Tools to Keep Your Chimney Clean in Indianapolis

Tools to keep your chimney clean in Indianapolis. It’s just a chimney, right? Get a brush, hop onto the roof, stick the brush down the chimney. Cleaning it yourself sounds doable–but do you know what equipment you really need, and how to stay safe? The tools of the trade are more than a brush and ladder. Check out the tools for a chimney cleaning that experienced professionals rely on when they sweep your chimney.

Conquering Creosote

Chimney sweeping for your Indianapolis home means scraping out creosote—tarlike, acidic waste that clings to chimney interiors, blocking flues, damaging linings, and sometimes causing fires. 

You don’t want to become part of this statistic: Annually, 25,000 chimneys in the United States catch fire, causing more than $120 million in property damage. So the Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends annual inspections for every chimney and cleaning by professionals like Brick + Ember Outfitters.

Brushes

If you’re trying do-it-yourself, go on the roof and measure your flue, so you don’t end up buying the wrong brushes. The key tool is a long brush on linked metal rods reaching the length of a chimney flue. Its metal bristles scrub the creosote off flue walls. Some tough jobs need motorized brushes to bash away creosote that manual brushing can’t dislodge.

Expect to get additional specialized brushes for areas like the firebox. Steel flues need specific brushes too. The wrong brushes scratch metal flues, and that damage could void the chimney’s warranty. Rather than taking the risks of using the wrong equipment, trust professionals from Brick + Ember Outfitters.

Chemical cleaners

If creosote becomes a gooey glaze, it requires chemical cleaners to dry it into a brittle coating that’s easier to break up and remove. Knowing when chemicals are needed is an essential skill for ensuring a chimney is correctly cleaned. 

Vacuums

Thinking that a home or shop vacuum can handle clean-up? Those vacuums might get visible debris. But a chimney cleaning needs specialized vacuums with extra filtration to keep pollutants out of the air. Chimney cleaning releases minuscule particles you don’t want to breathe.

Cameras

How far can you see up, or down, your chimney? It’s mostly a mystery. An expert chimney cleaner uses a camera to see the whole chimney. Cameras eliminate guesswork about how much buildup is crusting the flue and how well the cleaning is working. You should be able to see your chimney’s condition to ensure the job’s done.

For experienced chimney cleaners in Indianapolis and surrounding areas, call on Brick + Ember Outfitters. Our services include chimney sweeping, restoration, repair, and design. To schedule your chimney cleaning and inspection, contact Brick + Ember Outfitters HERE.