Can I prevent creosote buildup? (2024)

FAQs

Can I prevent creosote buildup? ›

While creosote can't be avoided completely, there are ways to reduce that rate at which is builds up. Only burn dry, seasoned firewood. Newly-cut, unseasoned firewood contains more moisture content, leading to denser smoke with tons of combustion byproducts – and more creosote accumulation.

Never burn artificial logs. Artificial logs produce more combustion byproducts than regular wood which significantly increases creosote buildup. Build hot, clean burning fires. Stacking firewood with enough space between the logs for oxygen to circulate will produce a hotter, cleaner burning fire.

A: Excessive creosote* build up is usually caused by the burning of unseasoned and/or softer/sappier woods. It can also be caused by a weak draft** that allows smoke to spend too much time in the flue, thus cooling and depositing carbon rich chemicals onto the interior walls before exiting.

* Avoid skin contact with Creosote. Wear protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most protective glove/clothing material for your operation.

In all honesty, however, the old wise tale about burning potato peelings/skins does in fact help. You have to use fresh/uncooked potatoes. What's interesting is the byproduct of the potato peels/skins create a chemical reaction that drys out the chimney allowing any creosote buildup to dry up.

The best way to remove creosote is by using an oil-based substance and not letting it come into contact with other clothes. Try lard, WD40, or butter on a rag.

Create a cleaning paste by combining equal amounts of salt and liquid dishwashing detergent in a large mixing bowl. Stir in a half cup of ammonia using a wooden spoon until it turns into a creamy paste. Apply the paste while wearing rubber gloves by smearing a paste coating over the creosote-saturated bricks.

It is important to have a hotter fire in an old stove to ensure the creosote particles burn inside the firebox. You will have to burn more wood to keep the firebox temperatures hot.

The solution that you will use to clean the creosote from the fireplace consists of an equal amount of salt and dish liquid, such as Dawn. Stir this together, then add a half cup of ammonia. Be sure that you use enough salt and dish liquid to make your cleaning solution more like a paste than a liquid.

RUTLAND Creosote Concentrate is the most powerful creosote remover on the market.

Will burning aluminum cans remove creosote? ›

Many have claimed that burning aluminum cans is an effective technique to clean your chimney. Though there may have been cases where this method has worked slightly, nothing takes the place of actually cleaning out the chimney.

Creosote, it's a distilled from coal tar. Though there are ties made out of concrete, railroads still use creosote ties.

To solve the problem, burn an intense fire in your stove for at least one-half hour daily with the damper open. This should burn off the accumulated creosote in small quantities and reduce the potential for a chimney fire. Keep in mind that you also need to clean smoke pipes used with wood-burning furnaces and stoves.

Creosote buildup never goes away on its own. Once a layer of creosote forms, it's there for good until it's physically removed. Without proper cleaning, multiple layers of creosote will steadily build up every time you use your fireplace.

Avoid Smoldering. Many homeowners allow their fire to smolder until it burns itself out. As the fire begins to burn out more creosote is produced at the lower temperatures. Rather than allowing the fire to smolder, it should be extinguished.

The solution that you will use to clean the creosote from the fireplace consists of an equal amount of salt and dish liquid, such as Dawn. Stir this together, then add a half cup of ammonia. Be sure that you use enough salt and dish liquid to make your cleaning solution more like a paste than a liquid.

Burn Seasoned Firewood

To reduce the amount of creosote and get a more efficient fire, experts recommend that you only burn dry, seasoned firewood. Freshly cut firewood contains too much moisture, which makes it more difficult to burn and produces more smoke. More smoke means an increase in creosote buildup.

The epoxy resins in Smiths Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer react with the toxic phenolic compounds in the Creosote. CPES ties up and renders harmless the toxic phenols from the creosote.