"The soot in the chimney may burn" and 3 other reasons to clean the chimney in winter

It's not often I begin my article with photos, but this time it will do so. Take a look at this picture (make it was not easy, to be honest):

At a distance of about half a meter down perfectly visible ignited soot adhering over the years on the chimney wall. If time does not extinguish such a mess there are two possible outcomes: a fire house and the deformation of the walls of the chimney (which is advantageous).

You see that the chimney at a certain site is red hot? So, burning the soot - immediately extinguish the fire and hold the Yorshik:

2) Once a year, the chimney should be checked for integrity - if somewhere there is an air leak (or at least a small hole in the pipe) - smoke and soot will ignite.

3) Do not attempt to clean the chimney with his own hands and especially the means at hand - a hammer or weights on the cable release - give 100% guarantee that this economy will get stuck in the pipe.

And you will have to dismantle it and push the goods below.

4) Use good wood - birch and oak - perfect, poplar - worse, but also come down. And advice: do not try to drown the husks of sunflower - zero heat, soot - a lot, burn for 10 minutes.