There’s nothing quite like relaxing by the fire after a long winter day, but if you neglect your fireplace, that relaxation could turn into disaster before you know it. It’s important to understand why chimney cleanings matter and today we’re here to tell you all about it!
What Is Creosote?If you’ve never heard of creosote, you may be totally in the dark about this very dangerous substance that forms in your chimney over time. As your fireplace burns and produces smoke, that smoke forms ash and a sticky tar-like substance called creosote. Creosote clings to the inside of your chimney and grows gradually more and more difficult to remover as time goes on. Creosote is highly flammable and contains toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your health when inhaled.
At first, creosote is a flakey substance that can be easily removed using professional chimney cleaning brushes. At this stage creosote does not pose a major threat to your health or safety.
This is where the trouble begins. At this stage, creosote starts to form hardened tar-like flakes that may require a specialized tool to remove.
Once creosote has reached the third stage it becomes extremely difficult to remove as well as a high risk of starting a dangerous chimney fire. At this point, creosote has become hardened against the interior walls of your chimney and resembles a tar-like substance inside your chimney. This stage of creosote requires specialized equipment for removal and potentially a relining of your chimney depending on how far along the damage is.
As we mentioned before, creosote is both flammable and toxic.
When creosote has formed in your chimney, it’s far more likely that the risk of a chimney fire isn’t far behind. When burning your fireplace, embers can spark and ignite the creosote leading to destructive and possibly life-threatening chimney fires and structural damage.
The other risk factor that creosote presents is the exposure to toxic chemicals from your fireplace. Historically, there is evidence that creosote contains cancer-causing chemicals and, without the gear that professional chimney sweeps have today, it can be very harmful when inhaled.
While there is no way to fully eliminate creosote production in a chimney connected to a wood-burning appliance, it is possible to limit the risks involved. The best way to protect yourself and your chimney from the dangers of creosote is through regular chimney cleanings and inspections.
Another way to help reduce your risks include burning only well-seasoned firewood. Unseasoned, or wet, firewood creates excess smoke which in turn creates more creosote in your chimney.
Call Your Local Chimney Sweep Today!Keeping up with the recommended yearly chimney and fireplace maintenance will help reduce your risks of chimney fires, structural damage, and other issues that many chimney owners may face. By having your chimney cleaned and inspected annually you can catch damage or trouble before it escalates. This means you can ensure a safer fireplace experience as well as avoiding a hefty bill and a major headache down the line.
National Chimney Cleaners is here to help. Give us a call or contact us online today to schedule a cleaning, inspection, repair, and more!
