… The reasons there are bad mortar joints or cracks in chimneys are numerous, including: Before the 1970’s wood heating appliances had lower heating efficiencies. When PCR is applied, it dissolves the creosote and absorbs it. Relatively high temperatures in the chimney flue. Below, you will discover how to burn rock salt to clean a chimney. If you burn wood for heat, you need to clean your chimney to prevent chimney fires. Although I do try to give a helping hand when it is time to clean it out, I find I’m more in the way than anything. It is recommended to utilize rock salt at least once a week to prevent the buildup of creosote. Creosote sweeping logs contain minerals that dry out tar and creosote, reducing the risk of fires substantially. Things that encourage buildup Now that we know leaving creosote untreated isn't an option, let's discuss some of the main ways creosote can form and how you can help prevent that from happening. The photos below show the inside of a chimney covered with glazed creosote before, during, and after a PCR application. Shovel it into the bucket with the help of small spade and then reattach the handle of damper. Phone: 301-519-3500 or 703-550-5115 • mike@highschimney.com Chimney Creosote Questions & Answers: Frequently-asked questions (and answers) about the nature of, cause, cure, prevention, chimney creosote from wood-burning and some other heating equipment. I might lose one or two $10 bets, but that’s about all. Scrub the bricks with the soapy solution and rinse afterward. This can open mortar joints and sometimes even crack the tiles. In the second stage or degree of creosote, cleanup is not as easy as in the first. First stage creosote is mostly ashy soot. Understanding how to use it and keeping the chimney clean means it works just fine, so it ain't broke. How to Remove Creosote From Drywall. So to avoid it is to get your chimney cleaned, call 615-833-0349. If the ladder is not perfectly stable, work with a partner who can hold it in place for you. The EPA says nearly 7 percent of all home fires in America are caused by creosote buildup in the chimney. Here’s why. Pick a clear day and get out your ladder--you should be able to finish this project in just a few hours. It can be normal to see small amounts of creosote building up in your chimney throughout the year when having clean burning fires with dry wood. This wet, tar like substance will then attack the fabric of the chimney, and through capilliary action, work its way out to the plaster finish on the walls, weakening the mortar at the same time. Flue tiles that have contained a chimney fire almost always crack. Brushes for Cleaning Chimneys Inside and Outside from Below The boiler exhaust pipe will extend from the roof or chimney. You should be checking your flue for an excessive accumulation of creosote. If you chimney is on the outside of your house, warm the flue before lighting a fire. How to Clean a Metal Chimney. “It won’t clean your chimney, but it … At the least, it could save you time and energy on cutting and chopping firewood. The material is highly flammable. When you burn a fire, you’re going to be creating creosote. Regular cleaning of a chimney can reduce the risk of a chimney fire, but even if you choose to clean the chimney yourself, you should also have the chimney inspected by a professional on a regular basis. Additional … When it comes to DIY chimney cleaning, the obvious question is- what to burn to clean chimney, then rock salt is the first answer. Level of Buildup and Creosote: If you find 1/8 inch of buildup or more, or if you see indications of a serious accumulation of creosote, the chimney cleaning is a job for a professional. Well … When a professional chimney technician performs annual chimney inspections, he or she will usually let you know how much creosote is in your chimney … Any remaining PCR can be easily removed by chimney sweeping. A lined chimney still gets choked with creosote and needs to be cleaned regularly. This swollen creosote is very fragile and brittle. Some masons “work too fast” and don’t think it’s actually important to seal the joints. A good way to warm the flue is to make a torch out of rolled up newspaper and hold the lit torch under the open damper until you feel the air warm and feel the draft reserve. If you chimney is on the outside of your house, warm the flue before lighting a fire. Use Creosote Destroyer Powder. Creosote buildup occurs in your chimney whenever you start a wood-burning fire, and it can cause a chimney fire. Most chimney fires start in the smoke chamber/smoke shelf area , so it’s the most important area to clean (Figure A). Start scrubbing at the top of the chimney; otherwise, you will wash the soot and debris over the clean parts of the chimney below. In part 1 of this series, we explained the three stages of creosote buildup. This is why you see so much stainless steel chimney lining done these days. It can block the flue and cause tremendous smoking problems. Clean the chimney when creosote build-up exceeds one-eighth inch. 6. Cleaning the soot from the exterior of your chimney is essentially not much different from cleaning your indoor brick. While this stage isn’t especially dangerous, you will still need to clean out the chimney on a routine basis in order to keep good air flow. In addition to cleaning during the wood-burning season, we also clean our chimney before the wood-burning season and at the end of the season. As it absorbs the creosote and dries, it loses its adhesive properties and falls off the sides of the flue tiles. 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