You may have read a little bit about creosote and the dangers it poses on our chimney cleaning page, but here’s a little refresher: Creosote is a byproduct of incomplete combustion that can build up and harden on the interior surface of the fireplace and chimney.
While it starts out light and can be easily removed early on, as it builds up, it gets harder and harder to remove. In fact, when it reaches stage 3 (what is known as glazed creosote), it can’t be removed using normal chimney cleaning methods and tools.
And because creosote can easily ignite and cause the fire in your fireplace to spread up into your chimney and out into your home, that’s a big problem…
There are many tell-tale signs of a creosote problem, but most of the time, your nose is the first to pick up on a problem. You see, creosote has a smoky, paved road type smell that in the muggy summer months can be pretty strong.
You can also look up into your fireplace and chimney, checking for brown or black buildup that is either sticky, hard, or flaky. If it’s hard and shiny, you have stage 3 creosote, which needs to be removed ASAP.
Glazed or stage 3 creosote has to be removed by something that causes a change in its chemical composition. Here at True Ventilation, we use a product known as TSR (Third Stage Creosote Remover).
This powerful product removes even the toughest creosote deposits by changing the chemical makeup of the creosote so that it becomes a brushable soot. Once this change has occurred, we can then brush away the creosote like we would any normal soot that we encounter during a chimney cleaning, leaving your chimney system safer and cleaner.
There are a few ways to prevent creosote buildup:
If you need to have creosote removed from your chimney or fireplace, leave it to the knowledgeable and professional team here at True Ventilation. We’re members of the NFPA and we promise our customers the highest quality service possible.
Not only will we effectively remove any stage 3 creosote, but we’ll also advise you on how to maintain your chimney in a safe and efficient manner, so you have fewer issues with your system in the future. Our goal is to prevent problems from getting costly and dangerous so you can enjoy your fireplace and your home.
To request an inspection or a stage 3 creosote removal service, simply call 888-775-9498 or reach out to us here on our website. We’re licensed and insured and we look forward to helping with all your chimney and fireplace maintenance needs, whether you’re in Suffolk, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia, or Greene county!
No matter how dirty your chimney is, you can count on our chimney cleaning expertise to clean up the problem. Ask us about our other chimney and venting services, too.
+1 (888) 775-9498
trueventilation@gmail.com
34 York St, Catskill,
NY 12414
