If you own a chimney, it is possible that you have spent lots of money on chimney-cleaning service. While this service works very effectively to remove creosote buildup, it can be expensive. And, if you utilize your fireplace all winter long, the process will need to be repeated at least yearly, if not twice a year. Below, you will discover how to burn rock salt to clean a chimney.
Burning rock salt to clean chimney does work for removing creosote by drying out its oils. Once the oil is dried out completely, the creosote will convert into sooty ash. It is recommended to utilize rock salt at least once a week to prevent the buildup of creosote.
1. Create A Rock Salt Paste
The first step of the process is to create a paste with the rock salt. This process is very simple and only requires three ingredients – rock salt, tap water and soap. Depending on the size of your chimney, you will need to utilize a cup of rock salt for this recipe.
Mix the rock salt with soap and then add tap water. What you are trying to achieve with the ingredients is a creamy consistency. You can add as much rock salt and water needed to create a thick consistency.
To avoid a thin consistency, you should gradually add the water and mix thoroughly between each addition.
2. Application
Cleaning a chimney is not the easiest task to achieve. Fortunately, the rock salt paste will prevent a messy cleanup. Utilizing a thick cloth, rub the rock salt cream into the brick.
If you run out of the mixture, you can just make another batch. Just make sure you apply an adequate amount of the mixture on the bricks to achieve the best results.
3. Allow To Dry
It will take anywhere from seven to 10 minutes for the rock salt to dry up the oily substance that makes up a portion of the creosote. After applying, wait at least 10 minutes before moving on the final step of the process.
4. Finishing Up
The final step involves removing the dried residue. You will need a brush – preferably a chimney brush – with stiff bristles for this task. You can utilize a circular or up and down motion to remove the residue.
The key to removing as much as possible is to continue the process as long as necessary. Fortunately, the residue is generally not hard at this point, so removing it will not require brute force.
Summary
There are several ways to utilize rock salt to clean a chimney. Some homeowners like to add ammonia to their rock salt paste. Some will utilize equal amounts of soap and rock salt, while others utilize three-quarters rock salt and one-quarter soap.
