Creosote is a substance that forms during the combustion of wood logs. Carried in smoke, creosote builds up inside the flue and clings to the chimney liner as a sticky, flakey, puffy or solid substance that needs to be removed.
No matter its form, creosote is highly flammable and is the primary cause of chimney fires in Fairfield County every year. Proper chimney sweeping is the best and safest way to deal with creosote buildups.
How We Clean Your ChimneyWhen our chimney sweeps clean your chimney, we use a variety of industry-grade tools and equipment to ensure the job is done thoroughly and correctly.
Depending on the type and amount of creosote we find, tools we’ll use to remove it might include:
The answer to this will depend, in part, on how often you use your fireplace. For the average home in Fairfield County, CT, we recommend annual cleaning service.
It doesn’t take long for creosote to build up, and the more of it that’s in your flue, the greater the chance for a destructive chimney fire. After a few visits from our chimney sweeps, we’ll be able to recommend the ideal cleaning schedule based on your specific needs.
Not all chimney fires are elaborate, obvious events. Many fires are relatively small and start and extinguish on their own. Just because you’ve never had a “blazing 4-alarm” chimney fire doesn’t mean you haven’t had a chimney fire.
Even small fires can cause damage to clay, stainless steel and poured-in-place chimney liners. Once the liner is compromised, fire can begin to affect the interior chimney masonry. In the worst-case scenario, a small chimney fire can spread to vulnerable materials of your home such as wall boards, insulation, flooring and beams.
Chimney Cleaning & Inspection in Fairfield CountyWe always suggest that our customers pair chimney sweeping with chimney inspection. Our inspectors have years of hands-on training spotting signs of damage throughout our customers’ chimney systems.
By learning of damage or malfunction early, you can get it repaired at far less cost than undertaking a major chimney repair or rebuilding project.
No matter who you hire to clean your chimney, make sure it’s a licensed professional with proven experience in the chimney service industry. You never want to hire a “handyman” or other novices to work on your chimney. These untrained individuals can easily do much more harm than good.
If you live in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and it’s time to have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected, call the experts at National Chimney Service. To reach us all year long, call (203) 614-9765 in Stanford, Greenwich, Bridgeport, and all other towns in Fairfield County CT .
