Living in a home with a fireplace comes with many benefits. A warm, crackling fire creates a cozy atmosphere. Fireplaces can also be more efficient and cost effective than home heating systems. There are multiple benefits to having a fireplace as a feature in your home. However, the benefits of a fireplace system come with a price: maintenance and upkeep. In order to keep your fireplace and chimney operating properly and safely, you need to make sure to keep on eye out for potential hazards. One of these hazards is creosote.
What is Creosote?
Creosote is a byproduct of wood combustion. When wood burns, the smoke and particles exit the home through the chimney. Often, the temperature inside the chimney is cooler than the materials passing through it. This temperature difference causes condensation. The condensation can leave behind a residue that sticks to the walls of your chimney. This residue is known as creosote.
Creosote can produce odor and has a number of different appearances. For example, it can be black or brown. Creosote also varies in texture. Creosote can be:
- Dry and flaky
- Tar-like (sticky and dripping)
- Hard and shiny
Although it comes in several different forms, creosote is usually easy to spot.
The Danger of Creosote
Creosote can put your chimney and home in danger. The buildup along the walls of your chimney can ignite. This can cause chimney fires, which can then spread to the rest of your home. In fact, creosote buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires. This is why the National Fire Protection Association recommends having your chimney cleaned annually.
Managing Creosote Buildup
Lots of creosote buildup can spell danger. However, there are ways to minimize buildup.
- Only burn seasoned firewood. It is very important to only burn dry, well-seasoned wood in your fireplace. Newer wood contains more moisture than seasoned wood. The more moisture the wood has, the more smoke is created when it burns. Smoke turns to creosote, so it is best to minimize the amount of smoke produced.
- Make sure your fireplace has adequate airflow. Proper air flow will help your fire burn as efficiently as possible. Sufficient air flow will allow your fire to burn hotter, which will burn more of the combustion gases that otherwise turn into creosote.
- Efficient fires are always better than slow-burning fires. Smoldering fires, especially those burning from wet wood, cause more condensation than hot, efficient fires. Make sure to arrange your firewood properly so that you can ensure a cleaner burn.
- Try not to use artificial logs. Artificial logs create more combustion gases than natural wood. These gases then condense and produce creosote.
Call Your Local Chimney Sweep
Creosote can cause plenty of problems in your home. From unpleasant odors to increasing the chances of a chimney fire, creosote is not something to ignore. The National Fire Protection Association recommends you have your chimney cleaned by a professional chimney sweep at least once a year. Annual cleanings address creosote buildup early on and prevent severe problems like chimney fires. The chimney experts at Sootmaster are happy to assist you with chimney sweeps and creosote removal.