under and grate is cleaned.

When finished with work, close and carefully seal the cleaning doors, carry out a complete wet cleaning premises. The cleaning procedure is usually carried out twice a year, before and at the end of the heating season.

Fireplaces with straight chimneys can be cleaned from below, through the firebox. To do this, use a special metal brush, the handle of which is extended with the help of special extensions

The problem of cleaning the chimney is easily solved. You can choose from several cleaning options. It is only necessary to take into account the amount of deposits accumulated on the walls of the smoke channel. All work, including mechanical cleaning, can be carried out independently. You should read the instructions and follow them carefully. However, those who are not confident in their abilities or do not want to do dirty work can invite a professional. In any case, a clean chimney will delight its owner with excellent traction and a long service life.

How to reduce soot deposits

Soot and soot are deposited even in the pipes of gas-fired furnaces. What can we say about the combustion of solid fuel - for him it is an even more natural process. At the same time, the amount of combustion products deposited on the walls of the chimney can be significantly reduced. To do this, follow a few simple rules:

1. No trash. It is impossible to burn plastic, foam plastic, rubber and other substances with a high carbon content in the furnace of a solid fuel furnace.
2. Prepare firewood ahead of time. Remember that high-quality dry wood burns almost without residue, with minimal release of soot and carbon-causing substances. Among other things, this is facilitated by a higher combustion temperature, which affects the course of pyrolysis processes. As for raw firewood, when they are used, water vapor is released in excess, as well as substances such as tar, creosote, etc. - they simply do not have time to burn due to low temperature. Subsequently, all these tar-like substances fall out in the form of hard-to-remove deposits on the gas duct channels and are the reason for the rapid overgrowth of soot channels - it sticks much more readily to the sticky substance.
3. Use hard wood. Anyone who fires a stove on their own knows that oak, hornbeam, beech, aspen and acacia firewood are the best. In second place is the wood of walnut, apple, cherry, larch, poplar, plane tree, etc. But firewood from trees conifers(spruce, pine, juniper, etc.) contain a lot of resin, so when using them, you will need to clean the stove much more often. As, however, and when burning with birch logs, which are distinguished by a high content of tar. By the way, fashionable today fuel briquettes or pellet granules are also subject to a thorough audit at the time of purchase. If they are made from pine sawdust or sunflower husks, then it is better to bypass such fuel due to the high content of resins and oily substances.
4. Make sure the wood burns optimally. This corresponds to a flue gas temperature of 150 to 350 degrees. With reduced heat generation, the carbon of the wood does not have time to burn out in the furnace and flies away with smoke, simultaneously falling out in the vertical and horizontal channels of the furnace.

In order to achieve the most complete combustion wood, use the advice of experienced stove-makers. Here's what they recommend:

• before laying firewood in the stove, keep it indoors for at least 2-3 days. During this time, they will dry out and warm up to room temperature, which means that they will not only burn better, but will not require additional heat for preheating;
• before laying the main batch of wood, heat the combustion chamber by burning chips, pieces of cardboard, etc. in it;
• as the firewood burns out, regulate the combustion process with a damper or blower door. Of course, the high temperature in the furnace is good because less soot is formed, however, in this case, the heat will not have time to accumulate in the body of the furnace, and will simply fly away into the atmosphere;
• install a flame indicator on the chimney. With it, you can more accurately monitor the temperature of the smoke and keep the process of heat generation within optimal limits.

A temperature indicator mounted on the chimney will keep combustion within optimal limits.

Symptoms of an “overgrown” chimney cannot be overlooked. First of all, the color of the smoke changes. If the flue duct is clean, it will be light, transparent or white. The accumulated soot starts to burn, which changes the color of the smoke. It becomes thicker and darker. The hue of the flame in the oven can also change. Under normal conditions, it will be light orange. If a rich shade of dark orange appears, then it's time to think about how to clean the chimney.

What is better to choose for heating a wooden house, which option is more economical and profitable, you will find out in our next material:.

In any case, even if there are no warning signs, experts recommend inspecting the smoke duct at least twice a year. It should be borne in mind that cleaning may be necessary not only in case of an increase in the soot layer, but also from debris, bird nests, cobwebs, etc. that accidentally got inside. There are many cleaning methods and you can choose the best one only after determining the level of pollution, revision of the state of the chimney, etc.

