One of the major goals of a chimney cleaning is to remove the build-up of creosote. It is a natural by-product of burning, so it is impossible to be creosote-free, but allowing it to accumulate is dangerous.
What is it?
One of our main jobs is to ensure that creosote is removed to a safe level. Make an appointment and lets get started.
Creosote is part of the chemical products that is produced by way of distilling tar. It’s mostly produced in a furnace and is famous for its antiseptic and preservative properties. It is the result of smoke and soot produced after combustion.
Creosote is pretty common because when there is smoke, there’s always creosote. So it’s no surprise that it can also have many types. Industrially, it has two main types: wood-tar and coal-tar creosote. Wood-tar creosote is mostly used for meat preservation, treating wood, and for medical purposes as laxatives and anaesthetics also. On the other hand, coal-tar creosote is more toxic and stronger compared to wood-tar creosote. Before, it was used to treat diseases in the gums but was stopped because of the carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) that are in this specific type of creosote.
But what about creosote in chimneys?
Creosote inside the chimney, however, is not only bad for your health, it’s also not good for your property. It will become so thick inside the chimney walls and will eventually become highly flammable. The main solutions are:
These can and should be done by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep. We would be more than happy to discuss and solve problems with creosote in your chimney. We have the best people that have undergone trainings and exams done by the CSIA which have helped our sweeps sharpen their skills to provide you the best service.