Drop cloths, sealing the opening and running the HEPA vacuum: the setup that keeps soot out of the living room.
Homeowners judge a sweep by two things: whether the chimney is safe and whether their house is clean when you leave. A consistent setup takes care of the second.
Before you start
- Confirm the fireplace or stove is cold. Ask when it was last used.
- Walk the route from the door to the fireplace and lay runners if needed.
- Take "before" photos of the firebox and hearth.
Set up the work area
- Lay drop cloths over the hearth and the floor in front of it.
- Move or cover nearby furniture and rugs.
- Seal the fireplace opening with plastic sheeting or a sealing panel.
- Run a HEPA vacuum on the opening to keep the work area under negative pressure, so dust is pulled in rather than pushed out.
During the sweep
- Check the damper before brushing, and note its condition.
- Keep the seal in place until the dust has settled and been vacuumed.
- Collect debris in sealed bags and carry it out the way you came in.
Video coming soon
Before you leave
- Vacuum the firebox, hearth and the floor around your work area.
- Take "after" photos.
- Walk the homeowner through what you found, and leave it in writing.
