This job can be dangerous. Consult or hire a pro to be safe.
Time to complete
30 minutes
Cost
Up to $25
You might need a thing or two
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Extension ladder
Leather gloves
Safety goggles
Safety harness
Safety ropes
Screwdriver
Wire brush
SUPPLIES
Can of compressed air
Face mask
You might not have noticed that your chimney or gas-powered lawn mower features a small, simple and potentially life-saving device. Metal mesh spark arrestors prevent burning particles from escaping from chimneys or combustion engines and causing a house fire. However, when the mesh gets clogged with carbon particles, it can reduce airflow, cause performance issues, and contribute to a buildup of toxic fumes.
Learn when and how to clean a spark arrestor to promote safe and efficient operation.
Prepping to Clean a Spark Arrestor
Before cleaning a spark arrestor, ensure it’s cool. If it’s a chimney spark arrestor, the fireplace or wood-burning stove connected to the chimney should be fully extinguished.
For a spark arrestor on a combustion engine of a generator or gas-powered tool, ensure the engine and muffler are cool, and the engine switch, fuel valve, and spark plug wire are off or disconnected. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions, as the spark arrestor's location, look, and size can vary depending on the engine type and model.
How to Clean a Spark Arrestor
It’s not difficult to clean a spark arrestor—all it takes is a little elbow grease with a wire brush, followed by spraying compressed air across the spark arrestor to remove any remaining loose particles. However, accessing a chimney spark arrestor is much more challenging than one on your gas-powered tool or generator. It’s often safer to have a professional chimney sweep complete the job.
Access the Spark Arrestor Safely
The spark arrestor on a combustion engine is typically located on the muffler exhaust tube. To access it, you may need to remove the muffler cover with a screwdriver. Sometimes, you can also remove the spark arrestor to clean it better. Always refer to the owner's manual for specific instructions on access and removal.
The chimney spark arrestor is below or part of the chimney cap, right at the top of the chimney. That means you have to access the roof, and this can be dangerous, especially on sloping roofs. It's best to only do this on a flat roof, and only if the weather is dry and calm and you have the right safety equipment and experience. Always have a friend or family member supervising.
Some safety tips for accessing a flat roof safely include:
Follow proper ladder safety guidelines, and place the ladder on secure, flat ground, ensuring it extends several feet above the roof.
Angle the ladder so that for every 4 feet in height, you move the base 1 foot away from the house.
Have your helper hold the base of the ladder as you climb.
While climbing, face forward and always keep three points of contact on the ladder.
Step around, not over the ladder once you reach the roof.
Attaching a safety harness to the chimney while you work is a sensible safety precaution.
If there are any concerns, leave the job to a chimney contractor to prevent safety risks.
Brush Off Carbon Buildup
Photo: Philippe TURPIN / Photononstop / Getty Images
It's easy to scrub off any carbon buildup on the spark arrestor mesh using a wire brush. Continue to do this until the silver metal appears.
Wearing a face mask and goggles prevents carbon particles from getting into your eyes or mouth.
Spray With Compressed Air (Optional)
Spraying compressed air across the spark arrestor can lift any remaining loose carbon particles dislodged during the scrubbing process.
If you’re cleaning a chimney spark arrestor, inspecting the flue while you’re up there is a good idea. If you notice a buildup of shiny, black fireplace creosote on the chimney walls, it’s time to call a local chimney sweep to clean it.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Learning how to clean a spark arrestor isn't difficult, and you can do it in less than half an hour. However, if a chimney spark arrestor needs cleaning, it's best to leave this job to a professional chimney sweep near you.
Roofs are slippery, and falling from one can be fatal. They're also fragile, and if you do damage up there, the cost to repair your roof could be high. Plus, if something goes wrong while you’re up there, you risk invalidating your home insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
A spark arrestor is a simple metal mesh device that prevents flammable particles from escaping from a combustion source and causing a fire. You typically find these attached to gas or diesel engines on things like cars, generators, and garden tools (lawnmowers, chainsaws, etc.). Fireplace or wood-burning stove chimneys also have spark arrestors attached to or sitting under the chimney cap to capture burning embers.
Over time, the carbon particles that gather on a spark arrestor can clog the device. This restricts airflow and can affect the performance of a chimney or combustion engine. A dirty, clogged chimney spark arrestor can result in hazardous gases filling your home when burning a gas-powered fire or wood-burning stove.
How often you need to clean a spark arrestor depends on how often you use the combustion source it’s attached to and its size. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning after 50 hours of operation, but it's best to do a regular visual inspection. A chimney contractor should check your spark arrestor when they conduct an annual chimney inspection.
A well-cared-for spark arrestor can last for years. However, you should replace this device if it suffers from damage. A holey or improperly fitting spark arrestor won’t properly contain flammable particles. It's sometimes possible to replace holey spark arrestors on combustion engines, but for inexpensive, old yard tools, it may be easier to replace the entire tool. Replacing a damaged chimney spark arrestor is typically a job best left to the professionals.
Gemma has been a freelance writer and editor in the home and lifestyle space for the past five years and has a bachelor's degree in communication studies.
Gemma has been a freelance writer and editor in the home and lifestyle space for the past five years and has a bachelor's degree in communication studies.
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