How does creosote form?

Of all the dirt and grime in our chimney, creosote is by far the most dangerous. Highly combustible, it is formed as wood burning by-products like smoke, gases, vapors, tar fog, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon, and other minerals, are created. As these by-products seek exit through your chimney shaft, the chimney interior’s cooler temperature causes condensation to form, and the resulting residue produced in this process is creosote, clinging to the inner walls of your chimney.

What does creosote look like?

Creosote can be black, brown, or even deep greyish in appearance. It can be flaky and cracked, sticky and gummy, or shiny and hardened. All creosote is highly combustible. If your chimney’s internal flue reaches a high enough temperature in the presence of a sizable creosote buildup, you have a chimney fire waiting to happen. And unfortunately, they happen far too often.

What can I do to limit large creosote production in my chimney?

Restricted air supply will accelerate creosote deposits. Closing glass fireplace doors and not opening the damper wide enough for smoke and by-products to leave quickly enough through the chimney will accelerate the accumulation of creosote buildup on your chimney walls. Make sure your damper is always extended open as wide as possible while you are burning a fire, and be sure to open any fireplace doors once in a while, and avoid burning unseasoned (damp) wood. Your fire will expend so much extra energy burning off water trapped in the cells of unseasoned wood that the resulting smoke is cooler, which creates an optimal environment for creosote build-up.

Contact Chimney Quest

Contact Chimney Quest today to have our skilled chimney technicians provide Nashville chimney cleaning and inspection. If you need chimney repair or upgrades, we can help with that also. To schedule your appointment, call Chimney Quest at 615-292-7411. Here’s to another safe and fulfilling fireplace season!

When you want the best, call Chimney Quest!