The Levels of Creosote Buildup in Your Chimney
The certified chimney technicians at Pristine Sweeps are fully equipped to solve all your chimney dilemmas especially when it comes to creosote that’s gradually accumulating on the chimney walls. In this situation, you should leave this matter to the pros. This situation requires complete confidence in a thorough job.
Let’s Talk About Creosote
The longer creosote stays in your chimney, the more dangerous it becomes. It also makes it much harder to remove.
Creosote is made from incomplete combustion of wood or coal and is mostly found in the chimney flue where all the smoke passes to go outside. There are three levels to distinguish the creosote inside your chimney. This will also help our professionals know what kind of equipment to use to remove the creosote and if there is a chance for it to be removed or not. Upon inspection, you’ll know the kind of danger you are currently in and why it should be removed as soon as possible.
The Three Levels
For the first level, the amount of creosote is still subtle. It’s described to be flaky and dusty and is not yet known as creosote. It’s still known as soot which has a color of either brown or black. This can easily be removed by sweeping the chimney since the deposit is still a little bit loose.
The second level is a little more difficult to remove because the creosote has already thickened. The color is still brown or black, it is hard and is described to have bubbly deposits that are highly flammable. This would often need a stiffer brush or a scraper to remove.
The last and most difficult level is characterized by creosote that’s glazed, sticky and shiny. There is no guarantee of totally removing all the creosote. It’s now very flammable and will form into icicles representing huge masses that have a distinctly strong odor. This needs constant scraping, sweeping and brushing to minimize the thickness. You might even have to change your flue liner or fix the insides of your chimney if this occurs.
So there you have it. The three levels of creosote buildup. All of which cannot be avoided but can still be prevented by proper burning and making sure that complete combustion of wood is done. Regular inspections and sweeping should be done to lessen the chances for creosote to buildup in your chimneys.