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The Risks of Creosote in Your Chimney

In the days reminiscent of the movie Mary Poppins, chimney sweeps generally died young because of creosote. Their level of exposure back then caused the development of a deadly disease, but the risks of creosote are different today.  Thanks to more modern methods of chimney cleaning, we are happy to say that our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps at Chimney Saver Solutions can live as long as any other segment of the population. However, and most importantly, there are other serious risks of creosote that can affect homeowners with wood-burning appliances. Details follow.

creosote and soot build up in Mechanicsville VARisk #1 – Creosote Causes Chimney Fires

Creosote is a by-product of smoke from wood burning. Sticky and tar-like, creosote is highly flammable. When embers float up the chimney, they can easily ignite creosote, thus sparking a chimney fire. If there are layers of creosote buildup that can fuel a long-burning blaze, significant structural damage can occur. It is not unusual for a chimney fire to spread into other parts of the home, causing devastation.

Risk #2 – Exposure to Carbon Monoxide

Layers of creosote can create a chimney obstruction. The toxic fumes from wood fires will enter the home due to chimney blockage. Among those fumes is carbon monoxide (CO), which is known as “The Silent Killer.” That is an apt name for it because CO is odorless, invisible, tasteless, and doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms until a person has been exposed to a dangerous level. Symptoms and health effects of CO exposure follow:

  • Mild exposure can cause shortness of breath, headaches, impaired motor skills, flushed skin, and decreased tolerance of exercise.
  • Moderate exposure can result in dizziness, headaches, fatigue, weakness, disorientation, and confusion.
  • Severe exposure can cause fainting, collapse, confusion, convulsions, coma, and death.

The potential health effects of CO exposure include: 

  • Permanent brain damage, particularly among older adults 
  • Heart problems such as chest pain and a decreased capacity for exercise, especially if a person already has heart disease
  • Respiratory problems
  • CO exposure during pregnancy can subject the unborn baby to adverse developmental effects 

Risk #3 – Eye and Skin Problems

It’s important to wear gloves for protection if you are cleaning your fireplace. Otherwise, your exposure to creosote could cause skin irritation, redness, rash, and itchiness. It’s good to protect your eyes, as well, because creosote can cause severe eye irritation and even loss of vision.

How to Minimize the Risks of Creosote

You can slow down the amount of creosote being deposited in your chimney flue by burning only seasoned wood or, in other words, wood with 20% moisture content or less. Annual chimney cleaning is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) says to schedule professional chimney cleaning once there is 1/8” of creosote buildup in the flue.

Contact the Experts to Reduce the Risks of Creosote

At Chimney Saver Solutions, we are masters of creosote removal. Unfortunately, not all creosote can be easily removed with a professional chimney brush. We have equipment designed to remove the flaky type of creosote. A third kind of creosote looks like black tar has been poured down your chimney. It is the most difficult to remove, and sometimes sufficient removal is impossible. In that case, we recommend installing a new flue liner.

The risks of creosote are real and should never be ignored. Contact us for chimney cleaning, chimney liner replacement, a chimney inspection, chimney masonry repair, and more.

Schedule an appointment with us by calling or filling out our online form.

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