If you feel that your chimney is clogged, you can call in a professional. A professional chimney cleaner will have the tools and knowledge to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Empty the debris out of your stove or fireplace. Light a fast, hot fire. Lots of kindling and paper to get hot fast. Cardboard helps, as does well dried, light wood. Let it burn for about half an hour. Look up at the smoke coming out of your chimney, it should now be white.
Cleaning of the chimney's flue can be done from the roof or through the fireplace. You'll need a wire brush with an attached extension for this task. After removing the rain cap or animal guard, reach into the chimney with the wire brush and scrub the inner walls of the flue with an up-and-down motion.
Always, always, always unblock from the bottom. Never unblock a chimney from the top. In cases of nesting material there are corkscrew attachments that can be put onto cleaning rods. They actually hook into the nesting material and lift it out.
The cost of chimney sweeping varies based on the specific type of fireplace or stove. Gas fireplaces, which generally accumulate less residue than wood-burning variants, cost on average between £60 to £90 for a sweep. Wood-burning fireplaces, with their traditional design, usually range between £80 to £100.
Most policies will require a professional chimney sweeping once a year. If you ever need to make a claim, having an in-date chimney sweeping certificate shows that you actively maintain your home.
In the short term, repairing a chimney is typically cheaper than removing it. However, for unused or severely damaged chimneys, removal might be more cost-effective in the long run, eliminating future expenses.
Dangers of a blocked chimney
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning is also a real danger when blockages prevent harmful gases and toxic fumes from exiting the chimney as they should. When the smoke has nowhere else to go, back puffing occurs. This is when smoke comes back into the home instead of going out of the chimney.
If the chimney has been capped or blocked off, this will also need opening up before you can use it again. The chimney will need to be swept, too, as there could be some debris up there. A professional chimney sweep should also be able to let you know what state the flue is in, and if any repairs need to be done.
Soot often builds up and clogs the chimney, causing the smoke to seep back down into your home, rather than escaping through the chimney. Chunks of debris like slate, bricks or bits of bird's nest also make their way into chimneys that aren't cleaned regularly causing blockage chimney issues.
Chimney cleaning can be a DIY project depending on: Level of Buildup and Creosote: If you find 1/8 inch of buildup or more, or if you see indications of a serious accumulation of creosote, the chimney cleaning is a job for a professional.
Blockages in chimneys most commonly result from either an excessive buildup of creosote and soot or various debris such as leaves, twigs and small animal nests.
It is vital to allow for continued airflow, and that's not the only issue. Safety experts recommend annual inspections for retired, blocked off, and unused chimneys. Chimney exteriors are prone to damage, though problems are rarely obvious.
Sometimes, larger cavity-nesting birds like Wood Ducks and Barn Owls can fall down into a chimney and are too large to fly out, but these would make quite different sounds than a nest full of chicks.
Negative pressure can occur when there is a flue obstruction or insufficient air is being drawn into the fireplace. It is common in energy-efficient homes with airtight home envelopes. Opening a window or installing an external intake vent can help relieve the negative air pressure.
Professional chimney companies use tools specifically designed to unblock chimneys and flue liners, so if your wire brush did not adequately unblock the chimney, chances are the professionals will have a more effective tool.
Fireplace Opening Up Charges: The cost for opening up a fireplace typically ranges from £200 to £600, depending on the complexity of the project. More intricate designs or structural adjustments may increase the overall price.
Use a wire brush from the bottom half of the chimney to get the rest of it. You may also be able to remove nesting materials without scaling the roof at all, simply using a special corkscrew attachment to a cleaning rod, which hooks onto the nest and drags it out of your chimney.
Look for any visible signs of blockage such as debris, animal nests, or structural damage. Take note of any unusual odors or discoloration on the chimney walls.
A blocked chimney is at high risk of catching fire. Chimney fires typically start because of creosote deposit buildup in the flue. These deposits accumulate over time, become hot and ignite a fire. Ignited creosote can cause severe damage that can go beyond the chimney.
Removing a chimney inside a home is done by dismantling it brick by brick from top to bottom. It has unique challenges that distinguish it from a traditional demolition job. Before you start demolition on each floor, you'll likely need to install temporary walls to compensate for the structural support of the chimney.
Simple chimney repairs cost $455 on average, with prices ranging from $160 to $750. More complex chimney problems, however, may necessitate brick repointing, liner repair, or even a partial or full chimney rebuild. In those cases, prices reach up to $15,000 for a total chimney replacement.
Average Costs to Remove a Chimney in London
It typically costs around £2,300 to remove a chimney stack in the capital. If you want to remove the chimney breast too then that works out around £1000 more expensive, attracting a cost of anything between £3,000 up to £3,500.