Chimney Facts

Reducing Creosote Buildup

• Restricted air supply, unseasoned wood and cooler than normal chimney temperatures can accelerate creosote buildup inside your chimney. To counteract creosote production, it is advisable to burn well-seasoned, dry wood that burns hotly and produces byproducts that exit the chimney quickly. Opening the damper fully and leaving fireplace doors open whenever possible increases air flow and dramatically decreases creosote buildup. The occasional burning of a chimney- cleaning log dislodges creosote and sends it harmlessly up and out of the chimney stack.

Chimney Maintenance

• The Chimney Safety Institute of America, a nonprofit educational foundation, provides national certification and accreditation for chimney sweeps in the United States. A CSIA certified chimney sweep, trained to understand the complexities of chimneys and venting systems, can inspect your chimney to ensure that it is in good condition and clean and repair your chimney if necessary. An annual inspection is a small price to pay to keep your home safe.

Chimney Liners

• A chimney on an older home may have been constructed without a flue liner. Since the early part of the 21st century, chimney liners have been recommended and now most fire codes mandate them. A flue liner is a clay/ceramic, metal or cast-in-place conduit designed to protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion while containing combustion products and directing them outside the home. Liners properly size the chimney for conversion from wood or oil appliances to one that is gas-fired.

Liner Insulation and Cap

• Two types of chimney liner insulation are available. The sleeve option wraps around the flue and the mix insulation is poured down the exterior walls of the flue. For the mix insulation, a concrete barrier must be created at the bottom of your chimney and given a day to cure and harden before the insulation mix may be applied. A chimney cap is then installed to keep out unwanted wildlife and precipitation.