An efficient
wood heater will not have this issue
so we aren’t letting heat, creosote and all that junk just blow out the chimney.
From
minimize-creosote-buildup/
They are an authority on how to minimize creosote buildup and prevent chimney fires. Here are there top recommendations:
Only burn dry, seasoned
firewood.
Freshly cut wood is packed with moisture that makes it difficult to burn and produces dense black smoke filled with combustion byproducts.
Allowing firewood to season, or dry out for at least six months, helps it to burn completely and produce less smoke.
Build hot, clean burning fires.
Stacking firewood with
enough space between the logs for oxygen to circulate will produce a hotter, cleaner burning fire.
If you consistently build efficient fires like this, less creosote will build up in your chimney because your fires will produce less smoke.
Make sure the fire gets enough oxygen.
Open the damper in your fireplace before you light a fire to ensure it will get enough oxygen.
If your fireplace has glass doors, it is a good idea to leave them cracked open slightly so that air can circulate.
Reduce condensation by warming up a cold flue.
If your chimney isn’t well insulated, the flue can reach low temperatures. Lighting up your fireplace when the flue is cold will create more condensation and larger creosote deposits.
You can easily warm up the chimney by rolling
newspaper up to make a torch, lighting it and holding it up in the chimney.
When you notice the smoke from the torch rising straight up, you’ll know that the flue is warm enough.
Schedule an annual chimney cleaning and inspection.
The NFPA recommends an annual chimney inspection and cleaning because they have found that it is the most effective way to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Professional chimney sweeps are trained to spot issues in your chimney that may pose a safety risk or increase creosote buildup.
We also have the tools and training to safely and efficiently remove creosote.