Improve Structural Integrity Of Chimneys With A Chimney Sweep Alexandria VA Technician

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By Sally Delacruz


Chimneys can cause serious functional and structural problems if they are not properly maintained and cleaned. Burning of wood logs in fireplaces and stoves will release gases and smoke particles that need to be extracted. With the buildup of soot and creosote within the chimneys, it is essential that you consider consulting chimney sweep Alexandria VA technicians. Creosote forms inside flue vents as a result of gases condensing before they reach outside.

Climbing up the smoke flue is something that needs technicians to handle that because an inexperienced person may slip and fall. Some of the chimneys clean up equipments and tools of the trade include brushes. The brushes designed to remove soot and creosote are specially designed for that task. These brushes are different from other forms of brushes you will finish in homes or business areas.

As creosote builds up, any stray spark or ember could ignite the substance thus leading to chimney fire. Similarly, the high temperatures in chimneys could trigger fires from creosote. If fires occur frequently on chimneys, they could damage the mortar and bricks thus creating cracks and openings that allow smoke and gases to spread to other areas such as the attic.

The masonry work of your chimneys will deteriorate within time if there are frequent fires. In addition, the creosote forming on walls could also cause other problems such as acidic compounds that eat away the liners. With the presence of moisture, creosote may dissolve and form acidic compounds that may damage the walls and liners.

Brushes of the right diameters can offer effective cleanup of chimneys interior without leaving debris inside. Technicians also use rods to attach the brushes on to them for easy access to the elevated surfaces. The brushes will be attached to the rods before they are pushed inside flue chamber to access the interior of vents. The rods may be designed of different materials including wood and fiberglass.

Allowing smoke and gases to move updraft slowly could give time for the gases to condense inside thus forming creosote. If there is lack of sufficient air make up that is able to drive the heated smoke up chimneys, such a situation could encourage the formation of creosote too. When you seek chimney sweep technicians, they will inspect your property, and clean it properly.

To climb to the roof and reach down the stack to the vent, technicians need to use ladders. Climbing surfaces using ladders is an activity that should only be left to the trained people. There are risks of using ladders in climbing the roof areas of buildings. Since chimneys cannot be cleaned effectively without working them from above, you should ensure that the contractors have those ladders, and the appropriate tools and chemicals.

Where there are bends and technicians cannot reach the surfaces, the brushed attached to rods are used to clear the debris. Some debris will not come out easily especially the tar-like shiny substance or creosote. The right chemical liquids are used to break up the debris before it is cleaned with a damp cloth. Since this service trade is not properly regulated, getting a qualified technician may not be easy. Dealing with people not trained properly in handling chimneys could risk damaging the structures.




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