There is no smoke without fire, and also without soot and other products of incomplete combustion that settle on the walls of the chimney. Stove heating is more than one millennium, and during this time people have developed more than a dozen ways to clean chimneys. Once there was a belief that a meeting with a chimney sweep brings good luck. This profession was honorable and in demand. Nowadays, many means have been created for the mechanical and chemical removal of soot. Using them, the owner of the household can do all the work on his own.

Why is the chimney clogged

Combustion is a complex physical and chemical process during which a rapid oxidation reaction of combustible substances occurs with the release of a large amount of heat. The original substance, which served as fuel, breaks up into fractions as a result of combustion. Most of it passes into a hot gaseous state and rushes down the chimney, creating traction. Together with gases, particles of unburned substances rush into the chimney, which are deposited in the form of soot and plaque.

Incomplete combustion occurs for two reasons:

• not all substances are combustible;
• due to the lack of oxygen, without which combustion is impossible.

Soot is carbon in an amorphous state. In the chimney, the soot mixes with the oils and resins in the wood and becomes greasy to the touch. This mixture itself is combustible. When soot ignites, its flame reaches a temperature of over 1000 ° C. This reason alone is enough to regularly clean the entire chimney path.

From the flame in the chimney to the fire in the house is one step

In addition, soot clogs the clearance, which reduces traction. For this reason, combustion deteriorates and heat generation in the furnace decreases. Worse, a narrow gap can create an effect reverse thrust when the products of incomplete combustion begin to go inside the heated room. This is fraught not only with a fire, but also with the danger of poisoning people. carbon monoxide.

The first signs that the chimney needs cleaning appear long before obvious negative consequences. You should be concerned if:

• there is a change in the color of the smoke from the pipe from transparent or whitish to dark;
• it has been noticed that instead of pure fire with a cheerful crackle of coals, dark flames appear with smoke from the furnace;
• people with developed hearing feel a change in the tone of the hum in the chimney.

Often, viewing windows with plugs are provided in the design of the chimney, they are called revisions, through which you can check the condition of the chimney. In the absence of revisions, the old-fashioned way is suitable: lowering a brick on a rope into the chimney. With a strong blockage, the brick will begin to get stuck. By the way the rope loosens and jerks again, you can feel the condition of the chimney. Modern advanced homeowners use a video camera on a flexible cable.

A clogged chimney is a risk factor and a threat fire safety. Such a stove should not be operated until the chimney has been completely cleaned.

How to clean a chimney pipe in a private house

Any method is good when the clearance in the chimney is restored, after which combustion in the stove or in the fireplace occurs with maximum heat transfer.

You can hire professional chimney sweeps, but the work itself is not difficult. If you have free time and simple equipment independent execution cleaning will save the family budget, give a skill and understanding of how stove heating works.

Chemical cleaning methods

Industrial chemistry comes to the rescue. The efforts of the homeowner come down to buying the product and filling it into the firebox according to the instructions.

Usually, chemicals are added directly during the burning of firewood. There is a combination of pleasant and useful. Under the influence of high temperature, the chemical assistant decomposes with the release of active components that convert the amorphous carbon of soot into solid fractions that lose their adhesion to the walls of the chimney and crumble into the furnace. They are then removed along with the ashes.

The following chemicals are popular:

1. The anti-scale chemical composition (PCC) is produced in the form of a powder and is strictly dosed. When packing in paper bags, the packaging is not opened. One bag is laid along with firewood. There are options for plastic containers to which spoon dispensers are applied. Usually 200 grams of powder is designed for 1 ton of fuel. Before use, you must carefully read the instructions.
2. The Czech chimney sweep "Kominichek" is also packaged in sachets of 14 grams each. One bag is enough for a fireplace or stove, two for a boiler central heating. Posted once every two weeks.
3. A log is a briquette made of coal dust and sawdust mixed with active chemicals. Produced by many manufacturers and vary in size, weight and shape. Can be laid together with firewood or separately.

Dry cleaning is effective as a preventive measure and with a layer of soot up to 2 mm. It cannot completely replace mechanical cleaning.

