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Why and How to Minimize Creosote Buildup in your Chimney

creosote buildupAnytime a fireplace is used, creosote is deposited in the chimney lining or flue. Since creosote is highly flammable and probably creates the biggest potential hazard when using a fireplace, it’s wise to try and minimize the amount of buildup that occurs. Failure to remove creosote from the flue can result in a deadly chimney fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The NFPA was established in 1896, and the mission of this nonprofit organization, in part, is to cut down on the worldwide burden of fire. Across the globe, the NFPA is the leading advocate of fire prevention and is an authoritative source which develops consensus codes  to reduce the possibility of fires. Among their recommendations backed by careful research is to have chimneys inspected annually for the purpose of determining whether creosote buildup has reached dangerous levels.

Why Minimize Creosote

Creosote has three stages. As each stage increases, they become more hazardous and are increasingly difficult to remove from the flue.

Stage 1 – The first stage of creosote is like flaky soot that is easy to brush away with a basic chimney brush.

Stage 2 – Creosote in the second stage can be described as shiny, hard black flakes. The flakes actually contain hardened tar that is not easily brushed away, but it can be removed without extreme measures. The most popular method for removing creosote in the second stage is with a rotary loop. A powerful drill turns metal rods that get the job done.

Stage 3 – Third-stage creosote is something to be avoided. Not only is it extremely difficult to clean, it is a highly concentrated fuel that resembles a coating of tar dripping down inside of your chimney liner. This type of glazed creosote can become very thick as it hardens and is repeatedly recoated with another layer. A hot fire can easily ignite this type of creosote, which is extremely hazardous. If stage three creosote catches fire,  it becomes easy to remove because it leaves behind a spongy residue.  But, a chimney fire can too easily lead to a house fire because the intense flames often cause a fire on the roof or damage the flue, causing combustible parts of the home to ignite. Many times, it is best to replace a chimney liner if it is coated with stage three creosote. There are chemical removers that are sometimes fairly effective. A rotary head with chains can remove the hardened tar, but it can also cause broken flue tiles to become obvious, in which case the procedure is blamed for the damage.

How to Minimize Creosote

Obviously, it is best to deal with creosote in the first stage rather than more advanced stages. The following are tips to minimize creosote buildup:

  • Avoid burning fires that are slow and smoldering because the combustion by-products – rather than being burned in a hot, clean fire – go up the flue and contribute to the collection of creosote deposits inside.
  • dry firewood

    Firewood should be allowed to dry for at lease six months to ensure that it is suitable for burning.

    Do not burn newly cut, unseasoned firewood. It typically takes between six months and one year for cut wood to get to a low moisture content.

  • Do not burn artificial packaged logs in your fireplace or your woodstove, since they leave a large amount of creosote deposits.
  • Burn hot fires that have plenty of air. Fireplace inserts and wood stoves with glass doors can cause a restriction of air flow which leads to deposits of second-degree creosote.
  • When a chimney is on the outside of the house or in any other way is not insulated sufficiently, it can be difficult to warm the air inside the flue, causing poor combustion in the fire, a greater amount of creosote buildup, and a smoky fireplace.

Contact our chimney professionals today for a chimney inspection and cleaning, to remove dangerous creosote deposits.

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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Why and How to Minimize Creosote Buildup in your Chimney

creosote buildupAnytime a fireplace is used, creosote is deposited in the chimney lining or flue. Since creosote is highly flammable and probably creates the biggest potential hazard when using a fireplace, it’s wise to try and minimize the amount of buildup that occurs. Failure to remove creosote from the flue can result in a deadly chimney fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

The NFPA was established in 1896, and the mission of this nonprofit organization, in part, is to cut down on the worldwide burden of fire. Across the globe, the NFPA is the leading advocate of fire prevention and is an authoritative source which develops consensus codes  to reduce the possibility of fires. Among their recommendations backed by careful research is to have chimneys inspected annually for the purpose of determining whether creosote buildup has reached dangerous levels.

Why Minimize Creosote

Creosote has three stages. As each stage increases, they become more hazardous and are increasingly difficult to remove from the flue.

Stage 1 – The first stage of creosote is like flaky soot that is easy to brush away with a basic chimney brush.

Stage 2 – Creosote in the second stage can be described as shiny, hard black flakes. The flakes actually contain hardened tar that is not easily brushed away, but it can be removed without extreme measures. The most popular method for removing creosote in the second stage is with a rotary loop. A powerful drill turns metal rods that get the job done.

Stage 3 – Third-stage creosote is something to be avoided. Not only is it extremely difficult to clean, it is a highly concentrated fuel that resembles a coating of tar dripping down inside of your chimney liner. This type of glazed creosote can become very thick as it hardens and is repeatedly recoated with another layer. A hot fire can easily ignite this type of creosote, which is extremely hazardous. If stage three creosote catches fire,  it becomes easy to remove because it leaves behind a spongy residue.  But, a chimney fire can too easily lead to a house fire because the intense flames often cause a fire on the roof or damage the flue, causing combustible parts of the home to ignite. Many times, it is best to replace a chimney liner if it is coated with stage three creosote. There are chemical removers that are sometimes fairly effective. A rotary head with chains can remove the hardened tar, but it can also cause broken flue tiles to become obvious, in which case the procedure is blamed for the damage.

How to Minimize Creosote

Obviously, it is best to deal with creosote in the first stage rather than more advanced stages. The following are tips to minimize creosote buildup:

  • Avoid burning fires that are slow and smoldering because the combustion by-products – rather than being burned in a hot, clean fire – go up the flue and contribute to the collection of creosote deposits inside.
  • dry firewood

    Firewood should be allowed to dry for at lease six months to ensure that it is suitable for burning.

    Do not burn newly cut, unseasoned firewood. It typically takes between six months and one year for cut wood to get to a low moisture content.

  • Do not burn artificial packaged logs in your fireplace or your woodstove, since they leave a large amount of creosote deposits.
  • Burn hot fires that have plenty of air. Fireplace inserts and wood stoves with glass doors can cause a restriction of air flow which leads to deposits of second-degree creosote.
  • When a chimney is on the outside of the house or in any other way is not insulated sufficiently, it can be difficult to warm the air inside the flue, causing poor combustion in the fire, a greater amount of creosote buildup, and a smoky fireplace.

Contact our chimney professionals today for a chimney inspection and cleaning, to remove dangerous creosote deposits.

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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