Chimney Flue Maintenance: When and How to Keep Your Chimney Clean

Maintaining a clean chimney is crucial for fire safety and the prevention of chimney fires. While there's no fixed rule on how frequently you should clean your chimney, it should be an integral part of your fire safety routine. A smoky fire lacking sufficient oxygen can emit unburned tar vapors known as "creosote," which increase the risk of chimney fires. Fortunately, you can minimize creosote buildup by ensuring proper airflow, resulting in a hot and clean-burning fire.

Understanding Creosote: Creosote forms when there isn't enough airflow into your fireplace, causing incomplete combustion of the wood's oils. As the smoke rises, it cools and leaves behind a residue comprising smoke, water, and other chemicals on the interior walls of the chimney. This residue is what we refer to as creosote.

Checking for Creosote: Start by checking for any downdraft from the chimney. If you feel downward airflow, open a door or window on the same floor as the fireplace until the airflow reverses or stops. To better understand the direction of airflow, you can tape a tissue to the fireplace opening and observe its movement.

While wearing safety goggles and a disposable dust mask, use a flashlight and fireplace poker to scratch the black surface above the fireplace's damper (smoke chamber). If the groove you scratch in the creosote is paper-thin, there's no immediate cause for concern. However, if the creosote measures 1/8 inch thick, it's advisable to schedule a fireplace cleaning soon. If you find 1/4 inch or more of creosote, refrain from using the fireplace until it has been professionally cleaned to avoid the risk of a chimney fire.

Types of Creosote: Creosote comes in different forms, with varying degrees of difficulty to remove. The easiest type is a feather-light dull gray, brown, or black soot, which can be removed with a stiff chimney brush. The next type is a black granular accumulation that can also be removed fairly easily. However, a road tar-like coating poses a greater challenge, requiring more intensive methods such as stiff brushes, scrapers, or power rotary whips. The most problematic form is a shiny, glaze-like coating that is nearly impossible to remove.

Essential Tools for Chimney Cleaning: Before you begin cleaning your chimney, gather the necessary tools to save time and prevent frustration:

• Dust mask

• Flashlight

• Safety glasses

Seek Professional Help: While you may attempt to remove creosote on your own, for a thorough job, it's recommended to call a certified chimney sweep recognized by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. A qualified chimney sweep should do more than merely brushing the chimney. They should possess knowledge of building codes, be able to identify signs of deterioration or venting issues, and provide expert advice on the condition of your chimney. The National Fire Protection Association suggests inspecting chimneys, fireplaces, and vents at least once a year.

Consider Chimney Sweep Logs: When it's time to clean your chimney, you can also explore the option of using chimney sweep logs. These logs not only aid in preventing chimney fires but also assist in removing deposits, known as creosote, that accumulate along the chimney walls. These sticky deposits become highly flammable over time and are a common cause of chimney fires. Chimney sweep logs are popular due to their ease of use. Simply unwrap the log and place it in a lit wood-burning fireplace.

Keep your chimney clean and your home safe by taking proactive steps to prevent creosote buildup. Don't hesitate to seek professional assistance and explore helpful tools like chimney sweep logs. With proper maintenance, you can enjoy a warm and secure fireplace experience.

At Complete Chimney, we understand how important it is to have a functioning chimney. That's why we are here to help when you need us most. With over 25 years of experience in servicing thousands of chimneys, we have the expertise and knowledge to get you back up and running right away.

We value our customers and are happy when they want to learn more and communicate their problems. We want to make sure that you get the best service possible and that you can get back to your life as soon as possible.

We understand that having a chimney is an important part of your home and we want to make sure that it is working properly and safely. That's why we are here to help you with any issues you may have. Whether you need a repair or just want to learn more about your fireplace, we are here for you.

At Complete Chimney, we take pride in providing our customers with the best service possible. So if you ever need our help, we are here for you. With over 25 years of experience, we can get your fireplace/chimney up and running right away.