After a long cold, winter homeowners have gone through many fires and cords of wood. As the season winds down and temperatures rise, it’s the perfect time to think about scheduling your annual maintenance appointment with your local chimney professional. The more fires you have during the season, the more creosote has built up on the inner walls of your chimney. Let’s take a closer look at what creosote is and what risks it may come with.
What Is Creosote?Creosote is an expected, toxic byproduct that comes from wood burning during fires. It’s unavoidable, but there are ways to get ahead of any adverse effects with regular maintenance and planning. Creosote collects on the inner walls of your chimney, taking on a sticky, tar-like consistency. Because of this, the build up becomes very difficult to clean without professional help, so that is why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) strongly suggests scheduling an annual chimney sweep to tackle it. Not only does it have a thick, difficult consistency that may require special chemicals, it also has a strong smell and can be irritating to breathe in as you try to clean.
Creosote comes with the negatives of being smelly and difficult to deal with, but it can also be a healthy and safety concern if neglected.
Creosote buildup increases your risk for a house fire as creosote is highly flammable. Heavy creosote buildup could even catch fire just from extreme heat – such as a fire surrounding it. These types of fires spread rapidly as it spreads throughout the creosote-covered chimney walls. Because of this, it is actually one of the leading causes of house fires.
As creosote collects, it is harder to remove so it’s important to get ahead of the buildup. If it is neglected, the buildup could warrant a complete replacement of your chimney liner, rather than just a cleaning. Chimney professionals will be able to determine the level of cleaning that is correct for you as it varies from moderate to severe.
As more creosote accumulates, it can be potentially dangerous to inhale, making it toxic to breathe in. It can also be an irritant for skin, eyes, and respiratory systems. Continued exposure to creosote fumes can even increase your chances of lung, skin or other cancers.
To get ahead of these issues, it is important to have an annual cleaning and inspection by local chimney professionals. No matter how big or small the buildup is, call the professionals sooner rather than later for the reasons outlined above.
Since 1998, Chimney Solutions Chattanooga has striven to bring the highest level of professional and technical expertise to our service area. The rewards of protection of property and life, health and safety, as well as, the education of ourselves, our customers and others fuel our quest for excellence. Our mission is to provide quality and peace of mind to families by offering premier chimney and pellet stove solutions. If you’re in need of install, maintenance, or general questions, do not hesitate to call our experienced team.
