How to Get Rid of Dangerous Chimney Creosote

1. A Chimney Flue Cleaning Gets Rid of Dangerous Creosote There are many dangers of using a dirty chimney, and the buildup of creosote is one of the worst of them. If you use your chimney at all, it’s inevitable that some creosote will build up in it eventually. To keep your chimney and home safe, it’s essential to schedule a regular chimney flue cleaning to get rid of this harmful substance. What You Need to Know About Creosote When fuel or wood burns in your appliance or fireplace it doesn’t burn completely. The unburned particles enter your chimney and condense with water, leaving behind a residue called creosote. There are many circumstances that can encourage creosote buildup, such as burning unseasoned or “wet” wood, a blocked airflow, or water in your chimney. Creosote builds in three stages and when the airflow is blocked in your chimney tougher creosote is created. Since creosote itself blocks your chimney airflow, this is a compounding problem. At the first stage creosote is flaky and easy to remove, and chances are you can brush it off yourself without any special tools. At the second these flakes harden and contain tar and are more difficult to remove. Second stage creosote usually requires specialty tools to clean off. Finally, third stage creosote is the most hardened and dangerous. This type of creosote completely hardens and is often recoated by more tough creosote, so it can form a very thick layer that resembles tar running down your chimney. Third stage creosote always requires a professional chimney cleaning to remove. Keep Your Home Safe with a Professional Chimney Flue Cleaning Not only does creosote block the airflow of your chimney, which makes it more difficult for smoke and dangerous gases to leave your home, but it is extremely flammable. Chimney fires are fires that start in your chimney and cause severe structural damage, and creosote is one of the leading causes of these fires. While some chimney fires are loud and explosive, and can spread to your home, others burn slowly and quietly and are easy to miss. If a slow burning chimney fire occurs in your chimney, another fire is more likely to happen and has the potential to be even more destructive. If you haven’t had your chimney cleaned recently, or have been burning unseasoned wood regularly, it’s probably time to call your local chimney sweep to remove any creosote in your chimney. For more information and advice, contact your ​local chimney cleaning company in Tuscaloosa AL​​. Article Source: http://www.imfaceplate.com/richardm82/a-chimney-flue-cleaning-gets-rid-of-dangerous-creosote