Photo gallery: chemical chimney cleaners

Inside the pack 20 gram sachets 80 g per pack Powder comes with a measuring spoon Effective creosote buildup remover

Video: log chimney sweep

mechanical cleaning

There are traditional sets of professional chimney sweeps - weights, brushes, scrapers and ruffs on chains and flexible cables. They do not belong to mass demand goods, so they are purchased in specialized stores or ordered directly from manufacturers. Modern industry also offers sophisticated devices for large volumes of work: vacuum cleaners, vacuum units, smoke and ventilation duct punchers, live steam generators.

The chimney sweep is depicted on a coin of 1 lats

The technique of work is simple, the main thing is to remove the accumulated soot and other layers of products of incomplete combustion as much as possible. The chimney sweep rises to the roof, where, with the help of cables (chains), he sharply lowers a weight with a ruff into the chimney. Ruff knocks down soot, it crumbles into the furnace. Additionally, scrapers and brushes on long flexible poles are used. If the chimney has holes for revision, which in normal condition closed with shutters, they are also used for cleaning and inspection. In fireplaces and in some types of stoves or boilers, there is the possibility of partial penetration into the chimney from the side of the firebox.

In the absence of household special tools can be dispensed with improvised means. Any chain will fit, it can be easily replaced plumbing cable, hose or strong rope. Instead of a weight, they tie an old barn lock, a dumbbell, a plastic bottle with sand, a stone in a stocking. You can’t quickly make a metal ruff, but the same plastic bottle will help out.

Video: cleaning with a ruff from a plastic bottle

If a powerful draft is created in the chimney, then the soot will rush up the pipe in a natural way. folk craftsmen use vacuum cleaners, fans, chainsaws and grinders for this. True, this method is not always practical, since puffs of black smoke rush into the atmosphere, and soot falls on the plot and to the neighbors. In this case, reasonable care and agreement is required.

Devices that can create a sharp shake inside the chimney give a good effect on soot collapse. Even firecrackers come into play.

Video: cleaning the chimney with firecrackers

Burn the soot with fire

For chimneys made of refractory bricks, dry firewood from alder and aspen is used. They quickly burn out with a flame temperature of up to 1100 ° C. At this temperature, the soot burns out completely. The method is ancient, but nowadays it is rarely practiced due to restrictions on fire safety rules.

The procedure is as follows:

1. They collect aspen and alder firewood and dry them well.
2. They clean the firebox from coals and ash, fully load it with prepared firewood and ignite it.
3. Alert fire fighting equipment.
4. During combustion, sparks from the chimney are controlled and ensure that sparks do not accidentally ignite the roof or adjacent buildings.
5. If necessary, load the furnace again and repeat the ignition.
6. The work is considered completed if white flakes fly from the pipe and the characteristic buzz from burning soot stops.

This method has found its development using other means of burning soot. Gasoline, diesel fuel, naphthalene were used. But it is better not to risk and not to experiment. Such combustible substances are not safe, their vapors are capable of a volumetric explosion. It will blow away not only soot, but the entire chimney.

Folk remedies

It is not known who was the first to use potato peelings, the method is truly popular and appeared as a side effect of burning household waste in an oven.

It was noticed that after the burning of potato peelings, soot falls abundantly from the chimney into the firebox, from where it is removed along with the ash. The point, of course, is not in cleanings, but in the starch contained in potatoes. It is starch that so successfully binds and brings down soot.

It is not necessary to use cleaning. The potato itself is suitable if it is in excess and requires disposal. As well as other foods rich in starch, which must be soaked before use. These are legumes - peas, soybeans, beans, lentils and cereals - corn, buckwheat, rice. Or directly pure starch.

From a practical point of view, potato peels are the most beneficial material. They are thrown away anyway. It is enough to save up about a bucket and pour it into a kindled stove to get an excellent result.

In addition to starch, from what is always at hand, you can use table salt and baking soda. They also act on the soot, helping it fall off.

Folk remedies are preventive, allowing to reduce the blockage of the chimney. The best quality result is given by the same good old mechanical cleaning.

Sleeve in the chimney

It has long been noticed that oval-shaped pipes give better traction, and soot is less deposited on smooth glossy surfaces.

Brickwork, which is most often used for the construction of chimneys, is devoid of such advantages. This is where the idea of ​​a tube in a tube came from, especially when the industry began to offer tubes and fittings in galvanized sheet, stainless steel and ceramic as a set. In the future, the appearance of pipes made of heat-resistant plastic that does not decompose at high temperatures is expected.

