Avoid Chimney Fires This Christmas: The Dangers of Creosote

Don’t be caught with an unnecessary fire in your chimney. The number one cause of chimney fires is the buildup of creosote. Creosote is a flammable, black tar-like substance that accumulates inside your chimney when wood is burned. When a fire is not hot enough, under 150 degrees, creosote builds up. Creosote is a byproduct of non-combustible wood. At temperatures below 250 degrees, creosote will condense on chimney flues and stove pipes causing creosote.

Creosote will catch fire if there is a build-up, and the temperatures are hot enough. Creosote is known to catch fire at a temperature of 451 degrees, most fires in your fireplace are much hotter than this. 

How To Prevent Creosote Buildup?

Have Your Chimney Swept Annually

Keeping up with the cleanup will prevent a buildup of creosote and reduce the risk of fires.

Use Seasoned Wood

If you collect wood yourself, dry it for at least 6 months and up to a year. This will assure you that the wood is dry and will burn without smoke. Smoke adds to the buildup of creosote.

Type of Wood

You may not think that the type of wood makes a difference, but it does. When choosing wood to burn in your fireplace or stove, choose hardwoods. These may be maple, oak, birch, ash, or hickory.

Burn Smaller, Hotter Fires

Keep your fire at a manageable height. Try to avoid a blazing fire as this will encourage the buildup of excessive creosote. There is also a significant risk for sparks to escape, potentially causing a fire in the home. 

Regular Chimney Inspections

Your technician will look deep into your chimney and locate any area of creosote buildup alerting you to the need for a sweep. 

Poor Draft

Many issues where there is creosote buildup are due to poor chimneys with low draft or cold walls. Our technicians can discuss options regarding this. 

Safety First:

If you find that you have a chimney fire, Call 911 immediately to be connected to the fire department.

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Don’t let the maintenance of your fireplace and chimney worry you this holiday season. Now is the time to reach out to Chimney Solutions of Indiana and schedule that chimney sweep. Don’t put it off any longer.

Avoid the rush! There is too much to be thankful for this season and you will want to enjoy every minute. Your days will be filled with decorating, family fun, baking, and celebrating.  

Look no further than Chimney Solutions of Indiana! Since our very first customer, we’ve been committed to delivering the highest level of customer care and the most professional and reliable chimney and fireplace services. Our technicians are expertly trained and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), so there’s no aspect of chimney or fireplace service, installation, repair, or troubleshooting we can’t help you with.

When you are ready to make that call, call Chimney Solutions of Indiana. We work on your schedule, so we don’t interfere with your time. We are happy to help and we are just a call away.