Creosote is a tar-like substance that will build up in your chimney over time. It’s highly flammable and can lead to a chimney fire if not addressed in a timely manner. However, there are ways to prevent excessive creosote from building up in the first place, allowing you to stick to a minimal chimney sweeping schedule while avoiding the risk of a chimney fire. Below are some creosote prevention tips that Rochester homeowners should be aware of:
Preventing Excess Creosote Requires Advanced Planning
When it comes to preventing excess creosote from building up in your chimney, there are four major factors that come into play:
- Chimney exposure and size: A properly sized chimney provides a proper draft for your appliance, allowing smoke to leave your home swiftly. An overly exposed chimney can cause creosote to build up due to temperature differences. These issues can be addressed during construction or renovation of your chimney and fireplace systems.
- Angles and offsets: Similarly, a chimney that goes straight up from the fireplace or wood stove allows the smoke to draft directly upward, preventing any slowdowns on the way. Elbows or offsets in your chimney system cause those gasses to slow down, depositing creosote while on the way. These issues can also be addressed during construction.
- Fuel: To prevent excess creosote, only burn well-seasoned hardwood in your woodstove or fireplace. Softwood can vary quickly in combustion temperature, encouraging creosote buildup due to temperature change. Wet or green wood burns coolly, creating excessive smoke and drafting poorly. Get your fuel ahead of the heating season for the best selection.
- Regular cleaning: By having your chimney swept regularly, any creosote will be removed in the sweeping process. If this process has been neglected recently, you may require a chimney cleaning, which is a more in-depth process to remove older creosote. Take time to schedule your chimney sweeping in advance to avoid missing this vital service.
Planning ahead for your chimney construction, lining, maintenance, and fuel makes it much easier to avoid excess creosote buildup in your chimney system. This, in turn, keeps your home safer and more comfortable. If you need help with creosote prevention, cleaning or removal in Rochester, the experienced professionals at Four Winds Chimney are always happy to help. Why not give us a call today to see how we can help you?