The sleeved chimney is a structure in which outer part made of brick or concrete as architectural element for decoration and protection of the internal chimney - sleeves.

Sleeved chimney - a chimney in a closed mine

The advantage of sleeve is obvious:

• improvement of traction and reduction of soot accumulation;
• heat saving;
• removal of condensate, which excludes the formation of an aggressive acidic or alkaline environment inside the chimney;
• reduction of thermal loads on brickwork;
• simplification of cleaning and revision of the chimney.

Since the sleeve consists of collapsible elements, its installation, maintenance, replacement of defective parts do not require the involvement of qualified repairmen.

Stainless steel is considered to be the most popular material for sleeves. Ceramics in itself is good, but only for individual project. Material and work will be very costly. You can use galvanized sheet, it is cheaper than "stainless steel", however, the service life will be shorter and there is always a risk that the sheet will not withstand and burn out.

An even greater effect can be obtained from pipes and connection elements made in the form of a sandwich, that is, two-layered with insulating non-combustible material inside, for example, mineral wool.

Video: pipe sleeve

When building a new chimney, the pipe sleeve is done simultaneously with the masonry. It is more difficult when the chimney has already been built and has been in operation. But this is not an insurmountable obstacle, because the individual parts of the system are made just for installation inside a brick or concrete shaft. The sleeve is performed as follows:

1. Mechanical cleaning of chimneys and its revision is carried out.
2. The possibility of passing the sleeve from the top of the chimney to the firebox is determined.
3. When there are no bends in the chimney that prevent the free pushing of the sleeve, it is assembled, articulating the elements, and gradually lowered into the chimney to the firebox.
4. During operation, it is recommended to be careful not to accidentally drop the unassembled cartridge case. This can significantly complicate further assembly.
5. The sleeve is flexible enough to handle simple bends. If a blockage occurs, you can try to approach the bend from the side of the firebox. The elements are articulated and gradually pushed upward.
6. If it is not possible to pass the bend, then the chimney is partially disassembled into trouble spot. You can knock out a few bricks or make a technological cutout that provides access to the connection.
7. In pipe bends, the connection is made by elements such as an elbow or a bend.

The sleeve is fixed with clamps, an apron and a fungus are installed on top, protecting the chimney and sleeve from atmospheric precipitation. Mounting on the side of the furnace must ensure the removal of combustion products through the sleeve system, excluding their entry into the chimney shaft.

The sleeve elements are made in such a way that they tightly fit one into the other and firmly hold their shape. The dimensions are standard, which makes it easy to replace individual parts or modify if necessary to rebuild the chimney.

The hearth in the form of a fireplace or stove serves not only as a means of heating the room, but also creates a unique comfort in the house. However, the use of fire inevitably gives rise to the need Maintenance chimney. Chemical and mechanical cleaning agents are available. And besides them there are proven for centuries folk remedies. Each method is good in its own way, but with certain limitations. Using them in combination allows you to operate the furnace heating system with the greatest return.

To clean the chimney pipe in a private house, you need to know some of the nuances, otherwise you risk damaging the structure and wasting time by doing this time-consuming work poorly. If you are faced with a choice between chemical and mechanical cleaning, feel free to choose a mechanical one, as it is much more effective. If necessary, contact a specialist.

Clogging of the chimney occurs for a variety of reasons. Often the culprit can be a foreign object getting into the pipe. For example, birds or other animals that bring with them nesting material that completely blocks smoke exhaust. Excessive build-up of soot (a natural by-product of the combustion process) can also cause clogging. Finally, a large amount of leaves, branches and other debris can block the chimney.

Sometimes improper design during construction can cause further frequent blockages. This is the most difficult reason to eliminate, since in most cases it will not be possible to get rid of it on your own, and contacting qualified specialists can cost a lot of money. Often, to completely eliminate the problem, it is necessary to completely dismantle the stove or fireplace in order to build a new furnace and smoke exhaust system. If you do not have the relevant experience and you do not know how to clean the chimney, in no case try to do it yourself.

Why soot is dangerous

During the combustion of firewood or coal, amorphous carbon (soot) is formed containing small particles. solid. Soot is formed when hot particles interact with cold air, resulting in condensation. Since this process takes place in the air inside your home, the soot is hardly visible until it begins to settle on walls and other surfaces as a black coating.

