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What Degree of Creosote is in Your Chimney?

creosote, chimney sweep hartford, chimney inspection avon

A chimney inspection can find out if any dangerous creosote lies within your chimney walls.

A buildup of creosote is the main reason that it’s important to have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually, but did you know that there are three degrees or stages of creosote?   Tar, soot, and creosote are all byproducts of wood burning, and “creosote” is what the mix of the three components is usually called.  What’s needed to properly clean your chimney depends upon what level of creosote there is on the flue lining.  Creosote in all of its forms is dangerous because it can cause chimney fires.

First Degree

Creosote which contains a high percentage of soot is the first degree of the substance.  This type of creosote is easier to remove from your chimney than the other kinds.  All that is needed to remove first degree creosote is a chimney brush.

The way to end up with the easiest creosote to clean is to burn seasoned wood in an environment in which there is plenty of air, so that the flue is warmed by the fire’s heat.  If a house is sealed too tightly, there may be a restriction in the air supply in the fireplace, which can cause more smoke to enter the home and can keep the chimney flue from getting properly heated.

Second Degree

creosote, chimney safety hazard, chimney sweep Hartford

Creosote is a highly flammable tar-like substance that can easily start a chimney fire if it is not removed.

Creosote in the second stage is a bit more complicated to remove than first degree creosote.  The second degree variety is a buildup of hard, shiny black flakes, which contain hardened tar.  This type is best removed using a rotary loop.  This piece of equipment is a stainless steel cable attached to a hub which has metal rods that are turned by a special type of powerful drill, and it works effectively.

Second degree creosote is the type that is formed in the above-mentioned scenario, when there is restriction to the amount of incoming air.  It’s not unusual for people to get this type of creosote if they have glass doors on their fireplace or wood stove.

Third Degree

Third degree creosote is a tough problem to deal with, and it’s not unusual for people to replace their flue liners in order to be rid of it.  This kind of creosote looks like tar running down the inside of your chimney.  It’s a highly concentrated fuel which hardens and can form a thick layer, when recoated repeatedly.

The cause of third degree creosote is burning wood when the flue isn’t warmed and temperatures in the flue are too low.  Deposits of third degree creosote are also the result of incomplete combustion.

creosote buildup, fireplace safety, chimney inspection hartford

To avoid creosote buildup, always use safe burning practices, such as only burning seasoned wood.

To avoid having to deal with third degree creosote, avoid burning unseasoned firewood and make sure there is enough air for combustion to occur in the fireplace.  Another cause of this problematic type of creosote is attaching an appliance to an oversized flue.  There are restrictions on the size a flue should be for a wood burning appliance.  It’s best to hire a professional to install fireplace inserts and wood stoves, to make sure everything operates properly.

Third degree creosote easily catches fire, which is dangerous.  Chimney fires can lead to house fires.  But if this kind of creosote does burn, it’s easier to remove, since it takes on a different form.

It’s very difficult to remove third degree creosote.  A rotary head with chains can typically get the job done and is a safe method but any cracked tiles which already existed may show up as a result of the chains and the procedure is often blamed.

There are chemicals which do a fair job of removing third degree creosote.

A chimney inspection can help determine if any creosote build up is in your chimney. Whatever type of creosote is in your chimney, let our professional chimney sweeps eliminate this safety hazard from your home.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Nayaug Chimney Services LLC
Kreiger Lane GlastonburyCT06033 USA 
 • 860-659-0937

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What Degree of Creosote is in Your Chimney?

creosote, chimney sweep hartford, chimney inspection avon

A chimney inspection can find out if any dangerous creosote lies within your chimney walls.

A buildup of creosote is the main reason that it’s important to have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually, but did you know that there are three degrees or stages of creosote?   Tar, soot, and creosote are all byproducts of wood burning, and “creosote” is what the mix of the three components is usually called.  What’s needed to properly clean your chimney depends upon what level of creosote there is on the flue lining.  Creosote in all of its forms is dangerous because it can cause chimney fires.

First Degree

Creosote which contains a high percentage of soot is the first degree of the substance.  This type of creosote is easier to remove from your chimney than the other kinds.  All that is needed to remove first degree creosote is a chimney brush.

The way to end up with the easiest creosote to clean is to burn seasoned wood in an environment in which there is plenty of air, so that the flue is warmed by the fire’s heat.  If a house is sealed too tightly, there may be a restriction in the air supply in the fireplace, which can cause more smoke to enter the home and can keep the chimney flue from getting properly heated.

Second Degree

creosote, chimney safety hazard, chimney sweep Hartford

Creosote is a highly flammable tar-like substance that can easily start a chimney fire if it is not removed.

Creosote in the second stage is a bit more complicated to remove than first degree creosote.  The second degree variety is a buildup of hard, shiny black flakes, which contain hardened tar.  This type is best removed using a rotary loop.  This piece of equipment is a stainless steel cable attached to a hub which has metal rods that are turned by a special type of powerful drill, and it works effectively.

Second degree creosote is the type that is formed in the above-mentioned scenario, when there is restriction to the amount of incoming air.  It’s not unusual for people to get this type of creosote if they have glass doors on their fireplace or wood stove.

Third Degree

Third degree creosote is a tough problem to deal with, and it’s not unusual for people to replace their flue liners in order to be rid of it.  This kind of creosote looks like tar running down the inside of your chimney.  It’s a highly concentrated fuel which hardens and can form a thick layer, when recoated repeatedly.

The cause of third degree creosote is burning wood when the flue isn’t warmed and temperatures in the flue are too low.  Deposits of third degree creosote are also the result of incomplete combustion.

creosote buildup, fireplace safety, chimney inspection hartford

To avoid creosote buildup, always use safe burning practices, such as only burning seasoned wood.

To avoid having to deal with third degree creosote, avoid burning unseasoned firewood and make sure there is enough air for combustion to occur in the fireplace.  Another cause of this problematic type of creosote is attaching an appliance to an oversized flue.  There are restrictions on the size a flue should be for a wood burning appliance.  It’s best to hire a professional to install fireplace inserts and wood stoves, to make sure everything operates properly.

Third degree creosote easily catches fire, which is dangerous.  Chimney fires can lead to house fires.  But if this kind of creosote does burn, it’s easier to remove, since it takes on a different form.

It’s very difficult to remove third degree creosote.  A rotary head with chains can typically get the job done and is a safe method but any cracked tiles which already existed may show up as a result of the chains and the procedure is often blamed.

There are chemicals which do a fair job of removing third degree creosote.

A chimney inspection can help determine if any creosote build up is in your chimney. Whatever type of creosote is in your chimney, let our professional chimney sweeps eliminate this safety hazard from your home.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

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