HearthStone Quality Home Heating Products, Inc ®
24
WFP-75 Model 8411
5.2
CHIMNEY AND CHIMNEY LINER MAINTENANCE
5.2.1 WHY CHIMNEY CLEANING IS NECESSARY
Wood smoke can condense inside the chimney liner and chimney, forming a combustible deposit called
creosote. If creosote is allowed to build up in the venting system it can ignite when a hot fire is burned in
the fireplace and a very hot fire can progress to the top of the chimney. Severe chimney fires can damage
even the best chimneys. Smouldering, smoky fires can quickly cause a thick layer of creosote to form.
When you avoid smouldering so the exhaust from the chimney is mostly clear, creosote builds up more
slowly. Your new fireplace has the right characteristics to help you to burn clean fires with little or no
smoke, resulting in less creosote in the chimney.
5.2.2 HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN THE CHIMNEY?
It is not possible to predict how much or how quickly creosote will form in your chimney. It is important,
therefore, to check the build-up in your chimney monthly when getting used to the new fireplace until you
determine the rate of creosote formation. Even if creosote forms slowly in your system, the chimney should
be cleaned and inspected at least once each year. Do not allow more than 1/8
″
(3 mm) creosote buildup in
the chimney.
It is recommended to clean thoroughly the chimney system at the end of every heating season. During
summer, the air is damper and with minimal air circulation within the stove or furnace, it can mix with
creosote and/or sooth deposits in the chimney system to form an acid that could accelerate the corrosion
process and induce premature decay of the steel. Corrosion damages are not covered under warranty.
Have your chimney system cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. Use a plastic or steel brush.
Contact your local municipal or provincial fire authority for information on how to handle a chimney fire.
Have a clearly understood plan to handle a chimney fire.
5.2.3 CLEANING THE CHIMNEY
Chimney cleaning can be a difficult and dangerous
job. If you don’t have experience cleaning chimneys,
you might want to hire a professional chimney sweep
to clean and inspect the system for the first time.
After having seen the cleaning process, you can
decide if it is a job you would like to take on.
The most common equipment used are fibreglass
rods with threaded fittings and stiff plastic brushes.
The brush is forced up and down inside the chimney
flue to scrub off the creosote.
NOTE
DO NOT EXPECT CHEMICAL CLEANERS TO KEEP YOUR CHIMNEY CLEAN.
THE RAIN CAP CAN BE REMOVED FOR INSPECTION AND/OR CLEANING OF THE CHIMNEY.
The chimney should be swept following these steps:
Remove the baffle and air tubes.
Remove the rain cap.
Sweep the chimney.
Clean the inside of the firebox.
Re-install the baffle, the air tubes and the rain cap.
The chimney should be checked regularly for creosote build-up. Inspection and cleaning
of the chimney can be facilitated by removing the baffle.
