Keep Your Home Safe From Chimney Creosote
Fireplaces are welcome heat sources during cold winter months, but they can produce silent killers: chimney fires. Creosote build up is a major factor contributing to these hazardous fires.
Creosote is an often misunderstood side effect of using your fireplace. However, it is important to understand this material and add fireplace and chimney maintenance to your to-do list.
This article explains creosote, chimney fires, their connection, and how you can prevent both hazards to protect your home and family.
What Is Creosote?
Creosote is created when wood burns and smoke moves up the chimney and out of the home. The condensation from the rising heat sticks the residue to the inside of the chimney.
Creosote varies in appearance; it can be black, brown, crusty, flaky, tar-like, drippy, or even shiny and hardened. A single chimney system may exhibit multiple forms.
Why is creosote dangerous?
Why is creosote dangerous? Regardless of its state, creosote remains highly combustible.
Creosote build up increases when the air supply is restricted in the chimney, unseasoned wood is used to make a fire, and when the chimney temperature is cooler than normal. Too much creosote build up can cause chimney fires and these low-burning fires can go undetected until they spread.
Chimney Fires: What You Need To Know
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 chimney-related fires occur in the U.S. each year, affecting homeowners from coast to coast.
Chimney fires, including those caused by creosote build up, can go undetected by homeowners because they are often slow-burning fires and start inside the chimney. The resulting fire can be just as damaging as other house fires, with explosions, high flames, and dense smoke affecting the entire home and putting residents at risk.
To reduce the effects of chimney fires, the Chimney Safety Institute of America launched National Chimney Safety Week, sharing tips and information for homeowners to help reduce the number of chimney fires and other carbon monoxide-related health emergencies.
You should have your chimney professionally inspected and, if needed, cleaned each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Regular chimney maintenance, cleaning, and an annual inspection are the best ways to prevent accidents, damage, and loss of life caused by chimney fires.
How Can I Reduce Creosote In Chimney?
Homeowners can minimize the three main conditions we described above that increase creosote build up. In addition, annual chimney inspection, maintenance, and cleaning can help reduce the buildup even more.
First, ensure your chimney has adequate airflow before you start a fire. To do this, open the chimney’s damper wide so that the heated smoke can move up and out quickly. The longer the smoke is trapped inside a chimney, the more creosote can form inside it.
Additionally, using unseasoned wood in an indoor fireplace also increases creosote build up. This occurs because unseasoned wood takes more energy to start and burn at first, as water trapped inside the wood burns off. Overfilling your fireplace with wood can also increase creosote build up.
How Do I Know When It Is Time To Clean The Chimney?
Responsible homeowners schedule an annual chimney inspection and if needed, professional cleaning. Also, look for these signs that indicate chimney cleaning is needed:
- Black oily spots on the inside of the fireplace
- Fires are harder to start and keep going
- More odor than usual is coming from the fireplace
- Animal or pest activity in the chimney or fireplace
The black, oily residue seen inside a chimney is creosote build up. If there is too much creosote in chimney, it can hinder the escape of smoke from the fire and impact how well the fire starts and burns. It can also cause a fire inside the chimney. If you notice a marked change in how well and long fires burn, a clogged chimney or a damper that’s not properly open or working may be causing creosote buildup.
An increase in odor from the fire, smelling more like a campfire than an indoor fireplace, is another sign of a dirty fireplace and chimney. This odor from creosote build up can indicate an increased chance of chimney fires. Finally, if animals are found inside the chimney, they may be blocking airflow with their nests, which can also increase creosote buildup.
How Can I Remove Creosote In Chimney?
If you notice any of the signs above, it’s time to schedule a professional chimney inspection and cleaning. A Creosote Sweeping Log can also be purchased and burned in the chimney to help reduce buildup over time. The logs have chemicals that bond when they come into contact with the creosote in chimney during burning. This can help reduce the creosote deposits inside a chimney and reduce the chance of fires in the future.
Trust the Pros for Lasting Chimney Protection
Along with maintaining a clean chimney free of creosote, your chimney needs to be structurally sound. Oftentimes, chimneys are built on a different foundation separate from the rest of the home, and they can experience settlement differently by cracking and pulling away from the house.
Your local Groundworks company provides lasting foundation repair solutions, ensuring your chimney remains safe for many years. Contact us today to learn more about chimney and home maintenance or to schedule a professional inspection.
Creosote in Chimney FAQs
Prolonged exposure to creosote can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and potential long-term health risks. It’s important to minimize contact and ensure proper ventilation.
Chimneys should be professionally inspected and cleaned at least once a year, or more frequently if you use your fireplace or wood stove regularly. This helps prevent dangerous creosote build up.
Professional chimney sweeps use special brushes, scrapers, and chemical treatments to remove creosote. Homeowners should not attempt to remove heavy creosote deposits without professional help.
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