Chim-Chimney Ltd

What is Creosote and Why is it Dangerous? Creosote is a chemical mass of carbon formed when wood, fossil fuels, or tar is burned. Creosote distills and lingers commonly in a fireplace or a masonry chimney. When it is not removed, it can build a thick, hard coating of debris up the flue and chimney, posing a threat to your fireplace. Creosote comes from unburned fuel that can eventually cause a chimney fire if not periodically removed. Creosote restricts the airflow of your ch...imney, preventing proper circulation and lowering efficiency. It is a combustible material that is also toxic. You don’t want to be breathing this in, or letting it catch fire. There are three main types of creosote: 1.) First Degree Creosote is soft and sooty, not really all that different than wood ash. 2.) Second Degree Creosote is kind of like honeycomb toffee only not tasty. It is soft and crumbly, and indicates that you may have had a chimney fire. 3.) Third Degree Creosote is a black, glassy, tar like substance, also called glaze creosote. It requires a special piece of equipment to remove. It is important to have your chimney cleaned of creosote with an annual inspection. Creosote buildup also insulates the chimney from the heat of the exhaust gases, which impacts chimney performance. You want your chimney to warm up to aid in the rising of exhaust products. A cold chimney, caused by creosote buildup, will cause even more creosote to form. Inspection of the chimney lining is important to ensure the integrity of the chimney. #Creosote #ChimneyFire #ChimneySweep

6 Ways to Properly Maintain Your Chimney and Fireplace: While it’s best to let a pro inspect and clean the chimney annually, there are six things homeowners can do to improve their fireplace experience. 1.) Clean the ashes from the fireplace as they accumulate.... 2.) Gather firewood a year in advance to properly season it. This results in less flammable material collecting in the chimney. Make sure the damper is fully open before lighting a fire in the fireplace. 3.) Burn nothing in the fireplace except dry firewood. Never burn pressure-treated or painted wood. 4.) Burn fires that consume the fuel. 5.) Burning wet or poor quality fuel results in slow fires and more creosote buildup on the flue. 6.) Consider using a top-down burn method, which burns hotter, cleaner and produces less smoke than traditional fire-building methods. Place the largest logs on the bottom of the fireplace, then add a cross layer of smaller logs. Next, add some crushed newspaper and top it all with 1-inch of kindling. Light the newspaper, sit back and enjoy the fire. #chimneysweep #chimneycleaning #fireplace See more

9 Signs That You May Have Had A Chimney Fire. 1.) Puffy or honey combed creosote 2.) Warped metal of the damper, metal smoke chamber connector pipe or factory-built metal chimney.. 3.) Cracked or collapsed flue tiles, or tiles with large chunks missing. 4.) Discolored and/or distorted rain cap.... 5.) Heat-damaged TV antenna attached to the chimney. 6.) Creosote flakes and pieces found on the roof or ground. 7.) Roofing material damaged from hot creosote. 8.) Cracks in exterior masonry. 9.) Evidence of smoke escaping through mortar joints of masonry or tile liners. #chimneyfire #safeburning #creosote See more

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