Creosote Problems?
Stuart of SaverSystems explains how to efficiently and inexpensively take care of your creosote problems.
Today we are addressing one of our most common questions: how do I handle my creosote problems? Fortunately, there is a product that greatly helps in treating and preventing creosote.
What is Creosote?
Creosote is the product of unburned combustibles from incomplete combustion in your firebox. It deposits on the interior walls of your chimney. Furthermore, creosote is actually very dangerous because it is easily flammable and can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Additionally, a chimney fire will lead to significant structural damage in the home and puts the inhabitants of your home at risk.
Also, a good signifier you have a creosote problem is when you smell a foul odor emitting from the fireplace.
Additionally, creosote is observable by the human eye, as it is a black tarry substance that you can see building up on the flues inside the chimney chase.
An easy way to treat and prevent creosote with ACS (Anti-Creo-Soot).
Anti-Creo-Soot (ACS) is an easy and inexpensive way to treat and prevent creosote. There are two forms of Anti-Creo-Soot: Liquid and Powder.
For liquid creosote, you simply spray the ACS into the firebox during the burn while adding fuel. Also, you will want to spray 5 or 6 times.
For powdered creosote, you insert a straw into the top of the canister and puff the powder up inside the fireplace. Also unlike the liquid form, you will puffing the powder into the chimney chase in between fires.
In conclusion, both products modify the creosote. As a result, they break down the creosote and transform it into a harmless char or ash that can be easily removed the next time you have your chimney swept.
Clay Lamb
AsktheChimneySweep.com….Educational Videos
AmChimney.com….American Chimney Cincinnati, OH
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I live in San Antonio and I am not able to locate someone who can help with my fireplace issue. It is a prefabricated unit and I just had the roof replaced last week and I thought it would take care of a leak. Now, it is raining and I still hear the constant dripping on the metal firebox. There is a roof pipe that is on the roof and I have had a water-sealant applied where the metal of the pipe and the new roof shingles meet. Is there a product that you can recommend that I apply on the pipe itself to coat it? I think there must be some sort of some fracture(s) on it. Thank you.
Greetings Rad,
From what you are saying I personally believe it not the need of additional coating, but possibly your chase cover on top, or the corbeling or hip on the outside of the chimney that is allowing water entry. My bet is on the chase cover, as it most often is the water problem culprit:(
Here are a couple of videos that may help as well as a link to the National chimney sweeps guild sweeps.
Chimney Chase Covers
https://youtu.be/v0PUV_E775s
Chimney Corbeling problems
https://youtu.be/1Fp-mUX44Hs
You can find a reputable Chimney Sweep in your area by using this link to the National Chimney Sweep Guild locator: http://www.ncsg.org/search.
Also be sure and go online and read their customer reviews from Google, BBB, and AngiesList. http://www.ncsg.org/