![]() Creosote is combustible, so its buildup can cause a chimney fire.The flue will be choked-up, limiting the airflow and reducing the efficiency of your wood stove or fireplace.If not treated on time, creosote can build up and cause the following issues in your chimney: Hazards of creosote buildup Creosote and soot in a chimney flue This is because the restricted airflow prevents the smoke from leaving the chimney, increasing the residence time. The accumulation will be faster if your chimney's dampers are left closed. If you pack your fireplace with a lot of firewood and close its glass door tightly, the air supply is restricted, encouraging creosote buildup. This is because the flue temperature in such chimneys is abnormally low due to the heat loss. Metal chimneys and chimneys located on the exterior wall of a house are at high risk of creosote buildup. If the flue gas temperature is lower than normal, the smoke will condense early, causing the formation of creosote. The higher the residence time, the greater the creosote buildup. If your flue is oversized and long, chances are that the smoke from the fireplace will hang around in the chimney for longer than normal (also referred to as residence time). Due to the lack of heat, the smoke generated condenses quickly, forming creosote and tar deposits in the flue. How creosote accumulatesįirewood that's green or not dried sufficiently creates lesser heat output as a lot of energy is used in drying excess moisture in the wood. Let's first understand the factors that lead to the formation and accumulation of creosote and the hazards of not getting rid of it. Though creosote sweeping logs (CSL) aren't adequate in cleaning and maintaining the chimney, this post offers useful information on how they can be used along with the conventional chimney sweep. As these substances exit through the chimney (which is relatively cooler), they condense on the inner surface, forming a sticky residue of combustible creosote and tar on the inner walls.įrom hiring an annual chimney cleaning service to using special chimney-cleaning logs or chemicals, several techniques have been used by homeowners to reduce creosote and tar buildup in the chimney. Whether you use hardwood, softwood or compressed logs to fuel your fireplace, several by-products like smoke, water vapor, hydrocarbons and tar fog are released into the flue. The United States sees more than 25,000 chimney fires each year, costing the nation $125 million in property damage. As you relax and enjoy the warmth of your fireplace, the last thing you want is dense smoke with an intense burning smell caused by a deadly chimney fire.
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