When interacting with moisture in the room, soot can significantly degrade water quality, damage houseplants and make the surrounding air unbreathable.
Long stay in a room with a high content of soot in the air can cause coronary heart disease, asthma, bronchitis and many other respiratory diseases.

Burning has the most dangerous effect on people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, increasing the risk of a heart attack.

If newborn children are in a contaminated room, this may affect their development of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is a major concern when it comes to space heating with wood or coal.

Folk methods of contactless cleaning

Please note that contactless cleaning eliminates the problem only for a while. If you have any difficulties with mechanical cleaning, use the services of professionals.

The people often use the following methods to combat soot and burning:

• Burning potato skins together with firewood;
• Placement in the pipe of a bag filled with bricks;
• Using pine wood to clean the chimney.

Please be aware that none of these methods is a reliable cleaning method and does not guarantee an adequate degree of safety. The best methods are mechanical or chemical cleaning. In some cases, you can combine several options, if your design allows it.

Cleaning with chemicals

Sodium chloride

Sodium chloride, also known as table salt, is a simple chemical that is easy to find. Put some salt on the fire while it burns. The salt will react with the water in the burning wood, creating a weak acid that will move up the chimney and dissolve a small amount of soot. Use this method with caution. Do not use sodium chloride if you have a metal chimney installed, as the acid will corrode if it comes into contact with the metal.

copper sulfate

When choosing an industrial flue gas purifier, one of the most effective ingredients is copper sulfate. This material chemically interacts with the soot and causes it to burn at a lower temperature than usual. Like table salt, copper sulfate works with water to create sulfurous or sulfuric acid, which can damage the inside of your chimney.

While chemical cleaners can prevent soot buildup, the only way to effectively get rid of a blockage is to manually clean the inside of the pipe with a special brush. Chemical cleaners should never be the only cleaning method. In addition, excessive use of chemicals can damage the chimney, especially chimneys with metal cladding which will significantly reduce their service life. Read the instructions carefully before using any chemical cleaner to avoid fire. If the chimney is not working properly and the smoke is coming back, do not use chemicals in any case, as this can threaten you with serious poisoning.

Mechanical cleaning of the chimney

Do-it-yourself mechanical cleaning of the chimney is a very time-consuming task that requires considerable effort and time. There are four common methods cleaning. Some of them require the presence of more than one person, but all four methods involve a set of the same tools.

To clean your chimney you will need:

• Ruff for cleaning the chimney;
• Flue rods, rope and pull rings (depending on the method);
• Pipe cap;
• Fabric for flooring and furniture;
• Ribbon;
• Mirror;
• Metal bucket;
• Shovel and broom;
• Torch;
• Protective mask/goggles;
• Stairs.

Measure the width of the chimney before purchasing a special brush to select the correct size.

In no case do not save on the quality of consumables. This can affect both the quality of cleaning and the integrity of your design.

Basic methods of mechanical cleaning

• Top-down rod method. You must be on the roof to perform this cleaning method. Insert the brush into the hole to clean the inside walls by raising and lowering the brush a few times. The brush must be connected to flexible metal bars to increase the length of the brush as it travels further down the chimney. Use this cleaning method if you want to avoid getting soot on furniture and walls in your home. It is recommended to close the firebox in order to completely avoid soot from the walls of the chimney on things in the living room.
• Bottom-up bar method. This method is similar to the previous one, but for cleaning it is necessary to be in the house, and not on the roof, working with the rod from below. It's much safer since you don't have to climb onto the roof, but it's impossible to avoid getting soot and dust on things in your house. To greatly reduce soiling, use a tarp to protect your furniture from excessive burning.

• Cleaning with additional weight. This cleaning is recommended to follow the same algorithm as the top-down rod method, but instead of using a smoke brush, a rope, pull rings and a weight must be attached to the flexible metal rods. Add rings and any load of at least 9 kilograms to the end of the rope, then raise and lower this structure into the chimney from the roof. Do not forget to close the firebox in the house so that dust does not fall on interior items.
• double line method. This method requires the participation of two people. Pass the rope through your broom (use a tension ring to hold if necessary). One person takes a broom and a rope to the roof and, holding on to one end, lowers the unit down the pipe. The person in the house grabs the other end of the rope. Everyone takes turns pulling the rope to thoroughly clean the chimney with a brush. Be prepared for a copious amount of dust in the house after the procedure. Be sure to use a tarp or any other fabric to cover the floor and furniture.

