I just cleaned out the fireplace and swept the chimney. I also have a suggestion that I would like to share.
Once I have cleaned out the ash in the fireplace, I setup a cardboard baffle and fan. This is blowing air up the chimney.
When I am sweeping the chimney, it is blowing an awful lot of stuff up the chimney at me. So I wear coveralls , respirator, hat, safety glasses, and face shield (yes, its pretty silly looking). While sweeping it looks like the smoke monster from Lost. The light material gets blown out and the heavy stuff falls back down. This keeps the house nice and clean. I have done this for 4 years (5 sweeps) and have had no problems with material finding its way back inside.
Before and after pictures should be pretty self evident. Once on top of the roof the whole process took 10 min to do.
Once I have cleaned out the ash in the fireplace, I setup a cardboard baffle and fan. This is blowing air up the chimney.
When I am sweeping the chimney, it is blowing an awful lot of stuff up the chimney at me. So I wear coveralls , respirator, hat, safety glasses, and face shield (yes, its pretty silly looking). While sweeping it looks like the smoke monster from Lost. The light material gets blown out and the heavy stuff falls back down. This keeps the house nice and clean. I have done this for 4 years (5 sweeps) and have had no problems with material finding its way back inside.
Before and after pictures should be pretty self evident. Once on top of the roof the whole process took 10 min to do.