Creosote build-up is extremely dangerous when it accumulates on the inside chimney walls of your fireplace. All burning wood creates creosote but some types of wood produce the tar-like substance faster than others.
Wood fires create and releases gases. These gases are unburned substances that will coat the flue and liner of the chimney over time. This creates a tarry substance called creosote. The danger of a chimney that has been coated with a glaze of the tar is that they can cause a fire to occur in the chimney.
Although you can’t avoid creosote buildup you can limit how often you need to have the chimney cleaned by burning only well seasoned wood. Burning only hardwoods and keeping fires small and hot is helpful, too.
It doesn’t take a thick coating of creosote to provide enough fuel for a chimney fire. Experts have estimated over 90% of chimney fires are caused by ignited creosote and the buildup may be as little as 1/8 of an inch coating the interior surface of the chimney or vent pipe.
Smart homeowners have chimneys manually cleaned on a regular basis. If you do it yourself it’s a messy job. More importantly, you may not remove enough of the creosote to guarantee safe operation of your fireplace during the coming winter. Special brushes and tools are needed which makes calling a chimney sweep the best option. Look for a company that is certified as a professional chimney sweep. They will not only thoroughly clean the chimney but will also inspect for broken tiles, cracks or other problems that could present a safety hazard for your family.
A clean chimney is great but the moment you begin using the fireplace again that creosote will begin to build up once again. You can increase the period of time between expensive professional cleanings by using chemical cleaners after the chimney sweeps do the job.
There are various sticks, powders, logs and liquid sprays that inhibit the buildup of creosote when used each time you burn a wood fire in your fireplace. An additional bonus is that the products reduce the odor that can build in your chimney and fireplace. The sprays, which are cheapest to use, may also be one of the most effective methods. These are used each time you light a fire, are extremely simple to use and will help you avoid creosote buildup.
Fireplace Village carries many creosote management and creosote reduction products including creosote cleaners, creosote destroying logs and wood stove thermometers. Visit one of our New Hampshire locations to buy creosote cleaning and fire safety products or buy online.