Step-by-step instructions for mechanical cleaning

1. Prepare a cloth to collect dust and lay it in front of the firebox (stove).
2. Put on a mask and gloves.
3. Carefully illuminate the pipe with a flashlight to accurately determine its size.
4. Make sure your brush is at least a little longer than your chimney.
5. Place a tarp or an old unwanted sheet over the fireplace. Use fireproof tape for this purpose to avoid flame incidents (especially if you use a torch or candle instead of a flashlight).
6. Push the brush up the chimney, twisting it inside if necessary.
7. Repeat this process until you reach the top of the chimney.
8. Take a look at the chimney using a flashlight. If the walls are still dirty, repeat the previous procedure again.
9. Use a hair dryer to heat the chimney. Point the heat source at the chimney for about 8 minutes.
10. Light a small piece of paper in the firebox to check the quality of the work done. If the smoke rises and does not come back, then the cleaning was successful. Otherwise, you can repeat the previous steps.
11. To make sure your pipe is intact, have someone look outside to see how the smoke is coming out. If smoke comes out of several holes, then most likely the chimney is damaged. In this case, do not try to do anything yourself, but contact qualified specialists to avoid a fire.
12. If everything went well, remove all dust and fumes from the firebox with a vacuum cleaner.
13. This procedure must be carried out at least once every one and a half months.

• During cleaning, wear clothes that you don’t mind throwing away after completion, as you will have a rather dirty and dusty job;
• Measure the width of your chimney before purchasing a custom chimney brush to determine the correct size. If the ruff is too large, it may get stuck during brushing;
• Do not use water to start a fire, as it can deform a metal chimney;
• You can make a chimney brush with your own hands using steel cables, unnecessary wire and a metal load. Make sure you use a weight of at least 8-9 kilograms.

Checking the quality of cleaning

The easiest way to check is to shine a flashlight into the chimney. If you do not find a gray, brown or black coating on its walls, then the cleaning was done with high quality. The absence of an unpleasant odor during the burning of firewood also indicates that there is no residue left in the chimney. harmful substances. During cleaning, foreign objects may enter the chimney (for example, a piece of rope, fibers from a brush, etc.). expendable materials). Before lighting the firewood and the first check, carefully check that the chimney is free of foreign debris.

If you suspect that the chimney was damaged during cleaning, do not use it under any circumstances until a preliminary inspection. Perform a thorough check yourself or invite a specialist.

Remember - if the diagnosis or cleaning is done incorrectly, it is not recommended to use such a chimney in the near future.

Follow these tips to avoid soot buildup:

• Regularly check the chimney for blockages, if necessary, contact a specialist;
• Do not burn cellophane, foil and other foreign objects in the firebox;
• Make sure that the entire system from the firebox to the chimney is properly installed;
• Make sure all wood is sufficiently dry before lighting;
• Choose the right size stove or fireplace for your space;
• Make sure the fire is completely extinguished before you go to bed or leave the premises;
• If your stove is located in the country, and you do not use it for a long time, do not forget to close the pipe with a plug cover during your absence.

Prices for the services of professional chimney sweeps

If you use your fireplace more than four times a week, you will need to have your chimney cleaned for regular basis. This is one of the most important factors in determining the cost of a chimney sweep, as the more often your fireplace or stove is used, the more blockage will form on the walls of the chimney.

In order for cleaning to be as effective as possible, it is advisable to clean both from the house and from the roof.

If you have been using your fireplace for many years and have never been cleaned, the cost of a professional service can be much more expensive than any subsequent cleaning, as years of clogging is very difficult to remove.

Approximate prices for chimney sweep services

Prices may vary depending on your region. The table below shows prices for Moscow and the Moscow region.

Chemical cleaning by specialists is not carried out and is strictly not recommended for self use. For an additional fee, a specialist can advise you on how to clean the chimney pipe in a private house on your own.

Always remember that even with proper care, you cannot avoid fouling your chimney, it's just a matter of time. Clean every few months to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and bad smell in the room. Despite the apparent effectiveness of home remedies and the use of chemicals, there is no substitute for a good mechanical cleaning.