How to remove creosote from chimney?

What exactly is Creosote?

Creosote is a combustible and caustic chemical that can accumulate on the inside of your fireplace and chimney’s walls. As unburned wood particles, fly ash, and other volatile gases depart the chimney, creosote forms. These unburned particles and gases can condense and build upon the walls of your chimney if you have a poor draught. These dust or soot buildups can become dangerous over time, as they can cause a chimney fire.

Chimney Creosote Issues: What Causes Them?

The original fire, or primary combustion, produces smoke, or more accurately, flue gas. No matter when you burn wood, you’re releasing pollutants in the form of gases and particulate matter. Steam and evaporated yet unburned carbon-based byproducts make up flue gas (vaporized accumulation). If the temperature of the smoke coming out of the chimney drops below 250 degrees Fahrenheit, the gases liquefy, mix, and solidify to make tar. Creosote buildup might be exacerbated by a chimney that is too large for the wood-burning equipment. Creosote buildup is aided by a limited air supply, unseasoned or rain-soaked wood, and chilly surface flue temperatures.

Stages of Creosote Formation:

Creosote, Stage 1

Creosote in its early stages isn’t a good indicator, but it’s the best time to catch it and fix it. A chimney sweep brush can remove stage 1 creosote, which is flaky and powdery

Creosote, Stage 2

Creosote hardens to a consistency that is similar to tar in its second stage, and it might become crunchy. It may appear flaky to the untrained eye, but it has already rigidly attached to the chimney lining. A rotary loop tool attached to a drill is required to remove stage 2 creosote.

Creosote, Stage 3

Creosote in its last stage is exceedingly hazardous, and it can sometimes suggest that a chimney fire has already occurred. When stage 3 creosote cools, it has a waxy or tar-like substance and creates a hard glaze on the chimney lining.

Creosote is at its most concentrated and combustible in this stage, and it is usually used as a fuel for a chimney fire. While stage 3 creosote can sometimes be removed, the method can harm clay or ceramic chimney liners.

As a result, most chimney sweeps recommend that if stage 3 creosote is detected, the chimney liner be fully replaced.

Preventing Creosote

Although creosote is hazardous, there’s no need to swear off using your wood-burning fireplace forever. There are things you may take to lessen the possibility of creosote development in addition to annual inspections and cleanings.

Only use dry, well-seasoned wood for burning in Houston Home Chimneys. As new, damp wood heats up and burns, moisture will escape, resulting in a lot of smoke. If you’re going to burn logs, split them beforehand to make sure you’re not utilizing wood that’s dry on the exterior but moist on the inside.

To ensure that the wood burns efficiently, build hot flames with plenty of airflows. Slow-burning smoldering fires emit flammable gases that lead to creosote formation, but a hot fire burns up most of those gases.

Finally, if your chimney is located on the exterior of your home, warm it up before lighting a fire. Because the temperature difference between the firebox and the chimney contributes to creosote buildup, warming the flue with a rolled-up newspaper torch is an effective approach to reduce the temperature differential.

Attempting to remove the creosote on your own is not a clever idea. Cleaning a chimney is another job best left to the pros. Chimney sweeps are equipped with the necessary equipment, skills, and training to complete the task effectively and safely.

Also keep in mind that creosote might be difficult, if not impossible, to spot by simply peeking up the flue. It is also possible that your chimney has all three stages of creosote at the same time.

Annual chimney inspections and cleanings are critical for these reasons, as well as the health and safety of everyone in your home.

Glazing using Creosote

Glaze arises during the solidification stage when new creosote layers are built so quickly that the layers below them do not have time to cure. These new layers then shield prior deposits, resulting in the formation of glaze, a rock-like substance.

Getting Rid of Creosote Glaze

Chemical treatment is required to break down this tough-as-rock coating. Anti-Creo-Soot Liquid Spray or ACS Powder is the ideal treatment to use to remove this tough-as-rock coating. In liquid form, ACS is a creosote-removal spray that can be sprayed directly on the fire or used to treat wood prior to burning. The vapor rises inside the chimney and binds to the glazed creosote, modifying it chemically. This turns it into ash, which may be readily swept out using a chimney sweep brush. In powder form, ACS is a little more potent. This powdered creosote remover is applied to the inside of the chimney and up the flue.

The temperature must reach 300 degrees Fahrenheit before you can start a fire. The ACS Powder allows the creosote to expand and compress at a different rate than the flue to which it is attached, causing it to pee.

Both products contain chemical catalysts that gradually break down creosote. When used in tandem, they are the most effective. For the first two weeks, use ACS Powder to break down the heavy-duty creosote. Then, whenever you have a fire, apply the usual ACS liquid spray. To decrease creosote buildup and maintain your chimney creosote-free, spray it 5-6 times every fire.

Finally, once you’ve resolved your creosote issue, you should inspect the rest of your chimney to ensure it’s in good working order. Maintaining the integrity of your chimney requires keeping your bricks waterproof and, if necessary, doing chimney crown restoration.